W+W’s publicists head west each season to meet with L.A.’s finest – the celeb stylists that make it all happen in la la land – getting the newest, most coveted item in their hands to introduce to their star clients. With Travel Wraps in tow, we set up shop at the Four Seasons for 2 days of back to back appointments while enjoying the beautiful weather. Celebrity stylist Jessica Paster ran in (always in a hurry!) to pick up some cashmere for her girls – Jessica Simpson, Hilary Duff, and Jewel and was catching up with old time colleague and stylist George Blodwell who couldn’t keep his hands off the electric blue cashmere eyemask. He was also scoping out items for Genlux Magazine– the luxe LA glossy where he’s the editor at large. The ladies from Entourage’s wardrobe department also came by dishing about the cast, the new season and how Adrian, the infamous Vinnie Chase, can’t get enough of his White + Warren thermal crewnecks. And this was just the first hour…

Being a cashmere-a-holic, I’ve been storing sweaters and wraps for many years. I can safely say I’ve yet to find a moth hole in a single item. It’s actually quite simple. A few quick steps will keep cashmere like new for years to come:

• Make sure your sweaters are clean and thoroughly dry (of course use your White + Warren Cashmere Care for cleaning!)
• Fold carefully to avoid wrinkles-I prefer a flat fold. No need to waste paper or worse, plastic, in between garments.
• Store in open shelves or any sort of breathable bags.
• Put cedar chips (smooth ones, I buy mine at K-Mart) in each shelf for moth and moisture prevention and add sachets of herbs such as rosemary or thyme for additional moth proofing. I prefer a touch of Santa Maria Novella potpourri as it is my favorite scent on earth!

Today is a very proud day here at White + Warren. We are all thrilled that our company’s founders- Susan White and Barbara Warren- have been honored at the Women at Risk annual luncheon. Susan and Barbara were given awards for their years of work with this worthy organization, whose mission is to enhance the lives of women with and at risk for breast cancer.

Hand washing is a great way to safely clean cashmere knits. It’s gentle on your clothes and the environment, doesn’t require a trip to the cleaners, and costs far less. Always use cold water and a mild detergent such as baby shampoo or our Cashmere Care. After soaking and rinsing thoroughly, squeeze out excess water, but never wring. Lay the sweater out flat between two towels, roll to dry, and place the sweater on a dry towel or drying rack. Getting out the excess water is important because- like other wools and cotton- cashmere should not be wet for long periods of time. If you must iron (though a nice flat drying surface should preclude this) check the garment care label for instructions. Taking care to hand wash properly is a good way to keep both your clothes and the environment in better shape.

Dry cleaning has long been a highly recommended way to clean without damaging garments. But what’s safe for your clothes isn’t necessarily safe for the environment. There will always be situations- such as with delicate silks, stained items, and tailored suiting- where dry cleaning is the best solution. However, dry cleaning has certain drawbacks that you may want to consider when an alternative method is available. Dry cleaning usually uses a non-aqueous solvent called perchloroethylene. Although most of this chemical is reclaimed in the process, dry cleaning can impact exposed workers and groundwater. Some businesses now offer alternative “wet cleaning” which uses water and detergents. Both methods have benefits and drawbacks. The best way to ensure that your cashmere sweaters are cleaned safely and responsibly is to wash them by hand.

Our latest guest blogger is our friend Meredith Barnett, founder of Store Adore (www.storeadore.com) an online guide to great boutiques on the web and in cities everywhere.

A bridesmaids gift takes the (wedding) cake when it fits the following criteria: personal and cohesive, as well as useful on the day of and ever after. During my several times as a bridesmaid, I’ve received my share of oversized pearl-like earrings (decent with the ice blue dress, but never to be worn again) and bought-off-The-Knot picture frames, and I was determined to gift my girls with something they’d treasure. I searched high and low through Store Adore’s favorite resources, and I finally came up with a gift that, if their reactions are any measure, scored a perfect…seven.

Each of my seven bridesmaids received a White + Warren cashmere ruffle wrap in white, that I had subtly monogrammed with her initials in a pink that matched the shade of the bridesmaids’ dress. Not only did the girls wear them through the rehearsal dinner, but they also used them all wedding day (including during these pictures outside—it was freezing!) and through brunch the next day. The wraps will be perfect through the spring and summer in chilly offices or windy evenings, and can be used as scarves throughout the winter months. The wraps are elegant, feminine, and chic, just like each of my beautiful best friends.

When you’re throwing one of the most lavish celebrity weddings ever, you need the best gifts for everyone involved. Check out the Cashmere Airtex Wrap amongst the magnificent array of gifts Eva Longoria gave to her bridesmaids.

Jane Saidenberg- our friend and queen of the smart travel bag- waxes poetic about her White + Warren. How do you feel about yours? Tell us!

I love my cashmere sweatpants so much that I wrote a poem about them:<

Oh! Soft, warm, cushion to the world
Lose myself forever
Never wear pants again
Bliss? Heaven? All words fail…
Why, oh why, did I wait so long!