In professional wear, you have fewer options in wearing a stole or a scarf. But when it comes to casual dressing, there are many different ways of wearing a stole. You can knot it, drape it or simply let it flow.
Over Formal Wear
In case of formal office wear, make sure the look is tailored although the fabric itself is unstitched and lends itself to a great deal of creativity in how you wear it. Formal days at office are not the time to experiment with it.
The simplest way to wear a stole is not to knot it. Just run it around your neck in neat folds and let the two ends fall in two parallel straight lines down your front.
If you knot the stole or scarf, make sure it is done with care and that you end up with a neat knot. The simple knot is the best for formal wear. You could tie a single knot once or you could knot it twice. We recommend a single knot once for the neat look.
Another neat looking knot is the European Loop below. Fold the stole in half length-wise. This forms a loop in the middle. Wrap the stole around your neck so that the edges are over one shoulder and the loop over the other. Run the edges through the loop and tighten as much as is needed. Keep the folds neat so that you get the perfect formal look.
For the Casual Look
Ascot Style – Emma WatsonWith casual dressing, you are not too concerned with maintaining the line and neatness of the edges. You can do an Ascot. First wrap it around your neck from front to back so that the edges are backwards. Now wrap them around your neck again and bring them to the front.
Or do a simple wrap, also called shoulder shrug style. Wrap the stole around your neck so that the edges fall to the front. While you leave one side over the shoulder, wrap the stole to cover the other shoulder and you are done with the simple wrap.
Try the Cowl for a rich look. Take a square scarf and fold it into a triangle. Placing the point of the triangle in the front, take the edges over the shoulder towards the back and cross them behind your neck. Now, bring them to the front again and tie a knot in front. Take the center of the scarf and cover the knot with it. Tuck the edges into the neckline so that when you are done, neither the knot nor the edges show.
Alternately, you could tie the knot in front and leave it visible.
Or wear a twisted necklace. Twist the length of the stole and bring the edges together. Place it around your neck and tuck the edges into the scarf so that they are not visible. This looks great with multi-colored stoles.
On a Day Out
On a casual day, there are many more ways to tie a stole. Wrap it around your waist.
Or tie it around your waist.
Or loop it through your belt and knot it with short or long flowing edges.
Or tie it like a head band and leave the knot at your nape or to the side.
Evening Wear
If you have chosen a shawl for evening wear, choose soft fabrics in silk or wool. They can give you the perfect formal evening look. Wear the shawl around your waist or shoulder and drape the edges over your elbows for that sophisticated look. This works well with all kinds of evening wear, sari, gown, kurtas or frocks. In fact, they are perfect for off-shoulder and sleeveless dresses. Remember, the sari has a pallu that falls over one shoulder, so make sure the way you wear the stole or shawl complements it.
The stole is the perfect icing on a great dress. Make sure it complements your dress. Choose the color and fabric with care. Wear the stole to suit the day and your style. Enjoy the day.
Click to read our previous post – Choosing Stoles