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The Enigmatic Power of Lace

11/30/2022

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We LOVE the Valentino "Sophisticated Evening Lace" Collection!
The intricate material evokes innocence and grandeur. Its history is just as complex.

Flouncy, transparent, stiff, protective: lace is charged with a myriad of emotions, experiences, meanings, and memories. It’s the fabric of grandmothers, but also a textile of childhood. It’s Lolita’s choice, stranded somewhere between pre-pubescence and womanhood, undeniably feminine, but also historically genderless. Most couturiers and ateliers worth their salt have incorporated the material in some way. Chanel, for example, uses it almost every season: Recently, lace showed up in both casual and formal iterations in the brand’s Resort 2023 collection; in the Spring 2023 show, the brand sent out a knockout column dress of white rose-patterned lace, punctuated by black silk bands at the chest and hips, Jazz Age and Space Age in equal parts.

For Bode designer Emily Bode Aujla, lace traverses the space between home and hand. Generally the production of lace for the body and for domestic use is carried out separately. The brand, which frequently repurposes antique textiles intended for the home into jackets, shirts, and trousers, is the perfect testing ground for this crossover. “I am drawn to domestic textiles, like lace, that were made in the home, for the home,” says Bode Aujla, “The shirts we make from lace carry that weight with them.”

For Bode Aujla, there’s an emotional bent to the adaptation: “I work with lace because as a material it holds so much sentimental value,” she says. “It was so laborious to make and the affiliation with its end use—birth, marriage, holidays, death—is significant.”

These affiliations have an economic weight as well. Before value was communicated through celebrity, it was attached to labor. That is, what required the most skill and the most time to create was the most valuable. In Europe in the 1500s, lace, then a brand new innovation, quickly gained speed as an important social signifier, because the finest, most intricate pieces of the delicate fabric could take expert hands several years to create. At the time, lace was a symbol of power and mobility on the shoulders, waists, or necks of people of note—those who could afford extravagance, those whom extravagance served.

Today, lace inspires notions closer to nostalgia and gendered delicacy than of power, domination, or wealth. We have the means to produce lace without purpose, without outsized demands on time, and without massive workforces. But for many contemporary designers, working with lace is a matter of more than just aesthetics. Bode Aujla points out it’s educational value as well: “Using lace now allows us to teach others of their historical identity,” says Bode Aujla, “Like almost forgotten hand-techniques from a small town in Spain to a Quaker lace pattern named for its use in the dining room of the White House or aboard a ship.”
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In Threads of Power, an exhibition currently on view at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City, lace is surveyed in all its dainty glory. Examples of handwork dating from the year 1580 show the development of the craft, from a long late 16th Century linen bonnet with lace inserts to Michelle Obama’s Isabel Toledo Inauguration ensemble made with asparagus-hued Forster Rohner lace. Most of the works on view were loaned from the Textilmuseum in St Gallen Switzerland, one of the richest resources for lace and lacemaking history in Europe, with an archive to rival that of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The exhibition is shocking in its breadth, with juicy and surprising facts about the textile’s production, history, and adaptation through time.

On weekends, a lucky visitor can glimpse women from the Brooklyn Lace Guild creating delicate, fanciful examples of both bobbin and needle lace in real time. Their mesmerizing craft feels exceptionally rare in this context, given the dwindling accessibility to new handmade lace at the scale it was once produced. But there is a corner of the fashion world still readily engaged by the centuries old craft: Designers like Akris and Simone Rocha are honoring this heritage with intricate, handmade designs.

For Rocha, lace has been a nearly ever present element in her brand. “Lace has run through different collections over the years,” she says, “the fabrication is so emotive and helps drive the necessary conversation between textile and silhouette.” In her collections, lace is often combined with eyelet and tulle, evoking at different times Elizabeth the Great, the classic goth, and Little Bo Peep. A lace ensemble opened her very first runway show for London Fashion Week in 2012: a mini skirt suit both professional in its silhouette and suggestive in its translucency.

