love me some cashmere...

when it comes to fashion...my first love always...will be shoes...i am seriously thinking that will never change...and i have a closet full to prove it...and second?? well...it would have to be my love for cashmere...

this soft, luxury fiber is among the worthiest indulgences in a wardrobe...cashmere has the cachet of quality and lasts for years...and it is for this reason...that it is quite possible to accumulate a cashmere collection over time...now my cashmere collection is not as vast as my shoe collection...but i do have a lovely array of color in cashmere...

so what should you consider when buying cashmere? it is all about the density and ply...look for a sweater that has heft and feels substantial...there are many one-ply cashmeres that are lovely...two-ply are simply sublime...and then the three- and four-ply are almost sinful...but oh so luxurious...be on the lookout for show-through...which usually indicates a poor-quality weave...

and the absolute worst thing that could happen to your fabulous collection of cashmere would be the first sighting of a tiny hole...so take care of your luxuries with a little bit of rosemary...

cashmere requires simple care...wash in plenty of lukewarm water with mild detergent or baby shampoo...gently squeeze the sweater rather than scrub...rinse in several washes of cool water until the water runs clear...roll up in a towel to absorb excess moisture...lay flat, block, and dry away from excessive heat...touch up with a warm iron, with your sweater turned inside-out...

top drawer scents...

once your drawers are clean...take that one extra step...

an inexpensive and simple treat to indulge in...

you can always go the route of lining your drawers with lining made specifically for that purpose...or...you can get creative...

what to use??

how about placing scent strips from magazines in your underwear drawer?

or fancy soaps?

or fresh-cut rosemary from the garden?

or...even fresh herbal tea bags?

anything to give yourself a nice pleasant whiff when you pull open the drawer...

it is just a little private pleasure, not one anyone else will ever be aware of...
open the drawer while getting dressed in the morning...a fairly humdrum moment in your everyday life...but close your eyes, breathe deeply, and stay there a moment before going on with the rest of your ordinary day...

a lovely scent on which to begin...

cashmere & rosemary...

love my cashmere...i have a closet full...to me...there is nothing more luxurious...

how about you?

if you are like me...and have a closet packed with cashmere...how do you keep it princess-perfect? few things are as heart-stopping as the sight of a tiny hole in your favorite sweater...just because you now know how to turn an old cashmere sweater into a snug headband and a decorative pillow...doesn't meant you want your entire wardrobe to end up that way!

mothballs are smelly...i say no no no to the mothballs...

cedar is one way to go...but at times i get tired of that scent...and want something different...

what's a girl to do?? simple...just go out to the garden and snip some rosemary...i've battled those hungry moths myself and was delighted to learn that fresh rosemary wards off the little guys...cut yourself a few stalks (or pick them up in the herb section of the grocery store if you don't have rosemary growing) and place them in and around your sweaters...you might cut a nice bunch and wrap the ends in twine and hang it upside down in your closet...cutting fresh rosemary and replacing it every few weeks is a nice little ritual that gets you out into your garden...and the real bonus is that your closet smells like an talian bakery all the time...ahhh...fresh focaccia! what could be better?

do you have some tricks of the trade to keep your cashmere safe?