White Stole’s innovative Bridal Rehearsal Tea Concept created a mashup of Couture Royal Wedding Looks of Silk and Vintage Stole and Shawl Wraps by White Stole topping Couture and Custom Wedding and Evening Gown creations from Seattle’s celebrated Couture Wedding and Fashion Designers Lisa Marie Couture, Kimmi Designs, and Gustavo Apiti seated in royalty before an opulently-filled Coffee and Tea table-setting created by Vintage Wedding Curator Lisa Mayer of Vintage Dish Company and photographed here by Seattle's beloved Wedding Photograher, Kelly Robbins.
 
Completing the vision created of Couture Wedding and Evening Luxe in which each woman’s ensemble is, in and of itself, a representation of popular Wedding and Evening Themes - from Floral Garden and Romantic, to Vintage, Retro, Whimsical, Eco Conscious and Modern Urban Chic to Evening Glam - is a lineup of Seattle’s up-and-coming modeling elite: Erika Foster, Jessica Marie Boyle, Michelle Green, Meenal D’rock, Irene Adler, Kiara LeBlanc, Aliea Taylor, Keith Vowell and Sandeep Saksham.     

The beauty seated for this memorable event was highlighted with dramatic and flawless mastery by some of Seattle’s most sought-after Hair and Makeup Artists: Tracie Saunders, Magnolia Karlsson, Daniella Rosaline, Allegra Rege, Jordan Ross, Matt Lawrence and Mayra Ruiz.  

Watch our blog for more Live Coverage of our photoshoot's celebration of the Royal Wedding Day!

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

White Stole's 'Spring Ribbons ~ Sky Blue' Couture Bridal Stole Wrap Wedding Accessory in pure Silk Satin Chiffon from the Signature Valentino Collection  wraps the heritage of Old with the New to cherish tomorrow with flowing shades of luminous pastel, sky and azure blue on white Ribbon Design that takes simple blue and white into Royal! 

​Mix the Traditional Wedding Theme sayings of Something Blue and Tieing The Wedding Knot with head-turning effect that will highlight and preserve your magnetic memories.   The Sky’s The Limit!

​Your Yacht Club, Country Club, Veranda or Classic City Wedding Gala will feel all tied up in Love with this flowing ribbon design that wraps brilliantly colored sweeping highlights around shoulders, arms or neck, taking simple blue and white into technicolor.
 
In an era when the bridal marketplace is fueled by emerging mega, online, vanilla-looking shopping, White Stole’s Chic, Haute Bridal shoppers roll with an exclusive entourage of Wedding Couture Salons like White Stole who help them alter convention to bring fresh, new images and memories from all styles and traditions to their Wedding Day’s photo album.  

Being that White Stole has no physical stores, we are able to bring these Couture Creations, tooled by master craftsmen and women who put their love and attention into each design, Direct To You at our cost 
​
This iconic brands’ graphic collection features rich color blocking and design to add superb styling to timeless, hand-crafted quality essentials…all with a decidedly cool Modern Wedding flare.  Wrap-up these graphic, silky-cool Stole and Shawl Wrap Luxe Classics for a very stylish Haute Wedding Day!

Tell the story of your Wedding Day for a lifetime with the glow of a pure silk couture Bridal Wrap Heirloom.

And the best part of the story is that each piece that passes from our hands to yours gives you the perfect Heirloom to pass along to those you love.

Call to reserve our Wedding Couture designs for your wedding event today!  View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Shawl and Foulard Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Cape Boleros Accessories for purchase, or rental, on our website.

White Stole's 'Charming Rose~Lilac' Couture Bridal Stole Wrap Wedding Accessory in sheer Silk Chiffon from the  Signature Valentino Collection ​takes the concept of sheer into the heavenly with its cascading rose design in shades from lavender and lilac to pale pink on blushed white that wraps sweeping pastels around shoulders, arms or neck in any wedding theme or setting - from an Urban or City Wedding, to a refined Country or Veranda Wedding - in any season. 

Delicately highlight your Modern Haute Bridal Party's silhouette with a rainbow of pastel shades that make your Bridal Gown and Bridesmaid Dresses not only something to dream about...but to remember for a lifetime!  A perfectly flowing Heirloom Gift for the bride and bridesmaids who know how to put the fun into elegance.  

To address their discriminating Brides’ tastes, White Stole has curated an Across-the-Era Collection of Couture Stole and Shawl Wraps to satisfy the predilection of women devoted to handmade, hand-silk-screened, heritage luxury goods who crave Haute Wedding Couture fashion at an affordable price.​ 

White Stole was born to help you feel like the exquisite creature you are with Couture Luxury Accessories that will last a lifetime….at affordable, Direct to You prices!  

