A 1940’s depression-era Bride may have worn her Sunday best suit with a military air to be married at the Courthouse, or perhaps made herself a simple off-white, ivory or beige dress she designed from furnishing fabrics with Gibson or mutton sleeves that billowed at the top and tapered to fit below the elbow.  She may have made her Veil, too, from lace curtains worn on top of swept-up hair, and carried a flower bouquet made from paper due to war-time rationing.  
A wealthier '40’s Bride may have danced the Jitterbug at her wedding to the sounds of a Big Band in a borrowed  Wedding Gown that featured netting or the hint of the first “sweetheart” shaped neckline and corseted waist made of rayon, or sometimes silk.  But as the era turned the corner to the 1950’s, the influence of Christian Dior’s “New Look” hour-glass dress with it’s flowing skirts made of yards of cloth set the stage for Bridal Wear. 

The '50’s Brides are seen encircled in lace or cutwork, overskirts and puffed sleeves, and yards of transparent gauze or satin inspired by the billowing, luxe skirt, tight-waist and barely visible “sweetheart neckline” of the gown that Grace Kelly wore in 1956 to wed Prince Rainier of Monaco, or by Elizabeth Taylor’s hour-glass Wedding Gown. 

The lifting of rationing on fabric allowed women to celebrate their figures with hoop skirts, crinolines and other full-skirt techniques to emphasize the waist and “pointed bosom” bodice.  French lace was the rage as post-war lace began to be manufactured again, bringing back tiers of Chantilly Lace and flouncy frills to the skirts of Wedding Gowns.

Audrey Hepburn equally influenced Bridal Wear in 1954 with her “Modern Princess” look in a ballerina Tea-Length Lace Wedding Dress with sleeves and few embellishments.  Gloves became the standard fashion of the '50s, with fingerless bridal gloves made of tulle, lace, or satin.  Shorter, flutter hemlines led to shorter veils and many gowns were designed with layered materials, three-quarter or long sleeves, upstanding gothic style collars, or to be worn as strapless evening gowns after the wedding. 

Coordinating flowing or opaque Stoles or Lace Boleros worn on top of a strapless dress for coverage at the wedding became popular at the end of the decade as dress lengths moved from floor-length to ankle-length, and dropped hemlines and scooped necklines appeared. 

The 1950's was a decade defined by decorum, elegance, and etiquette. Traditional, classic wedding receptions featured Wedgewood china, white roses, cut glass, and silver on damask cloths.  Wedding cakes, often displayed under a floral arch, were styled with popular motifs from the era, like poodles. 

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes, Shawls and Veiled Bridal Hair Accessories for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Eons ago, Brides simply wore their hair flowing down their back on their Wedding Day to symbolize their virginity.  Later, Roman Brides began wearing an intense, flame-colored and fulsome Veil to protect them from evil spirits on their Wedding Day.

But by the 19th century, our idea of a Modern Wedding clearly turned the corner from notions of hiding the Bride’s visage to her stepping forward in all her pure, natural perfection.  Wedding Veils continued to symbolize a woman's modesty in marriage, but the traditional cotton and lace “Boudoir” Cap was transformed into a confection of exquisitely colorful silk and lace, ornamented with silk ribbons, bows, and flowers fit for a proper Romeo and Juliet Wedding Day ceremony. 

During the years of the 1920's, the Wide-brim Hat of the Edwardian era also reigned chic alongside the "Juliet" Bridal Cap Veil.  A typically fine woven Straw Hat at that time would feature a deep crown worn so low it just about covered the eyebrows. The very wide drooping brim would drop dramatically at both sides and be trimmed with narrow satin ribbon. Large, floppy pink petal flowers were artistically arranged along the brim.

Veils pinned to hats have survived the changing fashions over the centuries and are still common today on formal occasions that require women to wear a Hat.  These Veils are generally designed with netting or other sheer material not to hide the face from view, but rather to grace and adorn the head.

