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.

It is also said that our idea of what is stylish, and of what looks good on us, directly or indirectly, comes from her.  My own mother had a love of the Classics – both American and European – and designs that would never feel passe.  I remember her clearly as I watched her with awe through the eyes of a child.  My mother loved her two-toned pumps with contrasting heel and toe, preferably in beige and black to go with everything, be it bridge or a dinner party.  Her shoes were paired with a fine wool knit, neither too wide, nor too narrow - or with one of her innumerable versions of a chic dress - either a simple shirtwaist brightened up with pearls, or a sheath.  She looked to Chanel, Jackie Kennedy and Princess Grace for cultivation of her timeless understatement.  Simultaneously serene and reserved, she believed there was no room for error, so her color choices ranged between camel, tobacco, bronze, charcoal gray, pearl, or the ever-neutral purple.

It went without saying that if the occasion were casual, a sweater coat or jacket in wool, leather or suede would do.  But if the occasion were dressy, elegant or formal, and the weather had chill in the air, only her Fur Stole or ¾ length Fur Swing Coat would suffice.  I still remember the excitement of being enveloped in the scent and rush of soft fur as my mother swept me into her arms for a bear hug before heading out the door for a special event.  Those are some of the best memories of my life.

Each of us who love fashion at any level – whether street or couture – can trace our love of it to someone, some event or encounter that created an exquisite feeling that only well-placed color, design, material and workmanship can generate deep in our hearts and minds.  Those qualities that we can see with our eyes on close encounter with a garment, and experience as we touch and slip our bodies into.  This tactile, sensual emotion we experience resides somewhere deep within ourselves.  The experience of something that fits like the perfect second skin against our bodies…something simply “made for us” that is neither too this, nor too that…something that causes us to feel just a little more ready to greet the day or the occasion with as much exuberance as we know we hold inside.  We know that the style of the fashion we come to adopt as our own does for us what nothing else will.

My own style, unlike my mother’s unwavering commitment to hers, has crested and crossed-over from one thing to another over the years.  My earliest memories as a young girl are shopping trips into Chicago with my mother, or the excitement of ordering an Italian hand-crocheted sunhat or Spanish espadrilles via mail order catalogue.  In my younger years, I found myself the Romantic, going into ecstasy gazing at a sunset, crying at movies when the princess found her prince, and being irresistibly drawn to lace and frills, black or pink silk, mohair, and diaphanous blouses that alternated between hippie and babydoll. My early adult years were spent as the Sporty, dedicated to a Saturday walk or yoga workout, hike or cycling trip followed by jeans, leggings, sweats, flashy leotards and shapeless T-shirts from Puma to Fila to Prana. 

At this point in my life, what I have come to realize is more me than any other of the styles that I have tried-on and found part of me within over the years, is the Sophisticate.  As a Sophisticate, I adore fashion, furniture, and gorgeous textiles from the 40’s and 50’s.  I have a nose for refined detail and a knack for arriving at a couture style from a mix of vintage finds and skillful designer outlet shopping that I arrived at without necessarily spending a fortune – having the good sense to hold onto my mother’s exquisite goods all these years has been a big part of the look I pull together.  Sometimes now, like my mother, nothing but the perennially perfect pencil skirt and vintage pearl necklace will do.  I love Celine, Burberry, Etro, Prada, Dior, Valentino and Leonard, Paris on the catwalk and in my closet, while I also find inspiration at Zara or Top Shop; thrive on estate sales, artshows and museum exhibits of fine art and design; adore entertaining, and dining by candlelight. 

The classic pencil skirt fits with what I have always known about the shape that suits me – straight or cigarette.  I work-over my wardrobe from season to season, year to year, changing out buttons, altering lines, removing outsized shoulders or oversized logos I embraced out of weakness.  I love the way a fabric falls, and relish the chic touch of silk, satin, velvet, cashmere, wool crepe and jersey.  I own not one, but possibly a dozen black dresses, long and short, with shoes to match that I mix with vintage fur, vintage fur, floral or graphic print stole or shawl, or vintage gloves and jewelry.  I’ve come to accept my taste for avoiding minor Brands that are too-often just copies of the Brands I truly love.

Even though I am no star, no famous person, nor celebrity, in my own sense of who I am I know full well that accessories can be enough to glamorize my style – whether my shoes, my bag, my hat, gloves, belt, earrings…or the Stole, Scarf or Shawl I wrap my always-chilly shoulders in.

In the end, I know in my heart of hearts, that my sense of who I know myself to be - and the resolutely feminine style that I know is me - is in large part thanks to...the influence of my mother. 