For lace makers and historians, a contemporary understanding of lace is heavily informed by its popularity in past centuries. “Today, very few designers continue to work with handmade lace,” says Elena Kanagy-Loux, co-founder of the Brooklyn Lace Guild and a participant in the exhibition. “Those that do are often drawn to it out of a desire to support the makers of the craft.” It is that labor that brings about a material so emotionally and visually rich. Lace is like trapped air—the clouds in a textile. With it, a human can don the garb of a god, and float weightlessly in a material that carries countless hours of effort. Lace reaches both ends of the spectrum, from innocence to kink, grandeur to humble domesticity"

Lace itself is hard to define, partially due to the manifold versions it appears in throughout history. Unlike other embroideries, lace has no base fabric. Patterns are built instead with loose thread using a variety of techniques. Originally the term “lace” referred to a narrow braid, and later came to encompass all forms of non-woven, knitted, crocheted, and needle-made openwork textiles. Depictions of lace production seen often in early European treatises on the craft generally incorporated “bobbins”, a rotating cylinder, situated at the head of a firm cushion, on which a lacemaker would create her work. But “needle” lace, where the maker sews a pattern onto a backing that is later removed, is also common.

At the Bard Graduate Center, which encompasses several floors of an Upper West Side townhouse, centuries are covered in only a few thousand square feet. Each item chosen for the show is emblematic of lace’s narrative power. Around a corner in a second floor gallery is a bobbin-lace coverlet, made in Italy between 1625 and 1650. Placed within its 47 square inches are symbols relevant to the 1649 wedding of Philip IV of Spain and his niece Mariana of Austria. There are rams’ skins representing Philip’s membership in the chivalric Order of the Golden Fleece and twelve crowned double-headed eagles symbolizing Mariana’s father the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III. A coat of arms is to be found as well, representing Charles V, who was an ancestor to both. On the top floor are several richly embroidered 18th Century French dresses with lace cuffs and collars, along with a bobbin lace collar and point de venise mantelet of Italian origin from around 1700. On the floors below, lace pattern books are opened to pages that show the motifs and directions of early lace makers.

“The beauty of lace is the time that's put into it,” says the artist and designer Laila Gohar, whose homeware brand, Gohar World, created with her sister, Nadia, incorporates the craft in everything from bottle aprons to bonnets for fruit. “During early COVID we couldn’t touch each other. Now, people are yearning for anything made by the hands of a human. Handmade lace is touch indirect.” With the frenzy of modern media choking our every creative impulse, touches of lace in the home or on the skin have a rooting effect. Lace recalls play, dress up, order, and formality at different turns. But it also recalls sex, lingerie, privacy. That duality is what makes the material interesting.

St. Gallen, the small southeastern Swiss town where the Textilmuseum is located, has a thousand year old textile history. It is home to several of the oldest lace making companies still in operation. One company, Jakob Schläpfer, has supplied lace to a staggering number of couturiers throughout Europe since the 1950s: Chanel, Comme des Garcons, Paco Rabanne, Balenciaga, the list goes on. Recent innovations have extended into sequins, silicone lace, and textiles that incorporate jewels in a decidedly Tudor spin, like “trapped pearls” in chiffon. For Akris, which is based in St Gallen, the local lace trade is vital. “There is no Akris collection without St. Gallen embroidery,” says Albert Kriemler, the brand’s Creative Director. “St Gallen embroidery has almost infinite potential. It can be so much more than what you might expect.” Akris, in particular, is known for utilizing the knowledge of their local lace masters to create lace from an architectural perspective. No doilies here! Instead, we see lace with sharp edges, shadows, and even lace spelling out the brand name.

From a crisp, white social signifier to a marker of time and vessel for remembrance, lace has proven to be an extremely malleable, evocative craft, both in its finished state and in its making. “When you see people making lace, it looks like they are playing an instrument,” says Gohar. “Watching their fingers move… it’s poetic and beautiful and musical.” Lacemaking is like magic. Each pattern is a spell of movement and memory, each pattern book a grimoire lovingly maintained and annotated over years. Though what constitutes lace has evolved and expanded with the dawn of technology, its origin remains awe-inspiring. In its infinite variety, lace can stand as an example of how human skill and technology can intermingle fruitfully, with consideration and care at the point of connection.

Post written by by Camille Okhio
11.23.22

​https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/lace-fashion-threads-of-power-exhibition?utm_campaign=11-24-22%20Hailey%20Bieber%27s%20Birthday%20



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We LOVE the Valentino "Sophisticated Evening Lace" Collection!
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FLOWER POWER ~ Fall into deep STOLE LOVE on your Wedding Day!

6/3/2017

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Remember your SUMMER OF LOVE in the flowing, fearless drape of a colorful Floral Silk Stole Wrap on your Wedding Day….without guilt!
 