Hats, from fur to silk, have endured in popularity throughout cultures and religions over the centuries, coming in all sizes and shapes from Berets, Caps and Turbans, to Cloches worn to envelope either the head, shoulders and silhouette in celebrating life’s most memorable events ~ and, of course, the crowning event of a Wedding Day.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Like all good fashion movements, the “New Romanticism” emerged from the late 60's and 70’s club scene where the fast and chic, fueled by New Wave music, adopted the extravagant Lace-and-Frills style best seen throughout the era in glam rock, or the free-spirited French Incroyables and Merveilleuses an era earlier -  both of which brought an outbreak of luxury, decadence and even silliness to fashion trends.

The 70's New Romanticism was the era that birthed the iconic Hermes “Birkin” bag, and invented the unshaven, untucked template that French men have been following for decades.  A time when no one had that many outfits, but their taste was select and precise.  We need only look to images of the 1966 racing flick Grand Prix, in which the high-cheekbones and wind-tousled bangs of shy and slightly androgynous-looking models became the epitome of French Chic to see that the passion for graphic lines, lean tops and wide trousers created a playful, upbeat look with fuel to burn.

The runways since have continued to convey these inspirations with Victorian frills, infusions of street style, rock band jackets and vintage inspirations, proving that the New Romanticism is just as exciting as the original Romanticism ever was!  Sparkly pieces, such as sequins, beads and crystals, topped by vintage fur and jewels have become the "New  Appropriate" for weddings, especially when tempered with the casual inspiration of “color.”  

Our stylists at White Stole love the juxtaposition of a jewel-toned gown alongside a feminine, amber-toned clutch and beaded necklace that match the natural tones in an empire length Vintage Stole, as pictured here in the “Sophisticate Stole!” 

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

So many of us dreamed of being a Prima Ballerina when we grew up.  But if you were like us, we went to class after class trying to perfect a plie only to be forced to look ourselves square in the eye and relinquish the search for prima-perfection – but not the love of the quest!  While our hope to dance in the Nutcracker may not have been reached, our love for pastels, tulle and princess-allure have remained.

When Brides-To-Be ask us, “What do you recommend for a simple, Chic Style for my wedding?” we couldn’t be happier to hear the question!  The answer is so White Stole!  Classic pieces taken to the next level through Prima Ballerina “Princess” Accessories alongside pastels, tulle, ruffles and the highest, pointiest stilettos we can walk in!  

Factor in fine gold or silver accents, the delicacy of lace, beadwork  or sequins, pops of color, and a Bride’s “Signature Flair” for taking Couture or Vintage to the max, and your ensemble catapults you into serious “Ultra-Design-Worthy” territory!  Ballet-inspired bridal fashion is all about taking traditional dance-wear elements like flouncy skirts, wraps and shawls, and pointe shoes and lending them a modern, gala-appropriate elegance.  Exactly what a Couture Silk or Vintage Stole Wrap from the White Stole Collection offers.

We suggest you pirouette your way onto center stage in one of the perfectly ultra-feminine pieces from the White Stole Collection at your wedding this year….and take your deserved place in the limelight!

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

We have seen them on last year’s runways, but again in 2014 the world’s top Bridal Collections are truly outstanding with their renewed emphasis on elegance…and the Stole: irreplaceable for the Bride who wants to feel like a fairy Princess on her “I do” day.

Reserved for true dreamers, this “Must-Have” accessory gives a royal touch to the wedding - a Princessly allure that each of us look for on the big day.  An elegant detail, light and sinuous, capable of enchanting a Bride’s guests during her triumphant walk down the aisle.  Short or long, the Stole is present in all variations, Silk Chiffon, Silk Satin, Silk Cashmere, Silk Twill, Silk Tulle, Silk Lace, in white, pastel, black or bold colors, floral and graphic patterns fastened with or without the adornment of a broach.  Extremely light, the Silk Chiffon Stole, in particular, lends an elegant touch that gives fluency to the bride’s every movement unlike any other fabric or accessory - whether draped over neck, shoulder or arm, or tied in the back and draped forward over the shoulders.  For the Modern Bride, the sky’s the limit on her style choices of Silk Stoles!

