Cashmere Socks: Are They Worth It?

Cashmere socks are worth it if you want the softest, warmest sock you can wear with loafers and boots, and you are willing to wash them by hand. The best pairs blend cashmere with a little nylon and polyester for strength at heel and toe. Brunello Cucinelli leads our picks, with Italian shoes to match in women’s designer shoes at Coveti.

Are cashmere socks worth it?

For most people, yes, with one condition: you have to treat them as knitwear, not as gym socks. Here is the honest case on both sides.

• For: cashmere is very warm for its weight, so a fine sock keeps feet warm without crowding a slim shoe. It is soft against the skin and does not itch.
• For: a good pair looks finished. A cashmere sock at the ankle of a loafer reads as deliberate.
• Against: pure cashmere is delicate. Without reinforcement, heels and toes wear through faster than in a cotton sock.
• Against: they need hand washing and flat drying. If that sounds like a chore, buy one pair for weekends, not seven for the week.

For the house’s full range of hand and foot warmers, see Brunello Cucinelli gloves and socks.

Are cashmere socks warm?

Very. Cashmere fibre traps warm air close to the skin, which is why it has been the luxury winter fibre for so long. A cashmere sock can feel warmer than a thicker wool sock, and lighter on the foot. For long days in the cold, a rib knit is the better choice, since the ribs hold the sock up and keep it snug. For the house’s full story on the fibre, read our guide to Brunello Cucinelli cashmere.

Why the best cashmere socks are blends

A pure cashmere sock sounds ideal, but a sock takes more friction than any sweater. Adding a small amount of nylon and polyester gives the knit strength and helps it keep its shape after washing. Silk adds sheen and smoothness. Viscose makes a sock lighter and cooler. These are the compositions of the Brunello Cucinelli socks we stock, taken from the labels.

The best cashmere socks at Coveti

All of these are new this season from Brunello Cucinelli, made in Italy and sold in letter sizes.

• Cashmere knit socks in Lignite Grey: the everyday pair, 90% cashmere. Also in Anthracite.
• Rib knit socks in Lignite Grey: the rib keeps them up inside a boot.
• Cashmere knit socks in Beige: the lighter blend with viscose, also in Dark Grey.
• Sparkling knit socks in Lead: cashmere and silk with a glint, the sock to show off.

How to wear cashmere socks with loafers and boots

The sock is part of the outfit, so choose it on purpose.

With loafers

Let the sock show. A grey sock with the Suede Penny loafer in Light Grey and cropped trousers makes a tonal line from hem to toe. For contrast, put the Sparkling knit socks in Lead with the Riding calfskin penny loafers in Cocoa. Keep the trouser hem above the ankle bone so the sock is seen.

With ankle boots

Choose the rib knit, which holds up inside the shaft. The Leather Chelsea boots in Black with Anthracite socks and dark denim is the simplest winter uniform there is.

With shearling boots

A finer sock is enough, since the boot does the insulating. The Suede and shearling boots in Pepper pair well with the Beige socks for a soft, neutral look.

On a ski trip

Cashmere socks are lovely for the chalet and the evening. For ski boots, follow your boot fitter’s advice. Our guide to the Brunello Cucinelli ski collection covers what to wear off the slopes, and the ski trip packing list covers the rest.

What to look for when buying cashmere socks

Read the label before anything else. A sock sold as cashmere can contain very little of it, so look for the percentage. Around half cashmere and above gives you the softness you are paying for; a small share of nylon and polyester is a good sign, not a bad one, because it adds strength. Then look at the knit. A fine, even knit with no loose loops at the toe seam means a sock that will not rub. Rib at the cuff keeps it up.

Finally, think about colour. Grey and anthracite hide wear and go with almost every shoe. Beige is softer with tan and brown leather. A sparkling yarn is lovely, but it is the pair you will reach for least, so make it your second purchase, not your first.

How to choose a size

Brunello Cucinelli sells its socks in letter sizes, from XS to XXL. Check the size note on the product page before you choose, and if you are between two sizes, take the larger. A sock that is too short pulls at the heel and wears through faster.

How do you wash cashmere socks?

Turn them inside out and hand wash in cool water with a gentle cashmere wash. Press the water out in a towel, never wring, and dry flat away from radiators. Follow the care label first. Rotate pairs so each one rests between wears; I keep two pairs of the same colour for exactly that reason. For more detail, see our guide on how to wash cashmere.

Do cashmere socks make a good gift?

They are one of the best small gifts there is: personal, practical and something most people never buy for themselves. Pair them with a beanie from our guide to cashmere beanies, and find more ideas in the Brunello Cucinelli gift guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cashmere socks worth it?

Yes, if you hand wash them and rotate pairs. They are softer and warmer for their weight than most socks, and a blend with a little nylon and polyester lasts longer than pure cashmere.

Are cashmere socks warm?

Very. Cashmere gives a lot of warmth for little weight, so a fine cashmere sock can be warmer than a thicker wool sock while fitting inside a slim shoe.

Do cashmere socks wear out quickly?

Pure cashmere can wear at the heel and toe. Blends with nylon and polyester are stronger, and hand washing, flat drying and rotation all help a pair last.

Can you wash cashmere socks in the washing machine?

Follow the care label on each pair. Hand washing in cool water is the safest method for cashmere, with the socks turned inside out and dried flat.

What shoes go with cashmere socks?

Loafers, ankle boots and shearling boots. With loafers, let the sock show under a cropped trouser; with boots, a rib knit stays up inside the shaft.