In today’s era, Bridesmaids' gowns are invariably shorter and chosen in go-with-everything shades of lilac, mint green, beige or black so your Bridal Party can use them as Street-Wear after the wedding.
 
But rather than invite your Arm Candy to the party to function as a “backdrop,” White Stole ravishly suggests that you elevate your closest girlfriends to the level of wearable Floral Arrangements to flaunt your assets!
 
Whether your bridal beauties wear the floral 'Fabiola' or the 'Flores' Couture Silk Satin Stole Wrap to your Garden, Veranda or Country Wedding, or they each wear a different color of Couture Embroidered Lace Silk Stole Wrap like those in White Stole's “Sophisticated Evening Lace” Collection, the notion that the colors of your Wedding Theme are reflected in the color of the Stole Wraps that embrace you will carry your Wedding Day into the aura of Good Omen with surreal flourish!
 
And whether you and your ladies prefer red, French rose or sky blue silk, White Stole has the Stole, Shawl or Foulard Wrap whose colors can be used to create a dainty bouquet for your Bridal Beauties…a massive Bridal Bouquet for yourself… and serve as the color palate for your entire Wedding Ceremony and Reception. 

Reclaim your First Embrace!  Whether your Bridal Attendants are wearing a strapless, mini, or a flowing maxi dress, let your Ladies’ true beauty shine for you at your event as they cover bare shoulders at the chapel, or reveal them throughout the day - while together you and your entourage bring excitement to your Wedding Day!
 
The secret to a perfect Summer Wedding is always a little OOMPH, splash, sparkle and glamour in your overall Wedding Theme and Bridal Attire. The main attraction, the Bride, dressed in colors symbolic of her most perfect beauty, and her Ladies-In-Waiting are surrounding her in a way symbolic of romantic love.   
 
By embracing you and yours with Couture Floral Silk Stoles, White Stole ​wishes you the Summer Wedding Day of Stole Love!
 
Shop the full Wedding Stole, Shawl and Foulard Wrap lineup now and keep your eyes peeled for more wedding coverage from us throughout the Summer Wedding Season!
 
View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Shawl and Foulard Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Cape Boleros and Veiled Bridal Hair Accessories for purchase, or rental, on our website.
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WE LOVE...The 'Flores'' Couture Silk Satin Chiffon Stole Wrap by Leonard Paris!
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WE LOVE...The 'Sophisticated Evening Lace ~ Pink' Couture Embroidered Silk Satin Chiffon Stole Wrap by Valentino!
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"Spring Ribbons ~ Sky Blue" Couture Silk Stole ties-up your love for a lifetime!

5/14/2017

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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 
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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-coo
l 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.
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WE LOVE...'Spring Ribbons ~ Sky Blue' Couture Silk Stole Wrap by Valentino!
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WE LOVE...'Spring Ribbons ~ Sky Blue' Couture Silk Stole Wrap by Valentino!
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CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH SUSTAINABLE COUTURE – Pure Silk Chic!

4/22/2017

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Did you know that the fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, next to oil?  Never fear, because by buying from White Stole you’re doing something good for the planet!  Allow us to explain our enthusiasm…
 
White Stole was born to help our savvy Brides, Bridesmaids, Mothers-of-the Bride and Wedding Guests and Luxury Goods Lovers alike contribute to the decline in the demand and production of “fast-fashion” items by buying high-quality when others are buying low.
 
Although most people assume that most of what they wear is natural fiber clothing, this is far from the truth.  On top of how the fiber was grown and produced to create the fabric, how the fiber was processed, dyed and finished must be considered. 
 
Conventional manufacturing processes rely heavily on chemicals to clean and bleach fibers to prepare for spinning, weaving, knitting or dying - often with heavy metals and large amounts of water to flush and clean fabrics all the way up to and including the final finishing step in the garment process.  The facts regarding production of new materials also make vintage, recycled, reclaimed and surplus fabric arguably sustainable choices, as the raw materials require no agriculture and no further manufacturing to produce. 
 
Of utmost importance at White Stole is the fact that “Natural” fiber clothing refers to clothing made from fiber found in nature, such as the vegetable fibers of Cotton, Hemp, Linen and Flax; the protein fibers such as Wool, Alpaca and Cashmere; and the elastic fibrous secretions of silkworm larvae in cocoons used to create Silk. 
 
Each of the amazing natural fabrics in the White Stole Collection, irrespective of their distinct production and processing methods, nevertheless take them worlds-away from the man-made, artificially-created synthetic fibers which are chemically and structurally altered to the extent that they are toxic to both the person wearing them as well as to the planet.
 