Even more sophisticated, is the Silk Stole with Lace Embroidered patterning, or in the form of a Vintage Tulle. The Stole becomes an essential accessory for every respectable bride, useful to hide necklines, and, when the time is right, reveal them and enjoy the party.  Truly infinite are the combinations of materials for those who are always chilly and love sheer covering over a strapless gown as they move from church to reception or dining room, or across a ballroom floor.  From the sheerest Chiffon to Silk-Cashmere blends to Tulles that give soft volume and silhouette, the Stole’s transparence and delicacy enriches the shoulders with grace and elegance.

It is well- known that the details in your wedding accessories make the difference!  Viva La Difference~!

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

In the nuptial spirit, White Stole has compiled a collection of quintessential Bride and Guest-of-the-Bride Silk Wraps we encourage you to take to heart....and shoulder…as these are the Wraps you’ll want to never take off!  Treating your Silk Wrap as the new neutral that it is, this accessory is one that goes with everything - especially now as mixed prints are back in high-style.

Whether you are going to a Country, Garden, City, Glam or Island Resort Wedding, if you are in need of a luxe bauble that will serve as a ‘Thank You’ Gift for your bride or bridesmaids, look no further than the chic, luxury-approved curation White Stole has spent hours putting together for you.  

The unexpected set of Italian hand silk-screened, inspired colors and designs in the White Stole Silk "Gift" Stole Wrap Collection will rock any bride and her bridesmaids past the ceremony and on into her lifetime.  We have picked the perfect presents for your bridesmaids or best-friend that will be cherished - and used -  forever!

View White Stole’s entire Gift Collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

The first Shawls, or "Shals," were part of traditional Persian costume in Achaemenid Persia worn by both males and females. Shawls were also part of the traditional costume in Kashmir, India, which was probably introduced via assimilation to Persian culture. They were woven in extremely fine woolen twill, some such as the Orenberg Shawl, were even said to be so fine as to fit through a ring. 

Kashmiri Shawls came in two classes:  they could be loom-woven in one color or in different colors (called tilikar or tiliwalla), and woven in one piece but more often sewn in small segments that are imperceptibly sewn together; or they could be ornately woven and embroidered (called ameli or amlikar). in which an intricate and elaborate pattern is stitched on top of plain pashmina wool.

Kashmiri Shawls as high-fashion garments were brought to Western Europe in the early- to mid-19th century.  Imitation Kashmiri Shawls woven in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland are the origin of the name of the traditional paisley pattern.  Shawls were also manufactured in the city of Norwich, Norfolk, England from the late 18th century (and some two decades before Paisley) until about the 1870s.   The Kashmiri Shawls from Asia maintained a pre-eminent place the world-over for their beauty and quality, particularly the Lightweight Wool Shawls, delicate Silk Shawls, and more sturdy Wool Shawls, however, it is due to their western imitations that Shawls took Europe by storm, replacing fibers like cotton and linen, thereby making it one of the most important accessory pieces in garment history.

The Kashmiri Shawl is characterized by the elaboration of its design, in which the "cone" pattern is a prominent feature, and by the glowing harmony, brilliance, depth, and enduring qualities of its colors. The basis of this richness is found in the very fine, soft, short, flossy under-wool, called pashm or pashmina, found on the shawl-goat, a variety of Capra hircus inhabiting the elevated regions of Tibet.  There are several varieties of pashm, but the finest is a strict monopoly of the maharaja of Kashmir. India.  Inferior pashm and Kirman wool - a fine soft Persian sheep's wool - are used for shawl weaving at Amritsar and other places in the Punjab of India, where colonies of Kashmiri weavers are established. 