This iconic brands’ graphic collection features rich color blocking and design to add superb styling to timeless, hand-crafted quality essentials…all with a decidedly cool Haute or Boho Wedding flare. 

A perfectly flowing Heirloom Gift for the Bride and Bridesmaids who know how to put the fun into elegance!  

And the best part of the story is that each piece that passes from our hands to yours gives you the perfect Heirloom to pass along to those you love.

Give yourself a pure silk Momento of your Haute Wedding Day that you will cherish forever.  Call to reserve our designs for your Spring, Garden Veranda Wedding today.

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

As Wedding Season is upon us, chances are you are invited to a Spring or Summer Wedding with a glamorous reception being held in a Classic City, Yacht or Country Club setting that is perfect for channeling spring's graphic trend.

To help you focus on celebrating the clear skies in your future, White Stole suggests your inspiration begin with a sky blue and white palette that keeps the pattern focused to one piece - in this case the statement Silk Stole worn by you and your Bridesmaids. 

It is true that at most high-end shops, evening wear and luxury couture come with rather hefty price tags.  Nevertheless, though the entire ensemble may be outside of your budget, Accessory Pieces are typically inside that arch.  To the Style-Conscious, the best Accessories have somewhat of a primordial quality – lending a sense that you have captured a bit of the life you have secretly desired from the beginning of your time.  With just a wisp or sheerest layer of silk or fur, you can convey the sense of delicacy or power you feel. 
​
White Stole was born to help our Bride feels like the exquisite creature she is with Couture Luxury Accessories that will last a lifetime…. at affordable, Direct-to-You prices!  

White Stole's "Spring Ribbons ~ Sky Blue" Couture Bridal Stole Wrap Accessory in pure Silk Satin Chiffon from the Signature Valentino Collection wraps the heritage of Old with the New to cherish tomorrow with flowing shades of luminous pastel, sky and azure blue ribbon on white that mixes the traditional Wedding Theme sayings of “Something Blue” and “Tieing The Wedding Knot” with head-turning effect.  Highlight and preserve your magnetic memories….the Sky’s The Limit!

​Your Yacht, Country Club, Veranda or City Wedding Gala will feel all tied up in Love with this flowing ribbon design that wraps brilliantly-colored, sweeping highlights around shoulders, arms or neck...taking simple blue and white into technicolor.

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.

It was a White Stole Las Vegas ceremony!  And she brought several Silk Satin Shawl Wedding Stoles to celebrate the Glitterati Wedding history of many of our favorite Divas from Old Hollywood to New.  Famous and fabulous women from Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Joan Collins and Patty Duck as well as Mary Tyler Moore, Mia Farrow and Demi Moore have been swept into the starlight under the influence of getting to this iconic little white chapel setting in Las Vegas "on time."  And so did White Stole….on their big Wedding Photoshoot day! 
 
Whether you choose to marry and hold your Wedding Photoshoot at a star-studded space like The Little White Chapel, a Historic City Center, a Family Vineyard, an English Manor’s gardens, an Island Beach Resort or Urban Ballroom, we are sure you will want your Wedding Album filled with photos taken at an idyllic setting, complete with memorable attire and decorations to match your theme, and warm your nostalgic heart in the years ahead.   
 
There’s always a wedding somewhere in the world, and with all the choice the White Stole Collection offers those devoted to handmade, hand-silk-screened, heritage luxury goods, everyone from Brides and their entourage to Wedding Guests alike can find the perfect luxe Stole to get excited about.
 
We’ve got you all wrapped-up in Love with colors as white as your purity, ruby-red as your heart, or brilliantly-pasteled in floral, graphic, ethereal, or silky-cool gold and diamond embroidered Stole and Wrap pieces.  And for Vintage-Inspiration, our natural toned Fur Stoles will warm your heart as you melt in his arms!
 
Simply choose from one of our favorite Valentino or Leonard, Paris Silk Satin Shawl or Stole Wrap Collection, or our Vintage Rental Stole Collections. These iconic brands’ graphic collections feature rich embroidery and color blocking to add superb styling to timeless essentials, all with a decidedly cool Modern Wedding flare!
 
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.

Warmer days bring strapless Bridal Gown Styling…and a perfect opportunity for you to think about flirty, around-the-shoulder silhouettes and Statement Accessories for instant Chic at an Evening Wedding in the City.  Style “topped” with…. an Evening Wrap!

Our Seattle Bride infuses her signature Je Ne Sais Quoi style into her glamorous look with a simple-but-chic, lightweight Silk Stole cover-up as sunset winds down into moonlight. A long Stole - many inches longer and wider than a typical scarf - is the workhorse of the accessories world.  Use it to shield your décolletage from the sun during the day, to bring your most seductive mood into your photoshoot, and as that extra layer when the sun fades into evening moonlight.