For instance, despite the fact that all Cotton has a large carbon footprint for its cultivation and highly chemically treated production, Organic Cotton is considered a more sustainable choice for fabric because it is completely free of destructive toxic pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  And while many designers have begun experimenting with Bamboo fiber which absorbs greenhouse gases during its life cycle and grows quickly and plentifully without pesticides, Bamboo fabric can cause environmental harm in production due to the chemicals used to create a soft viscose from hard bamboo.  Some believe Hemp is one of the best choices for eco fabrics due to its ease of growth, though it remains illegal to grow in some countries.  
 
Most relevant and adored in the eyes of followers of White Stole, Silk, the “Queen of Fiber” and cherished by couture lovers the planet over, is the fact that there are multiple ways to grow and harvest secretions from the natural larvae – from wild to ancient methods that date back to the Ancient Chinese and the Roman Empire to more eco-friendly methods today. 

Whether choosing one continuous silk thread that has been dried, brushed and reeled around a spool to form one silk “raw” thread with its exceptional ability to absorb dye  - or silk salvaged and harvested from a cocoon in smaller strands then spun or woven in ways similar to cotton or hemp to allow more silkworms to survive - Real Silk holds the remarkably different feel and visible glossy luster, natural amber glow, texture, durability, natural stain-resistance, and high-quality look to the knowing designer and consumer of fine fabric. 

As with all natural fibers, Silk fashion is a blending of compromises.  Whether the silk is hand-loomed in rural India by ancient artisan weavers or pure-dyed with mild-acid, environmentally low-impact fiber reactive dyes in a modern Italian cottage-industry factory using an age-old creation process as in the goods presented in the White Stole Collection, the raising of silkworms is, by its very nature, sustainable.   And Silk is biodegradable! 

Silk fabric when produced by weavers on handlooms has a near zero energy footprint, while silk produced by powerloomed textile factories are evaluated on a company-basis to determine sustainability.  The environmentally- focused createurs are the suppliers White Stole has built their business upon.

White Stole exists to offer Luxury Couture created with the highest-quality and integrity, as well as sustainable and ethical standards in the handmade tradition that has built the reputation of respect and admiration the Italian Silk Industry holds to this day.  

In essence, it’s a double bottom line — buying from White Stole you are doing your small part to create a cleaner environment by choosing “Pure” Silk fabric that is already produced, dyed and finished in an organic, low-impact environment while being the chicest of Planet-Lovers!

Join White Stole in making great strides toward a more sustainable fashion industry with “Pure” Silk and Vintage Wraps!

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


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SPRING WEDDING TREND! Charming Rose wraps rainbow around the future

4/1/2017

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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.

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WE LOVE...'Charming Rose ~ Lilac' Couture Silk Stole Wrap by Valentino!
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WE LOVE...'Charming Rose ~ Lilac' Couture Silk Stole Wrap by Valentino!
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PAREO, Please!  Haute Suggestion for a dream Island Wedding in Paradise!

3/18/2017

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"Genevieve" Silk Pareo Shawl Wrap by Leonard Paris
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.
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"Cupidon" Silk Georgette Stole Wrap by Leonard Paris
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"Florence" Silk Stole Wrap in Silk Satin Chiffon and Cashmere Silk by Leonard Paris
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"Florence" Silk Satin Chiffon Stole Wrap by Leonard Paris
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"Florence" Cashmere Silk Stole Wrap by Leonard Paris
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SHAWLS &  STOLES in Indigo Infused Sacred Significance to 1900s Weddings 

10/16/2016

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"Spring Ribbons ~ Sky Blue" Couture Silk Satin Chiffon Bridal Stole Wrap Accessory by Valentino
Over the 100,000 years that humankind has been making clothes, a special reverence for cloth shaped in the form of a Stole, Shawl, or Cape has prevailed in many cultures, resulting in a rectangular garment that relies on a depth of meaning and strong belief.  Once worn in transformational situations, these shoulder coverings were not to be taken lightly.  None originated from a view of clothes as utilitarian. A Shawl has been considered to be a garment that carries a special blessing as early as the 1800s.

In the long parade that fashion is, Indigo has played an equally important role for centuries.  Indigo can be a color of leadership, of sacred significance, or of “blue collar” status, but it’s resilience has led to its use by farmers, fishermen and workers from France to Japan, from China to America throughout the ages. 