Kashmiri Shawls reached their widest and most universal appeal in the West due to Napoleon’s conquests in Egypt and his alleged gifts of Shawls to Josephine, that galvanized their notoriety.

Silk Shawls with fringes, made in China, were available by the first decade of the 19th century.  Ones with embroidery and fringes were available in Europe and the Americas by 1820. These were called China Crepe Shawls, China Shawls, and in Spain " Mantones de Manila" because they were shipped to Spain from China via the port of Manila. 

While the importance of Embroidered Shawls in fashionable women's wardrobes declined between 1865 and 1870 in Western culture, they became part of folk dress in a number of places including Germany, the Near East, various parts of Latin America, and Spain where they became a part of gypsy dress - especially in Andalusia and Madrid.  These Embroidered Shawls were revived in the 1920s under the name Spanish Shawls, a named derived from their use as part of the dress of Spanish Gypsies, also known as Gitanas. Their use as part of the costume of the lead in the opera Carmen contributed to the association of the Shawls with Spain rather than China. 

Shawls are used today to keep warm, for added fashion to complement a costume, and for symbolic reasons at outdoor or indoor evening affairs where the temperature is not warm enough for women in sheer or off-shoulder dresses where a jacket might be inappropriate.

View White Stole’s entire collection of Cashmere-Silk Shawls, Stoles, Silk Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes for purchase, or rental, on our website.

We have seen them on the runways, but of all the elements within designers’ bridal collections, it is the Stole in it’s many forms that is truly outstanding.  Alongside the traditional Veil, the Stole is irreplaceable for the bride who wants to feel like a fairy princess on her “I do” day.

This “must-have” gives a royal touch to the wedding - a princess allure that each of us look for on our big day.  An elegant detail, light and sinuous, capable of enchanting our guests during the triumphant walk down the aisle. Short or long, the Stole Wrap or Stole Cape is present today in all variations, from tulle, lace, organza, and chiffon, in white, pastel, or stunningly bright colors. Extremely light, the Stole lends an elegant touch that gives fluency to the bride’s movements.

More sophisticated is the Stole Wrap in embroidered or appliqued lace. The Stole Wrap becomes an essential accessory for every respectable bride, useful to conceal jaw-dropping necklines or shoulders, and when the time is right, to uncover them and be able to enjoy the party.  Truly infinite are the combinations of materials, from cashmere-silk blends for those who are always cold, to tulles that give soft volume to figures, to chiffons and silk satin for the most luxurious touch.

Reserved for true dreamers is the transparent and very delicate silk chiffon Stole Cape that enriches the shoulders with see-through grace and elegance. It is well- known that the details make the difference in elegance itself.

View White Stole's entire collection of Stoles, Silk Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

The elegant inspiration of a flowing Stole as a formal wrap of expensive fabric wrapped around the shoulders over a long dress or ballgown, created from silk or natural fabric, and of a length long enough to be draped across either shoulders, or around arms or neck has survived in all cultures throughout the ages. 

A Stole Wrap is typically narrower than a Shawl, and of simpler construction than a Stole Cape, and is typically worn loosely around the shoulders. Lighter materials such as silk and chiffon are simply finished or cropped, hemmed and bound.  Heavier materials such as fur and brocade are typically lined.  A Silk Stole is essentially a small version of a ladies’ Stole, made of silk. Though these garments or accessories aren’t always made of silk, they are typically manufactured with similar quality fabrics.

