Article Summary
Compare wool and cashmere coats by the cashmere percentage, the finished shell, and the lining. See why the selected color can change the blend.
Start With the Percentage
Compare a wool coat with a cashmere coat by reading the shell percentages first. A wool-cashmere blend can be mostly sheep wool. The cashmere percentage tells you how much cashmere the shell contains. Fabric weight, weave, finish and the coat's construction also affect how it feels and wears.
Cashmere is a specific fiber, with a defined meaning in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission's cashmere labeling guide explains why a coat advertised as a blend should tell you how much of each fiber it contains. On a product page, find the composition entry instead of stopping at the name above the photographs.
The Blend Can Change With the Color
The gray Baby Suri coat lists 90% wool, 5% cashmere and 5% rabbit hair in the shell. The retailer gives a different composition for beige. Here the two colors share the same style name while the fabric blend changes.
Black Fleeting Memories lists 69.1% sheep wool, 16.8% polyester, 9.4% cashmere and 4.7% other fibers. Both coats are wool-rich blends. The black Fleeting Memories coat lists a higher cashmere percentage, while the gray Baby Suri coat lists more sheep wool. The percentages give no way to compare the weight of the cloth or the way the two coats hang.
When a listing gives one composition beside several colors, choose the color you intend to order and see whether the details change. Save the full fiber list with that option. If the listing is unclear, ask the seller which composition belongs to the color in your cart.
What the Lining and Finish Change
The Magic World coat describes a wool-cashmere shell and a separate polyester-viscose lining. In the gallery, the turned-back lapel shows the outer fabric; the product description identifies the separate lining material.
Run your fingers along the lapel and inside the cuff at a fitting. The surface at the neckline can matter if you wear the coat over a low collar. The inside of the sleeve matters when you pull the coat over a sweater. On the same coat, a textured lapel can feel quite different from a smooth sleeve lining.
When the Cashmere Is Worth Paying For
Suppose two coats both fit over your regular clothes. The more expensive one is advertised as a cashmere blend. Put them on over the same top and compare the collar, sleeve lining and freedom of movement. Close the front, reach forward and feel the collar against your neck. If you prefer how the more expensive coat sits and are comfortable following its care label, you have a reason to choose it. If the two coats feel equally comfortable and suit the same outfits, a higher cashmere percentage may add little to your own reasons for choosing between them.
Look at What the Price Includes
The price of a coat also buys the construction, lining and finish. Feel the fabric at the neck and examine the seams and lining. Those are qualities you will wear and handle along with the fiber blend.
About Firelady Fur · MODERN FUR · STYLE MUSES
The wool coat types guide can help if you are still deciding on length or shape. Once you have chosen a cut, compare the selected color and care instructions in the wool and cashmere coat collection.
