Cashmere is the essence of winter. It's soft and cozy, just the way you want to feel when the weather takes a turn for the worst. But most of can't afford true cashmere right? Wrong! We found a tasty tidbit from In Style mag, wherein they indulged on 11 cashmere contenders to find the best bargain under $250. Who was the winner?

Ann Taylor's $159 cashmere cardigan. Woo-hoo!

Look for cashmere quality with these helpful hints.

• A "linked" collar. This mean the collar was knitted right in, not sewn on separately.

• The denser the gauge the better. Avoid anything that feels limp.

• Tight buttonholes (tee-hee hee). They help the sweater keep its shape.

• Smooth hems and cuffs give a more flattering fit.

• Buttons with some spunk take a cardigan from average to perfection.

Via InStyle