A Stole can also mean a fur or set of furs.  For formal wear, a finished length of fur using pelts from more than one animal is worn over a suit, dress or gown.  In this case, the word Stole stands alone or is used in combination: Fur Stole, Mink Stole.  A Stole is typically narrower than a Cape or Wrap.  The Fur Stole is kept fastened and held together at the front of the collar. Unlike a Silk Stole or Shawl, which is wrapped loosely around a lady’s shoulders and occasionally the neck, a Fur Stole is manufactured to fit the body more snugly

Similar to a Shawl, the Stole Cape typically uses more material length and covers more of the upper body. Also occasionally referred to as a Stole Wrap, the Stole Cape is likely to be found in a wide array of materials and colors, but the most common type of Stole Cape is typically made of fur.  Some popular dressy styles of Stole Capes might include ostrich feathers, marabou, or other material. The feathers can come in various colors, although black, brown and white are generally the most commonly seen.

In addition to making an elegant fashion statement, all types of Stoles have been used to show respect while in a church or in a formal setting, such as for a Wedding, where it might be inappropriate to display bare shoulders or a low-cut gown.

Historically, Stoles were considered ceremonial dress worn for special occasions or at formal events such as weddings, coronations, graduations, parades, religious rites and galas.  Besides the Wedding Dress, throughout history the formal dress code of ceremonial dress has included the Ermine-lined Cloak, Crown and Septer of a King or Queen, Tribal Dress, Suit of Armor, Military Dress, Liturgical Robe, Graduation Gown, and Robe and Wig worn by British judges.  The Stole as an ecclesiastical vestment consisted of a narrow strip of silk or other material worn over the shoulders or, by deacons, over the left shoulder only, and arranged to hang down in front to the knee or below.  The Stole as a long robe was worn by the matrons of Ancient Rome. 

The lithograph plate posted here showing a variety of ways of wearing shawls in early 19th-century France (ca. 1802-1814), is redrawn from various early 19th-century sources by Durin for Albert Charles Auguste Racinet's Le Costume Historique (1888), and shows the myriad, exquisite ways the Silk Stole Wrap has been worn over the ages.

View White Stole's entire collection of Stoles, Silk Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

All you have to do today is look at any fashion magazine or runway to witness that the future of fashion has arrived….and it’s all about dreaming of the past.  Fashion’s tendency to sample and recycle is certainly nothing new.  This truth can be seen as early as Dior’s famous hourglass New Look silhouette, which was hailed as a watershed moment for post-WWII fashion, but it wasn’t altogether original.  

Afterall, Dior’s fanciful design was inspired by the corsets and petticoats of his own Belle Epoque childhood.  What made his designs wildly resonate for so many, however, was that they contrasted sharply with the long war-years of frugality.  Dior wrote in his autobiography in 1956: “It happened that my own inclinations coincided with the spirit or sensibilities of the times.”  And as the world turns, the attraction of timeless couture is proof that it never goes out of style.

Historically, natural fur marked certain stages in the lives of a girl of good family: at eighteen, Daddy would buy her a beaver and a mink jacket or coat for her marriage.   In 1962, Time magazine was asking: “After mink, what?”  In 1964, Valentino began to think about Evening Wear and in that year presented a short natural jacket with kimono sleeves over a long gown.  In fact, the reign of natural fur was to be a long one that also revisited us in its many evolutions.

This 1946 vintage photo by Gjon Mili of Evelyn, Sunny and Dovima in pure White Mink Stoles over evening gowns brings forth the vision of pretty beauty that brought the era under Dior’s hourglass influence.   White Stole calls this inspiration Quintessential!

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Most Rental Bridal Wear is easily forgettable – unless you’re the girls who frequent White Stole’s Vintage Bridal Stole and Couture Silk Wrap Collection.  These girls think of their LBD, or toned-down bridesmaid dresses as a blank canvas that can be decorated based on their age, frame of mind, or wedding theme. 

They understand that the perfect accessory (one piece will do!) will give an immediate uplifting look, and add an air of couture luxury to the look of their wedding day.  They know their wedding dress can be exceptional with the pleasure of wearing a One-of-a-kind Vintage or Couture Stole Accessory that will bring treasured memories of their day for a lifetime.

