LaPointe Knitwear: The Wearable Side of the House

LaPointe knitwear is where the house gets quiet. A cashmere silk turtleneck is not what the brand is famous for, and that is precisely why the knits are the pieces that end up worn most.

They also carry the signature in a wearable dose: a merino mock neck with ostrich plumes at the wrist is a normal sweater until you move.

What yarns does LaPointe knit in?

Three recur.

Cashmere silk, usually around 79% cashmere to 21% silk. The silk adds a faint lustre and stops the cashmere going matte, and it makes the knit drape rather than sit. This is the yarn on the turtlenecks and the cropped raglan sweaters.

Merino wool, used for the mock necks and the cropped tanks. Finer and cooler than a lambswool, and it holds a clean edge on a cropped hem.

Matte viscose, which is not wool at all. It is the fluid ribbed jersey used for the wide ribbed skirts, the bandeau tops and the waist tie dresses. It behaves like a knit and hangs like a jersey.

A few pieces are knitted in Italy, and the product page says so when that is the case.

Which LaPointe knit should I buy?

The cashmere silk turtleneck if you want one piece that does the most work. It goes under a blazer, over a satin trouser and on its own. It exists in cream, black and a strong poppy red.

A feather-cuffed merino mock neck if you want the house signature in a sweater. The plumes sit at the wrist, so they show when you gesture and disappear under a coat sleeve.

The matte viscose ribbed skirt if you want the easiest bottom half in the collection. It is a long, fluid ribbed column that works with almost any top.

The cropped raglan if you wear a high waist. It is cut short by design and sits at the natural waist rather than the hip.

See the full run in knitwear and tops.

How does LaPointe knitwear fit?

The knits run in letter sizes, XXS to XXL, rather than the numeric ladder used for the tailoring. They are cut true to size.

Two things are worth knowing. The cropped styles are genuinely cropped, so if you wear a mid-rise trouser there will be a gap. And the oversized turtlenecks are designed with real volume through the body, so sizing up for a slouchy fit usually gives you too much.

How do you care for a cashmere silk knit?

Most LaPointe knits ask for professional dry cleaning, and the feather-trimmed ones ask for a specialist because of the plumes.

Between cleans, the rules are the ordinary cashmere rules and they matter more than the cleaning does. Fold knits, never hang them, because the shoulder will stretch under the weight. Give a knit a day off between wears so the fibres recover. Store them folded with a cedar block rather than mothballs, and store them clean, because moths are drawn to body oils rather than to the wool itself.

For pilling, use a cashmere comb rather than a razor, and work in one direction. Pilling on a cashmere silk blend is normal in the first few wears and settles down.

If a knit has a feather trim, treat the feathers separately. Our feather care guide covers that.

How do you add the LaPointe signature to a plain knit?

Buy the cuffs rather than the sweater. A pair of ostrich feather cuffs over a plain merino sleeve gives the same effect and comes off when you sit down to eat.

Where to buy

Coveti carries LaPointe knitwear in cashmere silk, merino and matte viscose. Browse the LaPointe edit and read how to wear LaPointe. Every piece is authenticated before dispatch.

Frequently asked questions

What yarn is LaPointe knitwear made from?

Mainly a cashmere silk blend of roughly 79% cashmere to 21% silk, merino wool for the mock necks and cropped tanks, and a matte viscose used for the fluid ribbed skirts and tops. Some pieces are knitted in Italy.

Is LaPointe knitwear true to size?

Yes. The knits run in letter sizes from XXS to XXL and are cut true to size. The cropped styles are genuinely short, and the oversized turtlenecks already carry real volume, so sizing up usually gives too much.

Should cashmere be hung up, and should it be folded?

Fold it. Hanging a knit stretches the shoulder under its own weight. Store it folded and clean, with a cedar block, and give it a day between wears so the fibres recover.

How do you stop cashmere pilling?

Some pilling in the first few wears is normal and settles. Remove it with a cashmere comb rather than a razor, working in one direction, and avoid friction from bag straps across the shoulder.

Can you wear feather cuffs with a plain sweater?

Yes, and it is the cheapest way into the LaPointe signature. The cuffs sit on an elastic band over the sleeve of a plain knit and come off easily.

Read next

• LaPointe matching sets
• How to care for feather clothing
• How to wear LaPointe

Written by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti.