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In one of my favorite moments from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park (1814), Lady Bertram plans to make the most of her nephew's military deployment: "Fanny, William must not forget my shawl if he goes to the East Indies; and I shall give him a commission for anything else that is worth having. I wish he may go to the East Indies, that I may have my shawl. I think I will have two shawls, Fanny.”
We think of shawls as being old fashioned and outdated, but a shawl -- or wrap or scarf or whatever less eighteenth century appellation you choose -- is the perfect accessory, no matter what your style. There are a few simple tricks to keep your shawl from making you look like an extra in a PBS production of Little Dorrit.
You can wear a shawl anywhere; pair it with your LBD for evening, or with jeans and a tee for Saturday afternoon. Think of a shawl or wrap as an alternative to the cardigan.
Choose a beautiful color; if you're buying more than one shawl, think about a pattern (a paisley or floral print, for example). A decorative fringe is fun, too. The shawl shown here has a nine inch fringe, which sounds long but is proportional to the shawl. Cashmere-silk blend wrap, $81.00 at Bluefly.
Pashmina and cashmere blends hold up the best; cashmere can be hand washed, too, which means that you can wear your shawl without worry. Wash in cold water with baby shampoo; roll in a towel to soak up the excess water and then dry flat.
For winter, look for heavier knits, just like you would in a sweater; for summer, look for lighter blends of cashmere and silk, or for lightweight synthetic blends. But don't wash synthetics; spot treat with a Tide eraser pen and dry clean as needed (but sparingly, you know -- dry cleaning is hard on the fabric and the environment).
How do you wear a shawl? Wrap it around your neck like a scarf, or over your shoulders like a traditional wrap, depending on the situation. Don't save your scarf for a special event -- wear it any time you're cold. I carry my pashmina with me all the time; it's a lifesaver when I travel, and it takes me from day to evening without any fuss.
Like the look of an oversized shawl? Fashion After 50 shows you how to style a big shawl -- the key is to keep the rest of your outfit simple. The ADD Knitter is making two shawls -- and they are beautiful. Not sure you're up for as shawl? How about a shawl collar cardigan? Omiru shows you how to style it.
Susan Wagner writes about style at The Working Closet and about chic suburban living at Friday Playdate. She carries a gigantic fushia pashmina everywhere she goes (like a security blanket, you know).
