When it comes to cashmere, the more cash you can spend, the better.

“I hate to say it, but usually the higher-end brands are the best quality,” says self-described “cashmere junkie” Amber Ortoll of Delray Beach. “Generally, you get what you pay for.”

Ortoll’s most-trusted brands of cashmere include Autumn Cashmere, TSE and Neiman Marcus. “I actually still own and wear a few of my mom’s old cashmere sweaters that she bought at Neiman’s back in the ’70s and ’80s,” she says.

Dina Capeheart, owner of Dina C’s Fab & Funky Consignment Boutique in West Palm Beach, prefers “any of the cashmere from Scotland and England. It’s just more plush.”

The Good Housekeeping Institute tested several sweaters and found Brooks Brothers’ cashmere worth the splurge — the retailer’s women’s cardigan is $298 — while slightly lower-priced cashmere from J. Crew, Jones New York Collection, Ann Taylor and Lord & Taylor receives high marks from more than one cashmere expert.

Thankfully, post-holiday sales make the coming weeks a prime time to feather your cashmere nest. An even better budget bet: Finding sweater steals at thrift shops and consignment stores.
Ortoll, for example, resells thrift-store cashmere at her Frugal Fashionista boutique in Delray Beach. Prices range from $15 to $30 per sweater.

In Tequesta, Circa Vintage Consignment Boutique maintains a cashmere wish list for its customers. “We sell quality cashmere as fast as it comes in,” says Carol Medina Wright, who recommends White + Warren and Johnstons of Elgin. The week before Christmas, she tempted shoppers with Loro Piana turtlenecks for $55 and a Peck and Peck twinset for $102 — “all in pristine condition.”

Women in South Florida, “instead of investing in a coat, will invest in a cashmere sweater,” says Capeheart, who stocks her boutique’s sweater bar almost exclusively with cashmere. “It’s lightweight, but it provides you with the warmth that you need when you get little cold spells here and there.”

And it’s Florida-friendly — perfect for layering, a cinch to pack, easy to wear on cool spring nights. “There’s something about cashmere — when it comes in hot pink, it doesn’t look like a winter item,” says Capeheart.

Want to supplement your cashmere collection before Mister Freeze visits town again? Here’s some shopping advice from the experts:

BROWSE THE MEN’S SECTION.
“Classic cashmere styles are unisex, so ladies are smart to shop the men’s department,” Ortoll says. “Wear a men’s pullover as a tunic or add a belt to a cardigan or sleeveless V-neck vest.”

READ THE LABEL.
If it’s pure cashmere you’re after, the tag should say 100 percent cashmere. A sweater may initially look and feel like cashmere, but “if you don’t see a tag indicating the fiber content, walk away,” says Real Simple magazine.

DOUBLE DOWN.
Cashmere that’s labeled (at least) 2-ply will be stronger. “That means there are two strands twisted together within the thread or yarn,” says Huddy. “Cashmere is fragile and 2-ply yarn helps to boost its strength and durability.”

GIVE IT A HAND.
If you can see the color of your hand through a single layer of the garment you’re considering, “it is most likely a single-ply and way too thin,” says Wright.

DRAPE AND SQUEEZE.
“The best quality cashmere does not hang stiffly when draped over your arm,” says Wright. If you scrunch it, it springs back. If you gently pull on it, it returns to its proper shape.

DON’T GET FUZZY.
Sweaters that start out looking fuzzy will soon develop pills.

AT THRIFT STORES, CHECK OUT THE KIDS’ SECTION.
“I have found cashmere sweaters donated to thrift stores because somebody accidentally threw them in the dryer and shrunk them,” says Ortoll. “These are the perfect size for my kids (who I would not typically splurge on cashmere for).”

CASHMERE-SHOPPING DON’TS

When Amber Ortoll goes thrifting for cashmere, there are typically three reasons she’ll opt not to buy:

1. Holes. ‘Always inspect every inch carefully,’ says the Delray Beach boutique owner.

2. Monkey sleeves. ‘When left on a hanger for too long the sleeves will get completely stretched out and — unless you have really long arms — will not fit properly.’

3. Bad odors. ‘Always give thrift-store finds a sniff before purchasing — mothball and musty smells can linger even after cleaning.’

HANDLING CASHMERE WITH CARE

Protect your cashmere investment by following this advice:

Easy does it: Woven garments should be dry-cleaned, says the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute, but knit items can be hand-washed in cold water. Carol Medina Wright at Circa Vintage Consignment Boutique in Tequesta recommends baby shampoo, Woolite or a gentle detergent.

Drying time again: Lay sweaters out flat to dry and use a warm iron to smooth out wrinkles, says Amber Ortoll, owner of Delray Beach’s Frugal Fashionista.

Know when to fold ’em. Fold cashmere sweaters with tissue and keep them in a drawer, says the cashmere institute.

Wrinkle cure. Allow cashmere garments to ‘rest’ for at least 24 hours between wearings, and any wrinkles will disappear, says the institute.

Spot treatment. Rinse stains as soon as possible with cold water. Hot water could set the stain.

Pill talk. Kathleen Huddy of the Good Housekeeping Institute recommends skipping tape and lint rollers when trying to remove sweater pills — they can make pills worse. She likes Remington’s sweater shavers, which are about $6 on Amazon.com.

Wash and stash. At the end of the cashmere season, give your items one last wash before you store them, says Ortoll. ‘Often, even a tiny drop of wine, juice or a little spot that you barely notice will be a hole by the next year.’

Why is cashmere expensive?
Because it takes a good bit of elbow grease to produce a quality cardigan.

According to the Scottish Cashmere Club, the best cashmere comes from the soft underbellies of the cashmere goat. When you don a 100 percent cashmere sweater, you’re wearing two goats’ worth of under-fleece. But the feel of that fleece is unmatched.

‘Every woman should own a piece of cashmere,’ says Dina Capeheart, owner of Dina C’s Fab & Funky Consignment Boutique in West Palm Beach. ‘You don’t know until you’ve worn it.’