What fashionable young and older women of today love like none-other is that fashion is NOT about the basics (unless your idea of a basic includes fur-lined collars and lapels on cashmere or silk wrapping your shoulders, arms or neck).  It’s for the type of girls who are on the wait list at Fendi, Prada, Leonard Paris or Valentino to be the first to view their trunk shows – whether they can afford the full-priced item, or must rush-off to search for last year’s edition.  Girls who understand true quality as sticking to smaller, hard-to-find labels.  Girls who loathe fast, cheap fashion and instead comb the back racks for Antique Treasures.  Girls who tear pages from fashion and wedding magazines for later reference.  Girls who truly know themselves.

Those of us who curate the White Stole Collection are devoted to recreating only the very best parts of what came before - right down to the vintage-inspired hatbox that one of our rental Stoles comes in.  We understand, too, that a good part of the thrill in purchasing one of our Couture Wedding Accessories is that it will tell the story of our brides’ wedding day for the rest of their lifetime.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

In New York, Maximilian, as well as David of New York, who worked with Capucci during the time this Italian received the American Fashion Oscar in 1958, brought the love of Stoles to the American market even as it remained highly influenced by European Couturiers and Creatures.  The Americans tried to widen their market by banking on simple models, in tone with the fashion of the times: shoulders became rounder, collars less deep, and large buttons appeared on Stoles by the end of the decade.

With Capucci’s influence, garment borders formed romantic knots, a little Cape turned in cones that culminated at the shoulder, and a circular Stole hid a Bolero inside it.  Jackets and full-length Stoles became a single mantle, and other ensembles had detachable skirts.  These garments began to point to the move from the Fifties to the Sixties, confirming luxurious foreshadowing of the demystification of natural fur. 

After the end of the war, the most beautiful women in the world from Gina Lollobrigida to Audrey Hepburn were seen in natural Stoles.  Like the rest of fashion, natural Stoles ran along a double track for several seasons then their style would change - yet some constant features from the previous season always remained.  

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

The informal elegance of the small-time Classic Boa Stole set against a stunning evening gown began its ascent to couture fame as early as the 1940's.  The trend toward lower-cost natural shoulder Stoles, with carefully thought-out embellishments and accessories, arose as a detail showing that the piece came from a famous Fashion-House - an Exclamation Point, of sorts, on a formal evening dress.  This small accent-piece also acted as a down-payment in the early days of couture for those who could not otherwise afford the whole garment.

There were feather or fur Boas which either stood alone or were applied to tailor-mades as though they were Stoles,  or were attached to countless hems forming borders to garments of all kinds.  There were huge muffs that could be turned into a Bolero Stole, some with flares or bows at each end.  In designing for evening, designers followed the clinging line of the long evening dress, determining the point of emphasis where the Stole was to be placed.

In celebration of White Stole's small, elegant Classic Boa Stole, which will be walking the runway of the 2014 Seattle Wedding Show, we are thrilled to extend our Special Invitation to all 2014 Seattle Wedding Show Attendees:"

"Wrap 4 or more in your bridal party....and White Stole Wraps YOU!"

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Chic.  Sophisticated.  Classic.  Timeless with a modern edge.  A White Stole over a traditional White Wedding Gown becomes the perfect palette for embellishments of pearl, crystal and white lace over satin and tulle for any theme, holiday or wedding setting.  The many tonal shades of white allow it to span refined cool and fuse the vision of Traditional White together.  

The costume a bride chooses for her wedding day is as unique and special as the moment in life itself.  What she chooses to wear as adornment is key to her memories of the day.  Through the centuries, symbols of wealth have universally been displayed by the bride, groom and the entourage in their outer garments, which were encrusted with precious stones, or stitched with silver and gold on opulent fabrics.  