If you're attending a City Wedding this summer or just planning on taking an urban Night-Out-On-The-Town, a Silk Stole from White Stole is the key piece you need to look stylish and be prepared for the temperature all weekend long - without over-packing.  And, Have-And-Hold as a Momento forever-after!

Whether traveling to a Destination Wedding across town, across state or across-country, heavy luggage really isn’t necessary.  Packing a few versatile pieces you can wear multiple times is the difference between going In Style…and going without!

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.


Photos courtesy of Melissa Miksch Photography 

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.

HAIL THE VEIL!  Always fans of “Haute Headwear,” White Stole is especially fond of the feminine feathers, lace and silk on the Italian “Cappello” Hair Accessories in their Veiled Bridal Couture Collection.

If a Spring or Summer, Black-Tie, Classic City, Urban, Garden, Vintage or Romantic Theme Wedding is in the works in your foreseeable future, White Stole has reached across the Atlantic to locate and secure these expertly handcrafted Italian Veiled Hats for their collection because of your supreme passion for Heritage-Based, Luxury Goods “Made by Hand”….just the way they have always been.

The Veiled Couture’s native origins, along with the range of color-hue options that keep these pieces from looking overtly bridal, makes our divine accessory the absolute MUST-HAVE for the upcoming Bridal Season!

Untethered by the wedding industry status quo, White Stole is able to bring you the elegant design, craft and individuality of Handmade Luxury Couture that, as always, exceeds our high standards…. at a price that allows you to don these Veils not just on the Big Day….but any day you feel so inspired!

Being that White Stole has no physical stores, no middle-layer of sales people or unnecessary costs, we are able to bring these Couture Creations, tooled by master craftsmen and women who put their love and attention into each design, “Direct To You” at our cost – all for under $300.00!

And the best part of the story is that each piece that passes from their hands to yours gives you the perfect Heirloom to pass along to those you love.

In an era when the bridal marketplace is fueled by emerging mega, online, vanilla-looking shopping, White Stole’s Chic Bridal Shoppers roll with an exclusive entourage of Couture Salons and Online Vendors who, like White Stole, help them alter convention to bring fresh, new images and memories from all styles and traditions to their Wedding Day’s photo album. 

This Wedding Season start a NEW TREND with White Stole’s Veiled Cappello Hairpiece that brings a classic touch with feminine extreme to your Wedding Day to remember forever!

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes, Shawls and Veiled Bridal Couture Hair Accessories 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.

What’s better than a chic, photogenic Wedding Photographer at her own Spring Wedding?  Six photogenic Bridesmaids snuggling-up close to their Bride for a photo-op!  

Jordan Quinn and her fiance decided to rent a vacation home and invite all of their bridal party to stay with them for the duration of their wedding weekend.  There was no better way, they thought, to capture the fun moments of the weekend with their bridesmaids and groomsmen in all their treasure.  But setting the stage was just the beginning of their Urban Wedding photologue. 

More than a month earlier, Jordan came to White Stole for a styling to choose the Vintage “Evelyn” Classic Capelet Stole because she felt it offered her stunning highlights of the blonde tones in her own coloring over her Wedding Dress Couture, would chase away the chill, and add elegance to the urban festivities.  Of all the Vintage Stoles Jordan tried-on that day at the White Stole Salon, the “Evelyn” Stole provided her the perfect Glam Accessory piece over her Sweetheart Ball Gown.  

Whether running between photoshoots on a cool April Wedding Day, stealing smiles with her entourage, or pensive during a solo, romantic moment, Jordan let luxury go to her head….and became the classiest Bride in Chicago!  See for yourself!  

View Jordan's choice of Vintage Stole, and the entire White Stole 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.

As summer winds-down, and we begin to exit the sunny season of beach, garden and ranch weddings, White Stole turns all eyes to our Urban Brides. 

City Weddings are the ideal environment to channel any season’s graphic trend, and our stylists at White Stole advise you to direct yourself to the black and white palette, and to keep the pattern focused to your theme or ideology - in this case, a statement that says “We are Tieing the Knot!”

A romantic dress is set-alight with the subtle interest of a periwinkle blue geometric ribbon print Silk Bridal Wrap that spells “Tieing-Up-Our-Love for a Lifetime.”  Adding drama with either a sheer graphic on black, or a vintage appliqué on antique white Silk Stole Wrap equally brings any length of dress to new heights, along with adding sheer cover against fall’s crisp day or evening chill. 

If you will be tieing your knot even later in the Fall Season, adding a natural Vintage Stole "Capelet" Wrap is truly an elegant way to carry you through the afternoon-to-evening festivities of a brisk fall day. Adding the interest of an intricate heel, a satin silk clutch, wristlet or hairpiece, and finishing with a navy smoky eye and chandelier earrings with any of these choices spells City-Elegance!