Once artists discovered Indigo-bearing plants containing the gift of blue, an infatuation with indigo and a huge impact on our visual world began.  Nothing compares with this dye’s ability to capture the blues of nature – a midnight sky, early dawn or an impression of the sea.  It can also define a mood – of joy and vitality in the lighter variations, or of melancholy and mystery in the dark hues. 

However, Indigo is a dye that demands discipline to use.  Because of that, artists who make textiles that incorporate the color can be considered feats of dedication to create.  Some creations posted here took thousands of hours to produce – requiring prolonged concentration akin to a meditative state.  Others were made swiftly but with highly specialized skill and have a different kind of appeal. 

In this blogpost, White Stole showcases the diversity of what the Shawl, Stole and Sarong have signified in cultures from the late 1800’s onwards – from the Ceremonial to the Sacred Wedding - with 6 historical photos from around the world.  Enjoy!
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CEREMONIAL SHAWL (Pa Biang), ca. 1900 made of cotton, Indigo-dyed, with silk supplementary weft weave, metal toggles from Laos, Northern Tai Nuea people
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CEREMONIAL SHAWL (Pa Biang), ca. 1900 made of cotton, Indigo-dyed, with silk supplementary weft weave, metal toggles from Laos, Northern Tai Nuea people
Photo 1 is a CEREMONIAL SHAWL (Pa Biang), ca. 1900  from Laos, Northern Tai Nuea people
Long-nosed lions, serpent-headed birds are just two of the signs of a mythic imagination that inspired the creatures on this shawl.  It implies a belief in the transformative vision of complex designs.  Weavers have loaded the indigo background with an intricate diagram of ancient forms of hooks, spirals and stylized birds, serpents, and occasional people.  Such a Shawl could serve as a facilitator of meditation, detachment and spiritual discipline.
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CEREMONIAL SHAWL (Pa Biang), ca 1900 made of cotton, Indigo-dyed, with silk supplementary weft weave, metal toggles from Laos, Northern Tai Nuea people
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CEREMONIAL SHAWL (Pa Biang), ca 1900 made of cotton, Indigo-dyed, with silk supplementary weft weave, metal toggles from Laos, Northern Tai Nuea people
Photo 2 is a CEREMONIAL SHAWL (Pa Biang), ca 1900  from Laos, Northern Tai Nuea people
Intensely symbolic Shawls are covered with signs of a dense imaginary world.  Embedded in the maze in this piece are diamond shapes derived from Buddhism to suggest a star, or third eye.  Looking closely you may also spot a river dragon, or naga, who is guardian of the underworld. Notice how the maze is not asymmetrical.  The weaver’s goal was “to help the onlooker discard all preconceptions of balance and, in meditation, to question the very order of life itself.”  Explains Patricia Cheesman, author of Lao Textiles: Ancient Symbols- Living Art (1988).
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SACRED SHAWL (Ulos Ragidup), ca. 1900 made of cotton; warp resist (ikat); supplementary weft; natural dyes including indigo from Indonesian, Sumatra, Batak culture
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SACRED SHAWL (Ulos Ragidup), ca. 1900 made of cotton; warp resist (ikat); supplementary weft; natural dyes including indigo from Indonesian, Sumatra, Batak culture
Photo 3 is a SACRED SHAWL (Ulos Ragidup), ca. 1900 from Indonesian, Sumatra, Batak culture
Sacred honor is bestowed whenever this type of shawl appears in Batak communities.  It is a technically remarkable cloth with complex iconography that carries great significance.  Wrapped around the shoulders of a person in transition at weddings, for pregnancy, and other life changes, it invokes speeches by chosen people whose great knowledge enables them to carefully observe the cloth and divine a way to enhance the wearer’s future.
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SARONG (kain kapala), 19th century made of cotton, factory plain weave; wax resist (batik)process; natural / synthetic indigo dye from Indonesian, Central Java
Photo 4 is a SARONG (kain kapala), 19th century from Indonesian, Central Java
Step into a Sarong and you enter via a network of symbols that support your place in a cosmic sacred landscape.  On this sarong, a dark Indigo night is set off against a breathtaking day, both nurtured with a constant drizzle of growth and fertility – visually, plants are thriving as they drift across petals, floating coconut fronds and entwined tendrils.  Fireflies flicker in the night while phoenixes and butterflies fly through the air during the day.  A sense of vitality is bursting off the cloth, ready to accompany the wearer when they are participating in ceremonies wherever they may go. 
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KASHMIRI SHAWL with RUMAL design ca. 1870 made of wool, interlocked twill tapestry weave with embroidery in chain stitch; pieced; natural dyes including indigo from the Indian, Kashmir area (for export to Europe), Dogra Dynasty (1846 – 1949)
Photo 5 is a KASHMIRI SHAWL with RUMAL design ca. 1870  from the Indian, Kashmir area (for export to Europe), Dogra Dynasty (1846 – 1949)
Kashmiri Shawls once ignited a covetous desire throughout Europe.  They were made of a lovely soft goat hair and evoked the aura of a royal Mughal personage.  French King Napoleon Bonaparte saw soldiers bring them back from India around 1800 and his wife Josephine soon had acquired hundreds.  Given this overwhelming demand, Indian producers began assembling shawls like this one, which is a mosaic of small woven segments locked together with embroidery.  Meanwhile, weavers in Paris and Paisley, Scotland wove silk imitations that have endured in waves of revival unto today.
 “Once upon a time, or actually several times upon a time, Indigo was the most important dye in the world.  At one point it helped prop up an empire, and then later it helped destabilize it.  Ancient Egyptians used Indigo-dyed clothes to wrap their mummies, in Central Asia it was one of the main colors for carpets, and for more than three centuries in Europe and America it was one of the more controversial dye-stuffs, and it would have been familiar to people of many nationalities.”  Victoria Finlay, Color: A Natural History of the Palette, 2002  
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.
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ABOVE AND BEYOND!  Your LUCKY WEDDING DAY comes wrapped in SILK!

