Khaite Cardigans and Sweaters: A Guide to the Cashmere Knitwear

A Khaite cardigan and a Khaite sweater are, at heart, cashmere pieces: most of the knitwear is cut in the label’s dense house cashmere, lofty Italian cashmere and cashmere blends, sized XS to XL. At Coveti the cardigans run from $2,280 for the Nora to $6,720 for the Eita, and sweaters start at $1,560 for the cropped Lorelai. The cardigan that made the brand famous went viral in 2019, when Katie Holmes was photographed wearing one.

Khaite currently lists 92 knitwear pieces, more than any other clothing category the label makes. The names change by season, but the shapes repeat: cropped cardigans, fitted crewnecks, shrunken pullovers, relaxed turtlenecks and oversized cables. Once the shape is right, the yarn decides the price.

What makes Khaite cashmere different

Khaite describes its cashmere in a few distinct grades, and they knit up very differently.

• The house cashmere: what Khaite calls its quintessential cashmere is compact and lush, with a dense, velvety softness that the brand says deepens over time. It is used on the Simone and Phelps sweaters and the Marjorie cardigan.
• Lofty Italian cashmere: a lighter, airier grade, described as luscious and weightless, used for the Eita cardigan and the Cain sweater.
• Dense, resilient cashmere spun in Italy: heavier and springier, used for the Gemma sweater and the oversized Axel cardigan.
• Cashmere and mohair: a marled melange with more texture, found on the Nico, Elias, Maura and Takeo.
• Blends: merino and cashmere (Annora, Jackson, Leni, Lorelai), wool and cashmere (Cooper, Lotta, Tansy), cashmere and silk (Niels), and virgin wool and silk for the argyle Rita and Tammy.

Pure cashmere sits at the top of the price range. The merino blends are the gentlest way into the label, at $1,560 to $2,430 at Coveti.

The 2019 Katie Holmes cardigan

In 2019 Katie Holmes was photographed in a Khaite cashmere cardigan, and the picture went viral. It turned a young New York label, founded by Catherine Holstein in 2016, into a name people searched for. Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Beyoncé have since worn Khaite as well, and Holstein went on to win CFDA American Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

The style most associated with that moment is the Scarlet cardigan. It is still on khaite.com in Glaze, Black and Barley: a deep v-neck in mid-weight cashmere, cropped at the body and balanced by relaxed, extended sleeves, with fisherman’s rib trim, patch pockets and tortoiseshell buttons. Unusually for Khaite it runs from XXS. Coveti stocks the Scarlet Cardigan from $3,212.

Khaite cardigans by shape

Cropped

The cropped cardigan is the Khaite signature. Beyond the Scarlet, the Eita Cardigan in Biscotti ($6,720) is a fisherman’s rib in lofty Italian cashmere with dropped shoulders, horn buttons and patch pockets, structured but light. The Marjorie Cardigan in Bark ($3,930) has a stand collar and a double jersey stitch for a smoother, cleaner shape. The Niels Cardigan in Cherry ($3,630) is cut shrunken and gently cropped in a cashmere and silk melange, closed with gold-tone floral buttons.

Classic crewneck

For a cardigan to wear every week, the Everheart is the one Khaite itself calls collectible. It is jersey-stitched cashmere with 1×1 ribbing at the crewneck, hem and cuffs, and the buttons change by colour. The Everheart Cardigan in Coffee has tortoiseshell buttons and the Fog version has calfskin-covered ones, both $2,870. The Nora Cardigan in Biscotti ($2,280) is fitted, with grosgrain at the placket, and is the most affordable pure-cashmere cardigan in the edit.

Long, relaxed and oversized

The Takeo Cardigan ($3,020) is elongated and collared, made in Italy in cashmere and mohair, snug through the body with side slits. The Axel Cardigan in Artichoke ($3,930) is oversized with a v-neck and a reinforced placket. The Annora Cardigan in Camel ($2,430) is boxy, in merino and cashmere, with extended sleeves and a stand collar.

Refined and fitted

The Cooper Cardigan in Black ($3,780) is the dressiest: a wool and cashmere tubular knit that fits cleanly through the shoulders, fastened with hook-and-eye closures from the neckline to below the bust. New this season, the Rita Cardigan in Black Multi ($3,930) is a body-skimming argyle in virgin wool and silk with horn buttons along an asymmetric placket.

Khaite sweaters by shape

Crewnecks

The Margaux Sweater in Charcoal ($2,720) is a densely knit cashmere crew with dropped shoulders, the plainest and most versatile of the pullovers. The Gemma Sweater in Dove ($3,630) is heavier, with fisherman’s rib trim, and the Cain Sweater in Biscotti ($3,630) is a lightweight rounded shape with a split neckline.

