Barrie began as a stocking maker. Walter Barrie and Robert Kersel founded it in Hawick, Scotland, and the manufacture opened in 1903. By the 1920s it was making two-tone pieces designed by Gabrielle Chanel, and Chanel's two-tone cashmere cardigans were produced there for over 25 years before Chanel acquired the house in 2012. The house's own label launched two years later, designed in a Paris studio and knitted in Hawick. About 96 percent of its sweaters are cashmere, and the cashmere is spun and dyed in Scotland by Todd & Duncan, founded in 1897. That is the background to this first group. The Thistle-motif cashmere cardigan and the Thistle-motif sleeveless top carry the Scottish emblem, the Floral Intarsia Cashmere Sweater in pink and the Floral-intarsia cardigan are the colorful ones, and the Gem-embellished cashmere cardigan and the Jewel-fastening cashmere cardigan are the dressier ones. The Crochet-knit zip-up cardigan is the easy layer. For the plain days, the Fine-knit crew-neck T-shirt, the Cashmere-patch T-shirt, the Knitted t-shirt and the two logo cotton T-shirts keep the brand's name close. For ways to wear a knit as an accessory, see how to wear a sweater over your shoulders, and for the cardigan shape itself, the cropped cardigan.

Knit trousers are where Barrie surprises people. The Tapered-leg cashmere trousers, the Wide-leg knitted trousers, the Flared knitted trousers and the Cashmere pants are soft but cut like tailoring, and the Embroidered-logo knitted trousers add a small brand mark. The denim-look pieces are the clever ones: the Cotton-Cashmere Denim Skirt in blue, the Cashmere Cotton Denim Trousers in navy, the Contrast-Stitching Knit Denim Mini Skirt and the Fringed denim mini skirt read as jeans from across the room but are made with cashmere. The High-waisted midi skirt, the Pleated cashmere-blend mini skirt and the Cashmere and cotton shorts complete the lineup. What I would skip is pairing the Wide-leg knitted trousers with a bulky sweater, since two soft volumes lose the shape; a fitted tee or a fine knit works better. For a denim-skirt outfit, my denim skirt, grown up edit has ideas, and the wide-leg pants guide covers the trouser side.

The accessories are where the brand's cashmere is easiest to understand. The B-logo cashmere scarf is the signature, the Embossed thistle-motif scarf is the Scottish one, and the Bandana-print scarf, the Star-pattern scarf, the Floral-motif scarf and the Paisley cashmere bandana are the pattern pieces. The Cashmere beanie hat, the Ribbed-knit cashmere beanie and the Ribbed cashmere beanie are the simple warmth, and the Shearling-trim cashmere beanie and the Shearling zip-up collar-scarf are for the coldest days. The Cashmere fingerless gloves are the small practical piece. A scarf is the best first way to wear Barrie, since it lifts a plain coat without changing anything else. Because the cashmere is spun and dyed in Scotland, even the simplest beanie here carries the mill's story, and the logo pieces make that easy to spot. If you like a pattern, choose one scarf and keep the coat and hat plain, so the thistle, star or paisley is the only print in the outfit.

Outerwear carries the same knit-meets-tailoring idea. The Knitted jacket and the Color-block buttoned jacket are the soft blazers, and the Denim Cashmere Cotton Jacket in beige, the Contrast-stitching denim-effect jacket and the Distressed frayed jacket carry the denim look. The High-neck poncho and the Cashmere cape are the dramatic ones, while the Duffle coat is the practical piece for a cold commute. In our fashion dreams she is crossing a station platform in the Cashmere cape over a plain knit and trousers, the poncho and the cape doing the work of a coat and a scarf at once. The Duffle coat is the one to choose for rain or wind, and the denim-effect jackets are the lighter layer over a knit dress. For travel days, my jackets to travel in covers other layers.

The last group is small and quietly impressive. The Cable-knit roll-neck maxi dress and the Knitted cashmere lace dress are the knit dresses, soft enough for a long day and finished enough for dinner, and the Cashmere jumpsuit is the one-piece answer for a day when you do not want to think about an outfit. The Button-fastening raincoat is the odd one out, a practical outer layer to wear over any of them, and a sensible reminder that a knitwear house also thinks about weather. Wear the roll-neck dress with flat boots and a belt at the waist, or the jumpsuit with a plain coat, so the knit does the talking. The lace dress is the one for an evening, and I would keep its styling simple, with small earrings and nothing around the neck.

I would pick one thing from each group: a thistle cardigan, the denim-look trousers, a B-logo scarf and the cashmere cape. Augustin Dol-Maillot has been the artistic director of the Paris studio since 2018, and the house's sense of ease comes through in the clothes. Soft, well made and quietly Scottish is how I would describe them, and a good reason to buy one real piece rather than many small ones. Start with the cardigan, and the rest follows.

To round out the look, see Chunky Knit Scarves and Jenni Kayne Knitwear and Trousers.