8/6/2016

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Picture"Sophisticated Evening Lace" Couture Embroidered Silk Satin Chiffon Bridal Stole Wrap Accessory in pink
Much as been written about “How to have Good Karma on your Wedding Day.”  In that line of thinking, the stylists at White Stole unanimously agree that the vision of “four bridesmaids all more beautiful than the other” wearing flowing Couture Silk Satin Stole Wraps is superior to all the other Wedding Accessories available to you….and capable of channeling absolutely, positively, irresistibly GOOD LUCK! 
 
Without question, if you are planning an “Urban or Country Vintage Wedding in Spring or Summer” anywhere, White Stole’s Stylists suggest you not try to “blend-in” to your scene carrying a tiny bouquet that you toss at the end of the day.
 
Rather, we’d wish upon your silhouette that it be wrapped in a beautiful, artully-designed Couture Silk Stole that will emblazon, delight and carry the rapture of your Wedding Theme into your day’s festivities….and beyond into your life ahead!
 
Whether you prefer your Valentino Embroidered Silk Stole in shades of pink, navy, beige or gray-black, White Stole has the Bridal Stole Wrap with hues that can be used to create the perfect “arm, elbow, wrist or neck accessory” and serve as the color palate for your entire Wedding Ceremony and Reception. 
 
This summer, walk your city’s streets to an outdoor Veranda Party in Wedding Style wrapped in the romance of a Silk Stole Wrap…and feel your Life Force!
 
Shop the full Valentino Wedding Stole and Wrap lineup now and keep your eyes peeled for more wedding coverage from us throughout Summer Wedding Season.
 
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.

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"Sophisticated Evening Lace" Couture Embroidered Silk Satin Chiffon Bridal Stole Wrap Accessory in gray-black
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"Sophisticated Evening Lace" Couture Embroidered Silk Satin Chiffon Bridal Stole Wrap Accessory in beige
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THE SUMMER WEDDING RULE THAT  INNATELY STYLISH WOMEN KNOW

7/9/2016

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All of us at White Stole join you in constantly being on the look-out for the “Signature Code” to Impeccable Summer Veranda or Theme Wedding Style. We are always looking to our personal Divas and favorite fashion-forward women – both whom we know personally as well as those we see in the digital realm – in an effort to decode who naturally has the Je Ne Se Quoi we want for ourselves….especially on our Wedding Day!

And we collectively conclude, without a shadow of a doubt or a moment’s waiver, that the KEY to great style is a fabulously crafted, timeless Accessory that will elevate all-else we wear in one fluttering beat of our hearts!  The only question is “how” to reach this nirvana? 

In an effort to decode impeccable style, White Stole humbly suggests you invest in “High-Impact” “High-Quality” “Handmade” “Couture” “Timelessly Classic” pieces that will work the magic you want on your stylish-self’s life-to come!