Shrunken and cropped

The Leta is Khaite’s shrunken crew, with a cropped hem and bracelet sleeves designed to sit above a high-rise waistband. The Leta Sweater in Dusty Rose is $2,070. The Jas Sweater in Black ($1,990) has a high v-neck and short sleeves, and the Lorelai Sweater in Camel ($1,560) is a cropped saddle-sleeve crew in merino and cashmere.

Turtlenecks and mock necks

The Kelly Sweater in Black ($3,630) is a substantial rib-stitched turtleneck in Italian cashmere with fluted cuffs. The Simone Sweater in Bark ($2,870) has a mock neck in the house cashmere, and the Annette Sweater in Sterling ($2,720) is a finer merino turtleneck with a softly draped collar.

Oversized and textured

The Nico Sweater ($3,630) is an oversized cable in cashmere and mohair with elbow patches. The Novis Sweater in Dark Multi ($5,400) is elongated and marled, and the new Timi Embroidery Sweater ($6,720) layers embroidery over an argyle in heritage cashmere and mohair.

Short sleeves

The Golden Sweater ($2,130) is a cashmere t-shirt with subtly shrunken sleeves. The Davin and Sabina have elbow-length sleeves, and the Leni Sweater in Black ($1,840) is a close-fitting short-sleeved polo.

Khaite knitwear compared

Sizing Khaite knitwear

Khaite knits run XS, S, M, L and XL, and the Scarlet adds an XXS. The cut does most of the work, so take your usual size and read the description. Shrunken styles such as the Leta, Jas and Niels are designed to sit close and short. Oversized pieces such as the Axel, Nico and Novis are already generous, so sizing up only adds bulk. For conversions to UK and EU sizes, see the Khaite size guide.

How to wear a Khaite cardigan

The 2019 formula still works: a cropped cardigan buttoned partway over a high-rise jean, with the hem landing at the waistband. The Danielle and Abigail are the natural partners, and the Khaite jeans guide explains every fit. A fitted Nora over a satin slip skirt is the evening version; the Khaite skirts edit has the bias and A-line shapes that suit it. Longer cardigans like the Takeo work as a light layer over a knit dress from the Khaite dresses guide.

Cashmere lasts longer folded than hung, because the weight of a cardigan pulls the shoulders out of shape on a hanger. Rest it a day between wears and de-pill gently with a cashmere comb.

Shopping Khaite knitwear at Coveti

The full range sits in women’s knitwear and on the Khaite brand page; for comparable cashmere, see The Row and Gabriela Hearst. Pair a sweater with something from women’s pants for the simplest Khaite outfit. Every piece is authenticated, shipped worldwide by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority and insured to 110% of value. Most regions are Delivered Duty Unpaid, and unused pieces with the Coveti tag can be returned within 14 days.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Khaite cardigan Katie Holmes wore?

Katie Holmes made a Khaite cashmere cardigan go viral in 2019. The style most associated with that moment is the Scarlet, a cropped deep v-neck cardigan in mid-weight cashmere with tortoiseshell buttons and patch pockets, which Khaite still makes in Glaze, Black and Barley.

Is Khaite knitwear 100% cashmere?

Much of it is. The Everheart, Nora, Eita, Marjorie, Margaux and Leta are cashmere, while other styles use blends of cashmere with mohair, silk, merino and wool. Each product description lists the yarn.

How much is a Khaite cardigan?

At Coveti, Khaite cardigans range from $2,280 for the Nora to $6,720 for the Eita. The Everheart is $2,870 and the Scarlet starts at $3,212.

Do Khaite sweaters run small?

Khaite knits run XS to XL and are cut to a deliberate shape. Shrunken styles such as the Leta and Jas are designed to sit close and short, and oversized styles such as the Nico and Axel are already roomy, so most people take their usual size.

What is the most classic Khaite cardigan?

The Everheart is the everyday choice: a jersey-stitched cashmere crewneck with 1×1 ribbing, which Khaite describes as collectible. The cropped Scarlet is the most famous.

Which Khaite sweater is best for layering?

The Margaux is a relaxed cashmere crewneck that sits easily under a coat, and the Leta is cropped to sit above a high-rise waistband. The fine merino Annette turtleneck is the slimmest layer.

How do you care for Khaite cashmere?

Fold cashmere rather than hanging it, rest it between wears and remove pilling gently with a cashmere comb. Follow the care label on each piece for cleaning.