How to Wear a Shawl with a Dress?

When looking for accessories that go with a dress, few people would think of a shawl. Perhaps, many ladies now think that the combination of a dress and a shawl is outdated. Indeed, two or three centuries ago, a shawl was one of the essential accessories for ladies to attend banquets and balls, and fashion is a cycle. The combination that was popular two or three centuries ago is not only not outdated, but is attracting the attention of beautiful ladies again.

You may think that it is easy to just wear a shawl over a dress. However, there are plenty of skills in the choice of the shawl and the matching of colors. If you like this retro look, then keep reading!

Will a Shawl Be Popular in 2025?

The shawl, or scarf, is said to appeared firstly in Rome, not for fashion purposes, but to help men wipe away sweat while working. In winter, Roman soldiers also needed to wear scarves to keep warm when fighting. It wasn’t until the 19th century that scarves and shawls entered the realm of fashion. At the beginning, shawls and scarves were often made of extremely expensive fabrics such as silk, so not many people could afford them, and thus shawls became a symbol of status. But then, shawls made of cheaper fabrics such as rayon became available, and more women began to wear them.

The colors and patterns of shawls can also reflect the economic status and fashion trends of society to a large extent. For example, during the depression, most shawls were lighter in color, while during the boom period after World War II, when the economy began to grow rapidly, shawls were brighter in color and often with patterns such as flowers.

Indeed, as women began to work, fewer and fewer ladies were able to spend a lot of time like the ladies of a hundred years ago, just to elegantly attend a banquet in a shawl. So, you will find that there are few women wearing shawls around you. Therefore, you believe that shawls are no longer popular. But is this really the case? In fact, shawls have not disappeared from various fashion shows, but still appear frequently.

Fashion today is, first of all, about comfort. If we choose shawls for the cool season, it is worth taking a closer look at woolen products.

In the past, wool was almost synonymous with prickliness and discomfort. Now everything has changed. Nowadays, it is not necessary to choose beauty or convenience. Modern wool shawls can be the finest works of knitted art that will keep you warm in the most persistent frosts. And the real zest of the accessory is added by all sorts of prints and decorations. So, even though shawls are not considered an everyday fashion item nowadays, they can still add a lot of color to your outfit at some parties and other occasions.

How to Choose the Right Shawl?

A stole is not like a hairpin, which is very cheap and can be replaced frequently. Even a stole made of artificial materials can cost a lot of money. Therefore, you need to be as careful as possible when choosing a stole. Here are some things you may need to consider.

First of all, a shawl is not just a pure fashion item, it also needs to keep you warm. Therefore, a very important factor you need to consider is the thermal insulation performance of the shawl. In order to better keep you warm, good fabrics include down or wool.

As for the color, we recommend beige most. On the one hand, this is because beige is a very versatile color. Therefore, dresses in any color can be well matched with a beige shawl. Beige, on the other hand, beige is the closest color to cashmere. Therefore, if you are going to choose a woolen shawl, a beige one can largely indicate that it is pure natural and has not been bleached or dyed.

The occasion also needs to be considered. If you are going to the beach on vacation, wearing a silk shawl will certainly look out of place. At this time, if you choose a shawl made of cotton or linen, the overall style will look more unified. On the contrary, if you need to attend a high-end banquet in a five-star hotel, a silk shawl would be more appropriate and can fully demonstrate your elegant charm.

As for the patterns of the shawl, people who like simple style can choose solid color shawls, especially the ones in black , white, beige or grey, which are simple and elegant, and easy to match with various dresses. People who pursue uniqueness can choose shawls with unique patterns or designs, such as geometric patterns, ethnic patterns, etc. Or choose models with special decorations, such as tassels, lace edges, etc., which can show your unique fashion taste.

In addition, please take the size of the shawl into consideration! People who are taller or plumper are suitable for larger shawls, such as 180cm×80cm and above. Such shawls can better cover the body and will not appear too cramped. But if you are a petite lady or would like to wear the shawl as a scarf on certain occasion, then just choose a smaller and delicate one.

Creative Ways of Wearing a Shawl with a Dress

Indeed, the most common way to wear a shawl is over a dress, covering your shoulders and arms. This is how Victorian noblewomen were often seen in movies and TV series. If you like elegant or classic style, then just wear a shawl like this, there is nothing wrong with it! But for those who are not very fond of these two styles, this method is too uncreative and not practical enough for daily wear. So are there more creative ways to wear a shawl with a dress?
One way worth trying is to create a layered look. Fold the cape over and wrap it around your waist, fixing it with a belt. This will create a prettier layered look than just draping it over your shoulders.

Or you can try an asymmetrical look. For example, you can cover your left side and arm with a shawl and leave the dress out on the right. You will also need a belt to fix it. This way of wearing is unique and creative. But it also has a disadvantage, which is that it is very easy to slip off. Therefore, it is more suitable for occasions where you don't move around much.

In addition, for everyday wear, you can fold a smaller shawl and wear it as a scarf. Or, you can even use it as a headband to tie your hair, which is really popular this year. Of course, you can also wear it as a belt. In short, all the roles that a silk scarf can play, a small-sized shawl can also play.

If you live in an area with extremely cold winters, here's another practical way to wear a shawl! Use it as a headscarf and wrap it around your head. This way, your head will be well protected.

Finally, do not forget to wear a shawl as a skirt! Wrap a large shawl around your waist and tie it at the side or back to create a skirt effect. It is suitable for wearing at creative theme parties or art events to show your uniqueness and fashion taste. But don’t forget to adjust its length to make sure the skirt formed by the shawl is shorter than the dress underneath, so that you can create a better layered look!

Ways to Wash and Care for Shawls of Different Fabrics

Maybe you are used to throwing all kinds of cotton clothes into the washing machine at random and washing them at full speed. But if you really spend a lot of money to buy a silk or wool shawl, how could you clean and care for it?

If you have chosen a wool shawl, soak the shawl in warm water about 30 - 40 degrees for about 10 - 15 minutes. It is better to do it with a mild detergent. When washing the shawl, just squeeze it, but do not rub it. Rinse in water of the same temperature as when washing, so that the shawl will not lose its shape. To prevent the wool shawl from deforming, it is better to lay it out on a flat surface to dry instead of hanging it on a hanger.

As for a silk shawl, you also need to be very careful when cleaning. Before washing, read the product's label carefully. If machine washing is not completely prohibited, it means you can use a washing machine. But be sure to choose a gentle model to reduce friction. Also be careful not to mix with that with other rough or sharp clothes to prevent scratching the silk.

Silk easily absorbs color, so when wearing and storing, avoid contacting with brightly colored or easily faded items to prevent staining. When wearing and storing silk shawls, pay attention to the surrounding environment and avoid sharp objects such as keys and pins.