How to Wear an Evening Shawl
Learning how to wear an evening shawl is an easy endeavor that will keep you warm and looking great as temperatures drop. Whether your goal is to wear your evening shawl to accent formal attire, to keep your neck warm under a winter coat or vest, or simply for a fun and casual evening wrap that moves with you, your evening shawl will provide you with many options for accessorizing various looks in your wardrobe. Learn how to wear an evening shawl for many different occasions as you plan your evening attire choices.
Evening Shawl: Around the Neck in a "Mock Turtleneck"
One great way to wear an evening shawl is around the neck. There are several variations on this look, and you can vary these by how narrowly you fold the shawl before wrapping it around your neck. One way is to fold your shawl in half length wise, then wrap it around your neck so that one side hangs quite a bit longer than the other. Now, take the longer end and make a double wrap again around your neck. Now tie the two ends together wherever they meet (ideally in front of your neck) and tuck the loose edges beyond the tie under the shawl folds. This is a great way to add drama and style to a lower necked formal dress or shirt and still stay warm in cooler months.
Evening Shawl: Around the Neck in a Loose Tie
Another great way to wear an evening shawl to capture the "casual chic" look so popular in today's evening styles is to fold your evening shawl in half length-wise, and then again if you desire a narrower look, and then wrap the shawl around your neck so that one end is hanging down in front about half again as long as the other end. Next, take the longer end and loosely knot it with the shorter end so that both loose ends hang down beyond the knot fairly evenly. This is a great look for over an elegant cashmere or wool sweater or over a formal blazer.
Evening Shawl: Around the Torso in a Shirt Wrap
Superstar celebrity Angelina Jolie has popularized this look for an evening shawl, and you can get the same superstar style by taking your evening shawl and opening it up to full width, then wrapping it around your back so that one end is longer than the other in front. Next, begin draping it tightly around your torso from above the shoulder blades to waist or even mid-hip depending on your torso length. You can then take the longer end and flip it up across your opposite shoulder blade to secure it, and even use a decorative broach or fashion pin to hold the shawl in place. This is a great look when coupled with a simple tank or formal silk shirt over a long pencil skirt or narrow leg slacks and can be quite striking when you also fashion your hair into an updo for the evening.
