Fashion-conscious folks may already be looking ahead to sweater-weather season and seeking out the perfect cardigan for those chilly fall days. Khaite, a women’s fashion label that prides itself on a collection that “reimagines classic American sportswear for the twenty-first century,” offers one possibility: an $1,880 all-cashmere “distressed” cardigan. In other words, a sweater that has holes in it, and not the kind that are for buttons.
On its website, Khaite describes the v-neck sweater’s patina as “both daring and playful.” It also points out that the distressed touches go beyond the holes (or “handmade punctures,” as it describes them). Consider the “frayed cuffs” and “ravaged hem,” the label notes.
Khaite has been in the news for another cashmere item — namely, a $520 bra made from the fabric (Katie Holmes was spotted wearing it and the look soon went viral). “It’s amazing what you can do with an idea,” said Khaite designer Catherine Holstein. (Khaite officials declined MarketWatch’s request for comment about the cardigan.)
The reality
The distressed look is hardly new to fashion. Decades ago, it was common to take a new pair of jeans and make them “old” through repeating washings or by cutting holes in them. But in recent years, the idea has become a movement with designers. Hence, you’ll find everything from $530 sneakers that have been artfully scuffed and damaged to a $1,235 skirt with a bedraggled look.
