An Island Beach Wedding typically means a strong offshore breeze with blazing sun during the day and cooler air at sundown. And when we think of Island Resort Beach Wear, of all the accessories that come to mind to pair with our wedge sandals, feather-light maxi dresses, and loosely pinned locks we immediately opt to finish with a brightly colored clutch. 

But White Stole knows that there is One, Perfect Essential to make any Island, Beach or Resort Destination Wedding complete….… the PAREO Shawl! 

It's the "Secret Sauce" to your looking chic and polished, as well as stylishly comfortable from here...to there.  Whether wrapped around shoulders to chase away the chill brought by clouds or the evening breeze, shielding your shoulders from blazing sun, or draped around your neck, wrists or elbows as you walk oceanside, poolside or countryside, it's a Wrap that will keep you dancing with delight into twilight! 

Not to mention how perfect it feels to be wrapped-up in for the long plane ride back home after your Dream Wedding!  
The history of the Polynesia-influenced Pareo Shawl has resurfaced time and again onto the fashion scene since its first appearance in the United States in the 1950’s   From runway to glossy magazine and on into street style blogs, the 100% Silk 'Pareo' Shawl Accessory has captivated our nation for decades.

White Stole suggests you not spend a minute fighting off either sunburn or the night breeze, and instead remember to stow Leonard Paris’ Island Resort Wedding Season’s version of the perfect Wedding Wrap.   Impossible to forget, this Beach Resort Wedding Wrap is a step in the right direction, elevating your wedding as well as your beach days and night…. into sultry, oceanside style!

In the “Genevieve” Pareo Shawl Wrap by Leonard Paris, we are as equally mesmerized by ​its lush floral design in Persian rose, violet, golden yellow on pale pink as we are thrilled at the thought of wearing this bit of luxury silk bling onto the sand -  for both our wedding vows and our ocean inspiration!

White Stole’s collection of Island-inspired Silk Stoles, “Pareo” Shawls and Foulards call-out to your sheer maxi dress, bikini and rhinestone sandals to take them with you… all the way to Island Wedding Style!  

And the best part is that after your Wedding Day, you can tie them onto your beach bag, wrap them around your wrist or shoulders, and use them as head scarves to shield you from the burning rays of the sun.

What could be better than having one, single Wrap accessory to make your dream Destination Resort Wedding Day both functional….and perfect!?
 
View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Cape, and Shawl Accessories for purchase, or rental, on our website.

We might all agree that everyone wants, at minimum, a graceful wedding – no matter how informal or unorthodox the elegance is portrayed.  Yet, when it comes right down to the planning stage, a secret wish in-your-deepest-heart-of-hearts to fly-off and bring your dream of a Beach or Island Wedding true makes you shiver with fear! 
 
The very thought of what flight, resort and menu rates might cost, who would want to travel to the big day, not to mention the challenge of how to pack for such a major life event that would mix formality with pure vacation bliss might cause you to toss it off for good….until you pour yourself a cool drink and envision it to be a Pina Colada on Turks and Caicos!  Clearly, it’s time to get to work weighing it all out….with the help of White Stole!
 
Let’s consider that by now you’ve gotten your grip, called around and found a Wedding Planner you bond with, and have gotten several destinations and their related costs all lined-up to compare.  What remains is the Prime Question:     
 
“What wardrobe to pack for a smart, stylish, wedding-appropriate Island Resort Wedding that will fit into one piece of luggage and one carry-on bag!?
​
White Stole humbly suggests first, that you consider a sheer, flowing Maxi Dress in silk – preferably in the weaves of chiffon, satin, organza or charmeuse - to defray the cost of a traditional Wedding Gown.  This silk canvas will lay the perfect foundation for your key Accessory staple:  A Bright Floral or Graphic Silk Chiffon or Silk Satin Stole Wrap that can double as a cover-up if the sun gets too hot, or the ocean breezes too cool….either at the ocean side ceremony, or under the shade of the reception canopy.  White Stole is quick to point out that our largest “Shawl” size offers the most voluminous touch of silk.  Mix-in a perfectly flat, crystal-encrusted sandal along with drop earrings….and you’ve got Ocean Wedding ecstasy!
 
The inherent nature of a gorgeous Silk Stole  for your Beach, Resort, or Island Wedding is that a cover-up Shawl or Stole Wrap is the perfect Beach Accessory, acting as a Sarong, Pareo or Bandeau cover-up over a bikini, as a breeze-chaser at Brunch or as an extra layer in the evening the next day, and can double-up as a cozy Scarf on the plane ride home. 
 
That’s 5 great reasons to purchase a Silk Shawl or Stole Wrap for your Island Wedding…and we’re just getting started!
 
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.

We dream of channeling the turquoise ocean in a delicate Silk Chiffon Wrap long after our honeymoon …of glowing in a whisper-thin floral Silk Chiffon Wrap at our Island Wedding.  Clearly, all of us at White Stole are seriously wedding-obsessed.     

Especially if the wedding involves an intimate group who board a plane for a sunny destination in some warm climate in the middle of winter!  

Like every other fashionable girl in the world, our ultimate dream would be to walk down the aisle dressed in - who else? Valentino. Or, Leonard, Paris.  

Bringing our fantasy one step closer to reality, White Stole’s divine collection of Bridal Silk Stole Wrap Accessories make the dream come true in any resort location – whether Hawaii, Mexico or Turks and Caicos.  

We’ll take one of everything! 

If the ceremony is on the beach, a gorgeous ultra-luxe Silk Chiffon Wrap will both show-off your halter maxi dress and your tanned shoulders, and create the breezy silhouette that allows you to easily navigate on the sand while keeping you warm after sunset.  

A Beach Resort Wedding typically means sunshine and an offshore breeze, so opt for a loose bun pinned with delicately pearly pins, a practical wedge sandal, a silk clutch and a feather-light maxi-dress with your Silk Wrap to add the perfect finishing-touch to your vision.

It is impossible to picture a more perfect wedding than one adorned with Valentino or Leonard’s elegant Silk Wrap add-ons.  Whether you‘re a bride-to-be, bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride or know someone who knows them, picks from the White Stole Silk "Gift" Bridal Wrap Collection are sure to act as inspiration for the romance of a sunny wedding day that will lend practicality as the perfect beach-coverup for your honeymoon in a far-away land!  

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.

One of the most difficult decisions a future bride and groom must make is the location of the ceremony.  Without a doubt, it has crossed the mind of some brides, at least once, the romantic possibility of getting married on the beach.  No sooner is it envisioned, however, the problem of which gown is most suitable quickly arises.

The cut of the gown most recommended is short.  However, for those who dream of a train, the alternative of a long Wedding Gown and Silk Stole Wrap sewn in a fluid and flowing fabric that exudes the sensation of lightness, is the sought-after alternative. The best choices for both dress and wrap accessories are certainly natural silk satin, silk chiffon, or cotton-silk blends to lend the bride features of a refined pearl.

The most alluring way of all to enhance the Wedding Gown is with drops of color and the addition of Silk Stole Wrap Accessories with floral or marine designs and motifs that bring out the blues of the sea, the gold of starfish or the many shades of coral present all around her.

Wedding guests will simply admire the elegance of a Bride by the Sea wrapped in Silk!

View White Stole's entire collection of Stoles, Silk Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls 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.

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.

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.

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.