View White Stole 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.

It goes without saying that your wedding gown is a reflection of your style.  But where is it a written rule that your Wedding Gown and Accessories have to be entirely ivory, antique white or optic white?  At White Stole, we love the old adage “rules are meant to be broken“ - especially when it comes to Wedding Dresses and their Accessories!  

Although we love a classic strand of pearls, we flock like moths to light towards out-of-the-box Accessories and accessory trends. Since your wedding day will be the most photographed event of your life, we wish for you to be absolutely sure that you dress exactly how you dream of feeling on your perfect day. 

You can be both Classic and One-Of-A-Kind by wearing metallic champagne, a pale soft hue in gray, beige or blue, a pretty blush pink - and as many already have, red or black - with the perfect Luxe Accessory to compliment.  Women who wear black and ivory in it's many shades with dazzling Accessories are simply stunning!  In fact, these colors are preferred in a cocktail or tea-length for casual weddings.  

While a Stole Wrap is usually rectangular, offering more width and length, the "Sophisticated Lace Dream" Cape Shawl is more square in shape, offering extra width for a fuller, more extravagant envelope of the silhouette. In all settings,   Cape Shawl Wraps are used today to keep warm, for added fashion to complement attire, 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 and where a jacket is inappropriate.

White Stole’s photoshoot of the "Sophisticated Lace Dream" Cape Shawl by Valentino in magnetic black embroidered lace on beige Silk Twill is a stunning example of the lush look of color set against a minimal ivory or black gown, making the view maximally exquisite!

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.

People all over the world are interested in standing out rather than blending in.  There are plenty of images all around us today that are fueling the resurgence in creativity that feeds our uniqueness, and allows us to continue the legacy of openness and tolerance exuded in the luxury Stole and Gown Designs of the world’s great Creatures.

Different colored Stoles have historically been used by Clergy throughout the religious seasons of the year. Most signify various holidays, such as a White Stole being used for Christmas services. Some denominations also use separate colors to differentiate between ranks or degrees held.

Color is everywhere, in every religion, throughout the seasons, and for all the themes….and the same holds true today for Bridal Wear.

There's nothing more glamorous than a Color-Inspired Wedding – whether we are speaking of the ceremonial location, the table setting, or the walk down the aisle.  From iridescent opals and diamonds to flowery or graphic motifs, prepare to obsess over the curation of color that today’s free spirited Bride-To-Be is holding dear to her heart!

Of course, in the heart-of-hearts of any glamorous Bride, the thought of taking her Wedding Day with her into her future is always a heartbeat away. And what better way to do that than with a luxury silk, couture "Heirloom" Stole Wrap or Shawl that will serve as both a cherished momento for her and her bridesmaids of their glorious day, but as a memory that is brought to mind every time she wraps it around her from this day forward?   White Stole wholeheartedly agrees!

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

As a summer day dips into twilight in our more temperate climates, the chill in the air beckons after sundown for an Evening Stole Wrap that will offer light covering and warmth, yet still be suitable for wedding gala festivities where a jacket would certainly not.   

Those of us who run more warm-blooded might have wrapped our Stoles as a Sash around our waists, necks or elbows and left them to drape behind us throughout the reception and on into evening’s dancing.  

In any and all stylish cases, the ever-popular Evening Stole Wrap and Evening Shawl come in many different forms, sizes and price ranges.  Stoles of silk, silk satin, chiffon, organza or similar sheer materials are meant to provide a bit of warmth, though Fur Stoles and Evening Shawls, the latter of which are often knitted, clearly provide more.  The Silk Stole Wrap has historically been paired with an evening gown or dress. These Silk Stole Wraps for evening are typically finished with a simple hem on either end, exuding elegance in being both light and sheer.  Some individuals prefer to pair their Evening Stole Wrap with more casual fashion skirts and dresses since the Evening Stole Wrap will launch any attire into an elegant look for evening when teamed with dressy heels and accessories.

Triangular knit Lace Shawls are usually knitted from the neck down and may or may not be shaped. Faroese Lace Shawls historically are knitted bottom up and contain a center back gusset.  Each shawl consists of two triangular side panels, a trapezoid-shaped back gusset, an edge treatment, and usually shoulder shaping.

On top of warmth, an Evening Stole Wrap is often worn to show off a particular fabric, like silk satin, or fur. The major difference between Stoles and Shawls lies in the size, and the material. Stoles are usually rectangular, offering more width and length than a Scarf, while Shawls are more square in shape, offering extra width for a fuller, more extravagant envelope of the silhouette.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Silk 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.