To honor the idea of "Bold Luxury," White Stole's "Spring Ribbons ~ Pink" Couture Bridal Stole Wrap Accessory in pure Silk Satin Chiffon from the Signature Valentino Collection becomes any Summer Theme Wedding's next-big-thing with its flowing ribbon design in shades of pastel pink, rose and ruby on white that wraps sweeping highlights around shoulders, arms or neck.
 
Make your Summer, Bridal or Gala, Garden Veranda, Valentine's Day or 4th of July Theme Wedding Party something to dream about!  Mix the traditional saying of “Tieing The Wedding Knot” with head-turning effect that will highlight and preserve your magnetic memories.   The Sky’s The Limit!   
 
Simply choose this or another of the Couture designs from our favorite Valentino Silk Satin Shawl or Stole Wrap Collections. This 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!
 
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....specially priced now under $300.00 per piece!  
 
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.
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IN FULL BLOOM!   FLORAL-PRINTS are the Garden Wedding Classic!

6/11/2016

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​It’s true that Floral-Printed anything is as ubiquitous to the season as the blooming buds, and rank high among the other motif you could be wearing during the warm-weather months ahead. As June marks the start of Summer Wedding Season, we honor the sunny days ahead with fun, patterned pieces sure to inject a bit of brightly hued cheer into your Wedding Wear wardrobe!
 
Chances are your calendar is already full of wedding dates as we wrap our way into summer, and you are looking forward to a wide variety of ceremonies from vineyard to yacht to ranch, but by-far, one of the most romantic and memorable wedding backdrops is the age-old idea of a Spring Garden or Summer Veranda Wedding. 
 
And to toast to this occasion, White Stole humbly suggests a POP of pink and persimmon floral to a Bridal Wedding Party set to the scent of anything from the Queen’s Rose Garden to Grandma’s gladiolas and peony patch!
 
Bring a “cultivated” look and a treasure trove of floral to your Garden Wedding in White Stole's  "Fabiola" Couture Bridal Stole Wrap  Accessory in pure Silk Satin Chiffon from the Signature Leonard Paris Collection. You will treasure this divine pure silk Momento of your wedding day forever.
 
“Fabiola” is in full bloom putting pretty glamour into any summer wedding with its luxurious pastel floral iconic "Orchid" design in lush shades of rose pink, purple, pale gray and persimmon on blushed white that will wrap sweeping highlights around shoulders, arms or neck of your Garden Veranda Wedding Party! 
 
Shop the full Wedding Stole and Wrap lineup now and keep your eyes peeled for more wedding coverage from us throughout Summer Wedding Season.
 
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.

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GO GRAPHIC with your Yacht, Country Club, Classic City Summer Wedding!

5/7/2016

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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. 
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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!

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r 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.
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Take toughness out of your world with Silk Floral Wraps for Garden Wedding

4/24/2016

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‘To express oneself and how one wishes to be to the world isn’t much different than how an artist views a figure or landscape’ a biographer of Helena Rubinstein once said.

White Stole is a big supporter of the view that how a woman chooses to craft her look and construct her identity is chiefly accomplished with the fashion and accessories she adopts. 

And more importantly, that on the most important day of her life, challenging some norms – such as those surrounding weddings – simply are in order!  Our Brides know that her own beauty is in her eyes as she beholds herself at it’s deepest essence.  And expressing that self means not stepping into someone else’s fairybook Princess Wedding Story….but into her own! 

May we humbly suggest that one of the most perfect ways to cultivate your inner feminine-self is with the soft, flowing look of pure Silk Chiffon in Couture Silk Floral Stole Wraps!

White Stole’s "Charming Rose" Bridal Wrap in Pink or Lilac from the Signature Valentino Collection offers you a sheer cascading rose design that not only wraps your future in a floral embrace, but gives a perfectly flowing Heirloom Gift for the Bride and Bridesmaids who know how to put the fun into elegance for a lifetime in any season  from Spring to Summer!
 
Delicately highlight your bridal party's silhouette with a rainbow of pastel shades from lavender and lilac, or pale pink to coral in any Spring or Summer, Garden Wedding setting or season while giving yourself a pure Silk Momento of your Wedding Day that you will cherish forever.

The women White Stole loves to love have a deep desire to have, hold and “wear her accessories for life"….then see them end-up in the hands of her daughter, her favorite nieces or cousins, or even a fashionable second-hand store where Style-Savvy young girls or Budget-Minded women will discover them 20 years later.  