Editor's Note* White Stole is dedicated to the memory of my mother.  This vintage 1940’s photo is of her in her 20’s – prior to marriage to my father.

You can admire the White Stole Collection for it’s curation and preservation of the design and craft of Vintage Stoles that otherwise we might never have access to so many years beyond their original creation.  Yet, even more importantly, we can’t overlook the fact that the Vintage Wraps in White Stole's collection were all worn by a special woman…whose initials are embroidered along the inside lining. 

 “Each and every Stole in our collection stands as a treasured memory of the life of the woman who wore it” Roberta, Stylist

The White Stole Collection is dedicated to all those across the globe who have toiled, now and before us, to make Couture Accessories in the time-honored tradition “by hand” and with “high quality sewing.”

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.

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.

The year 1948 had introduced the “Little Cape” in which the contrasting little tails imitated the fastening, short Capes with peplums, along with floor-length Capes sporting little Volant sleeves or large cuffs.  Rivella’s Stole Cape was almost as big as a Cloak.  Pellegrini invented a sort of allusion to a double collar with all the fullness to the back.  Revillon brightened up the Stole with cloth inserts, as well as inserting folds of muslin into the fur. 

Boleros, Jackets, Capes and Cloaks were produced in every possible variation and color, and lived for 12 months of the year.  Aeolian, Tourmaline, Royal Pastel and Autumn Haze were the taupe-coloured, light beige and natural brown mutations of the EMBA mink, and chosen for the majority of the designs.  Little Jackets and Boleros could be short and square, fastening at the edge, could have fullness at the back or front, could do away with the collar or make it huge. 

In 1954, Dior presented a silver fox Muff in an attempt to bring back this classic accessory.  The Fur Boa also had its adherents.

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 only a short step from the Stole to the Bolero and its derivatives, and the 50’s were proof to this fact.  Many of these Boleros and little jackets hardly came down to the waistline.  The design-house Revillon made a shell-shaped Capelet Bolero in Royal Pastel mink, while other designers used the famous Autumn Haze EMBA mink.    Maximilian studied the Stole Bolero in Royal Pastel where the shoulders and neck remained free as a frame for a pretty face. 

The designer Fath launched a blousy Bolero in beaver.  Rossini and Porro were making them with an oriental flair.  Many were in mink, others in Persian lamb or with “crater” collars which moved their image from a sporting to an elegant look.  Jole Veneziani went beyond to a short jacket Bolero of zebra, with fringe that would later be called a T-shirt shape.

There were Vest-Jackets and little Shawls with fur puffs at the ends, and the ultra-famous Stoles consisting of four pelts that intertwined forming a knot. Many women became able to afford an Evening Stole. 

The stimulating minimum effect of the small Stole for the average woman became a fashion statement that was due to last.

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.

Even for those who do not delight in fashion, the idea of the Fifties evokes the Fur Stole.  It was not by chance that, in 1950 itself, the advertisements of the American firms of Ben Mendel and Bergdorf Goodman were based on the Stole, which, in those days, had few rivals in the fur trade as regards to quantity.  American artisans, looking for wider markets, made every attempt to vary and update the classic Stole in every possible way in an attempt to make it affordable to all women.

There was the small, cropped model, which followed the Empire period line, which was often fastened with two bows beneath the bust, and another on one shoulder and grew wider on the other side, or which knotted behind into a butterfly effect. 

Others were double collared or built with multi-tiered rows of natural fur. Collars were wide and often swelled into shawls. They were square, flat, stole-shaped or molded in the form of high-knotted scarves with lines that followed those of the dressmaker.

This rectangle of fur, which constitutes a luxury embrace, was subject to a thousand variations.  

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.

From the 1960's and beyond, among the “Fun and Flirty” looks that new Bridal Fashion has adopted is the Statement Dress, Tee Shirt Gown, Top Hat and Tails, the Caftan, Native American and the Palazzo pant.  With all, the preference for wearing Silk has remained the fabric that most completely brings out the Romantic Heart of a woman. 

An ethereal vision…the Silk Chiffon Shawl blowing in the wind strikes a magical pose with its muted tones of dark and sky blue, chartreuse green and purple accented with gold.  For the daring bride, a printed shawl can be something new, inventive, bold or simply a soft and whispered statement of beauty.  Set against endless blue, the blues and greens of White Stole's "Gisele" Shawl almost trumps the sky itself.

Whether wearing strands of diamonds and pearls, vivid tangerine or chartreuse silk chiffon, silk emerald green jersey trimmed in beads, pink flamingo, deep ruby red, pure black, or plaid, the Modern Bride intuitively understands the mantra of Oleg Cassini ~ “Do something you will be really proud of ~ make a unique statement!”

