During the depths of winter, it’s life’s little luxuries that console us: a mug of something warm to cradle when the office’s central heating is playing up; a hearty meal upon your return from work; a feathery duvet waiting for you at nightfall. When it comes to clothes, those small indulgences manifest in the form of shearling-lined boots, down jackets (still the only acceptable way we’ve come up with to wear said duvet out of the house) and, of course, anything made of cashmere.

For the uninitiated, cashmere is collected from cashmere goats, classified under the subspecies Capra aegagrus hircus. The breed produces a double coat: one under-fleece that yields soft fibres and another, more robust, topcoat. After it’s shorn or, more commonly, combed, the lengthy operation (about two weeks) of painstakingly separating the fine from the coarse hair begins, before it is spun into yarns. The protracted production process isn’t the only factor that justifies cashmere’s elevated price tag: the low yield is, too. On average, each goat will produce just about 150g of quality fibres a year.

It’s worth it in the end, though, because as well as being softer and finer than sheep’s wool, cashmere is also significantly warmer, retaining up to three times more heat than your standard woollens, and stronger, resulting in less pilling and bobbling in finished garments. All of which makes cashmere clothing the ideal solution to our current seasonal predicament. To that end, we’ve rounded up eight of the cosiest pieces to provide solace during the winter months.

A cult cashmere label from sunny Los Angeles may seem somewhat paradoxical, but it’s arguably the city’s laid-back vibe that has cemented The Elder Statesman’s success. That, and founder Mr Greg Chait’s insistence on using only the finest fibres around. If you’re only going to invest in one cashmere piece, make it a sweater like this: undeniably cosy and in a neutral tone that’ll go with just about everything else in your winter wardrobe.

If the phrase “cashmere-lined boots” sounds appealing, it’s got nothing on how Loro Piana’s Icer Walk boots feel when you’ve actually laced them up. What’s more, they’re treated with a water-repellent and stain-resistant finish that will make light work of winter’s unpredictable weather. If you’ve ever contemplated whether you can get away with wearing your slippers to the office, this is undoubtedly the pair for you.

We have a singular appreciation for down and padded jackets, which have proved to be our saviours more than once already this year. Imagine our joy, then, when we spotted this TOM FORD example on the MR PORTER shelves. Marrying the best cashmere and wearable duvets have to offer, you’ll have trouble finding us in anything else post-holiday season.

Our thoughts on cashmere sweatpants are roughly comparable to a sommelier’s regard for champagne over prosecco: while the cheaper alternative is perfectly fine in most cases, there’s no substitute for the best. If you don’t want to settle for less than the real deal, Burberry’s gloriously indulgent pair will keep you cosy throughout January’s dark, grey days.

A good winter hat is something no man can afford to be without. A beanie, in particular, will not only protect your head (and, with it, your ears), it’s also the adaptable sort of headgear that gents of any age can pull off. Begg & Co, a knitwear specialist based on the craggy west coast of the Scottish Lowlands, is skilled in the art of keeping snug in severe conditions, as this two-toned cap demonstrates: it’s made from ribbed cashmere, which, aside from being a more robust alternative to plain knits, will also trap heat more effectively.

Loro Piana’s cashmere offering is so enticing, we couldn’t help but include it twice in our list. Not only does the brand have a certain way with the wool, but it’s developed proprietary methods of enhancing the yarn’s practical properties, too. The Storm System technology, for example, provides an invisible shield from wind and rain, without compromising the integrity of the natural fibres. It’s been deployed on this overshirt so you can safely weather the season’s inevitable showers.

Not for nothing is Mr Brunello Cucinelli known as the “king of cashmere”, an honorific earned when the Italian designer debuted his line of sweaters spun from the stuff back in the 1970s. Warm enough to sub for a jacket thanks to the internal padding, this elegantly slouchy hoodie proves he’s still a master of the yarn. Yes, it’s roughly the same price as your first car, but you’ll get good mileage out of it.

Good outerwear isn’t just your first line of defence come wintertime; it serves as the bedrock of your cold-weather wardrobe, too. So, when it comes to choosing a winter coat, choose wisely. Cashmere is the paragon in this category and, as long as you look after it properly, Altea’s (relatively) affordable one will bless you with years of warmth.