A Stole is both an adornment and, like the neckline of a wedding dress, an element that frames a beautiful face and draws all eyes to the leading lady.  Full of nuance, a Stole offers an exclamation point to the prosperity, beauty, and above all else, optimism that the wedding day represents.  A Stole easily supplies effortless warmth along with its styling in all seasons - whether a handsewn vintage natural Stole, or something lightweight in silk satin, silk chiffon, silk georgette, silk twill, or silk-cashmere blends.

The White Stole Collection is decidedly versatile, going beyond traditional formalities to explore bridal’s new modernity.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Stoles began to be fashioned from every material type with exotic names ranging from Azurene to Silverblu, all of which added to their attraction.  In these years of anticipation of the boom, bodices became the target for all designers’ creative talents, and the designs were carried out in every material that happened to be the rage from one season to the other.  This expression of elegance in luxurious outerwear shaped to the body became subject for a thousand variations in its meticulous details. 

Stoles, Boleros, Jackets, Capes and Cloaks were, from the 1950's into the 1960's, essential to the elegant woman’s wardrobe.  The Stole had made its definitive entrance into women’s fashion as the par excellence elegant female status symbol alongside Haute Couture.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

​It was perhaps the iconic wedding spectaculars of Princess Grace in buttoned-lace gown and veil designed by Oleg Cassini, or Princess Diana in her silk taffeta embellished-lace gown with opulent sleeves, tied with bows, and followed by its 25 foot train that most encouraged the romantic “Princess Bride” look, making it a major fashion impression on the world.

Whatever the dress, historically, luxury has been stated by the display of jewelry, as well as the selection of colors embroidered on opulent fabrics or that accessorize the visage of the bride. 

Whether her love is displayed in her hair with a mantilla, veil, or hat, in diamonds, or with the opulent luxury of a silk or natural Stole enveloping arms and shoulders, wearing “lace” remains a timeless image.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

​In their review of modern 
Wedding Gown history, many have noted that the era of the best weddings in the world began with the iconic, elegant weddings of Jacqueline Bouvier in a floor length ballgown with simple train designed by Oleg Cassini in 1953, Audrey Hepburn in a tea length gown in 1954 and Princess Grace in a lace-buttoned sheath in 1956, many designs created by Oleg Cassini.  

These images launched our taste for modern elegance and simplicity in wedding attire, and led to our universal love of such modern classics as the A-line silhouette, the Camelot dropped waistline, Asymmetrical, One-Shoulder, Grecian, Empire, Halter, Sheath, Backless, Ruffle, Bow, Ribbon, Mermaid, Corset, Pick-up, Bustle, Sash or Strapless gown with specific neckline details of the Sweetheart, Bateau Neck, Notch, Collar and Cuff styled gowns. 

Whatever the skirt shape, from voluminous to a delicate flowing Empire, the neckline, and what encircles it, is the element of the dress that draws the eye toward the face of the leading lady.  

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Any study of fashion can not be separated from women’s fashion history and an understanding of the beginnings of Haute Couture literally meaning “high-quality sewing.”  Paris had been the center of couture since the 19th Century when couture was transformed from a craft into business, and high art. 

Women’s fashion had been put on ice during WWII from 1939 to 1944.  During the occupation of Paris in 1940, many fashion houses were forced into war-related industries.  The progress of the war made it necessary to prohibit all superfluous material and labor.  America followed Britain in clothes rationing with L85 restrictions, promoting the approved ” Victory Suit” with its narrow styling as being more practical and patriotic. 

The Allied Nations were at a loss when Paris fell because they had looked to Paris as the World Capital of Fashion since the 17th Century.  Despite materials rationing on both sides of the Atlantic, some 20 Parisian couture fashion houses violated the wartime silhouette during this time and continued to produce approximately 100 models per year – primarily for wealthy collaborators or for export to Germany.  From Designers to Apprentices, the French declared they had fought to keep Parisian Couture alive because it represented a Parisian industry of prime importance, a means of employment…but most importantly, because it preserved Haute Couture in the eyes of the world.

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