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.

Universally, “knots” in the origin of the wedding ceremony with its centuries of tradition, have had a place in the folklore of many cultures as a symbol of unbreakable pledges.  

Historically, the knot as the symbol of a lasting unity dated back to the Legend of St. Katherine, circa 1225, where the Middle English word “enotte”, or ‘knot,’ was used to mean "the tie or bond of wedlock." From that point ‘To tie the knot’ as an expression came to mean getting married.  

The costume of the bride is the pivotal image that sets the theme for the event itself.   The design of the gowns and their "Stole Wrap" accessories, floral arrangements, and decorations symbolize the tying of the knot custom, representing the bonds of marriage.

Historically, the bride would arrive at the altar with an untied shoe, and the groom would tie the lace.  Knots were tied in the bridal bouquet with a fabric or silken cord or within silk garments as part of the ceremony.  In Italy, a knotted ribbon is tied over the entrance to the reception, within bouquets and Bridal Wraps, and in the frosted pastries tied in knots which are served to symbolize the Love Knot.

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

The wedding ceremony, with its origins in centuries of tradition, has evolved out of legend, and the many “taken for granted” sayings associated with it. 

 “Something old” traditionally has symbolized the link with the bride’s family and the past.  “Something new” has stood to inspire optimism and hope for the new life ahead. “Something borrowed” has stood as a token from someone happily married whose good fortune in marriage may carry-on to the new bride and remind her of history that precedes her.  And, over the centuries, “Something blue” has become part of the tapestry that is “The Wedding.” 

In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty and fidelity.  Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, bringing about the saying “Marry in blue, lover be true.”

These ancient beliefs and practices are pivotal images that the curators at White Stole have put their whole hearts into.  While our beloved Vintage Stoles stand as a heritage piece that brings to the wearer good luck from the past, our couture Silk Wrap Stoles offer themselves to you as a keepsake and treasured momento of the most special day in your life.

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.

Timeless Wedding Gown images have led the Modern Bride to step out further to choose from an opulent array of emotions, themes and elements as diverse as the Hi-Lo silhouette, the Short and Flirty knee length or Above-The-Knee Cocktail Dress, the Little White Dress, the Tee Shirt gown, Suit, Top Hat and Tails or the Caftan for her Spring or Summer Wedding Day. 

The Statement Dress and its Bridal Accessory has arrived on the scene in vivid colors from emerald green to fuchsia, chartreuse or pale ivory, embroidered with floral bouquet or with sequins.  Our modern weddings see brides wearing deep red, black, black and white, plaid, sky blue and bright pink. 

Whatever the color her love is displayed in, the opulent luxury of a silk or natural stole, cape or shawl enveloping her arms and shoulders is one of the bridal accessories that have timelessly stood as the icing on the wedding cake.  

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.

Fur that had been worn so becomingly at the turn-of-the century continued and proliferated after WWI and throughout the 50’s.  Fur hats endured an inconstant popularity, but made a strong return between 1957 and 1958 coming in all kinds of shapes:  berets, caps, turbans and cloches.  Fur trimmings, borders, and details became characteristic of the decade for outlining a hem or creating pockets, flowers or bows.  Nearly always fur was used for tailor-made collars or necklines of close-fitting evening dresses.

For the wedding of the Shah of Persia in 1951, Soroya wore a princess gown with marabou feathers while bridesmaids held the train of her ermine cloak.  At the marriage of Maria Pia of Savoy, the ex-queen wore a long, lace gown trimmed in mink.  Audrey Hepburn posed in the Piazza di Spagna in a long cloak edged in mink when filming Roman Holiday in 1953.  In the final scene of her 1954 movie A Star is Born, Judy Garland wore a Stole with sable cuffs.  Sophia Loren was seen in a Revillon Freres Stole that almost enveloped her with rows of fur in 1959.  By mid-century, the magazine Novita spoke of the growing vogue of fur trimmings of all kinds.

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.

All-White or All-Black was the sign of splendor and luxury in the 50’s, but for Evening Wear, the color White had few rivals.  

Hollywood stars were rarely seen after dark without a bolero, shawl, boa collar or cape stole wrapping their shoulders 12 months of the year.

In the 50’s, “White” was seen as the perfect brightener to the night, while “White” became the favorite non-color for Queens, 

Princesses and Stars alike showed us that a White Stole went perfectly with everything from a long-waisted to a long-clinging gown. 

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.

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.