From left, Joseph cashmere coat, $1,035 at Joseph; joseph-fashion.com; the Row wool coat, $4,990 at Neiman Marcus, neimanmarcus.com; and Club Monaco Collection wool-blend wrap coat with shearling ...

Forget your cut-price cashmere, which quickly reveals itself by bobbling and pilling (the effect of hundreds of short-fibre ends coming to the surface); the animal fibre chosen by Barrie is fine ...