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.

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WHITE STOLE marries at the LITTLE WHITE WEDDING CHAPEL....on time!

1/9/2016

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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.

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WEDDING WARDROBE:  Summer “City Wedding” NIGHTLOOKS after dark

8/8/2015

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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 


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White Stole's "Sophisticated Evening Lace ~ Mixed Colors" Couture Bridal Wrap in gray/black
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White Stole's "Sophisticated Evening Lace ~ Mixed Colors" Couture Bridal Wrap in gray/black
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Choose a vibrant Silk Chiffon Wrap for a sun-soaked Island Resort Wedding!  

1/17/2015

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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.

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"Florence" pure Cashmere Silk Floral Resort Wedding Stole Wrap by Leonard, Paris
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This New Year....waltz down the aisle in "NEW BRIDAL" STYLE!  

1/3/2015

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The wisest Brides-To-Be view the New Year as the sartorial equivalent of a clean “white” slate- - -and White Stole wholeheartedly agrees!  We encourage you to take the First Day of the year as an opportunity to shake-up your thinking about how you and your entourage will greet the First Day of your married life-to-come!

Rather than reaching for the conventional, vanilla-combo, we suggest you amp-it-up a notch by way of a glamorous, shoulder-hugging Couture Silk Stole Wrap over a delicately-designed Couture or Vintage dress, with a pair of classic heels for a look that is fresh, and totally unexpected. Top it off with a touch of exotic or vintage-flaired floral in your hair, and you are ready to walk the aisle in New Style!

One of our favorite bridal looks is the theme of “Embellished Accents” and the feel of a “Viennese Waltz” for your wedding.  Certainly, you would choose dark florals and poetic fringe or lace scattered throughout your entourage and venue, topped by White Stole’s “Sophisticated Evening Lace” embroidered Couture Silk Stole Wrap by Valentino with elbow-length evening gloves to spin a rich, bohemian vibe throughout the night.  You and your entourage would be perfectly suited to the romance of Old Europe in an autumn or winter wedding, and appropriately outfitted to sip mulled wine and stroll in equal measure amongst either fallen leaves or snow-dusted sidewalks!

Simply choose from one of our favorite Valentino or Leonard, Paris “Silk Satin Stole Wrap” Collections and you are set to roll-into the New Year in extraordinary style!  These iconic brands’ collections feature rich embroidery, color blocking and graphics to add superb styling to timeless essentials, all with a decidedly upbeat flare.  Whether you're buying for yourself or for someone in your wedding party, wrap-up these luxe classics for a very stylish holiday season!

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.

Note:  Sartorial comes from the Modern Latin word sartor which means "tailor"- literally "one who patches and mends." 
In English the adjectives sartorial and sartorially are used to refer to any matter pertaining to the consideration of clothing or fashion.

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How to wear a SILK WEDDING STOLE  ~ The “Must-Have” Bridal Accessory!

10/26/2014

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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.

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Classic City Wedding ~ Set your Pose from most Urban to Serene in a Stole!

10/18/2014

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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.

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Hand Silk-Screened Techniques applied to Cutting Edge Design = COMO

9/20/2014

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During the Roman Empire, Silk was sold for its weight in gold.  Today, “Silk” is yet another word for elegance, and silk garments are prized for their versatility, wearability and comfort. ​

Silk, or "soie" in French, is the strongest natural fiber. A steel filament of the same diameter as silk will break before a filament of silk. Silk absorbs moisture, which makes it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because of its high absorbency, it is easily dyed in many deep colors. Silk retains its shape, drapes well, caresses the figure, and shimmers with a luster all its own.

The styles and technological innovations made by Como's silk manufacturers may be new and constantly innovating, but the raw materials have remained constant for more than 4,000 years.  300 to 1,600 yards of filament extruded from silkworm cocoons have been the basis of the coveted silk fabrics. It takes 100 cocoons to weave just one tie, and 630 cocoons to make a blouse. 

​Today, the entire finishing cycle of silk and of other natural fibers are masterfully applied to every new printing and weaving solution.  The result merges the distinction between creativity and production as all themes are “creative:”  the emergence of a fiber or weave, of a pattern or bold color combination, of an innovative print or a yarn-dyed fabric.


To this day, the end result of cutting-edge CAD design production technology combined with the creative rhythm of masterful creations by individuals dedicated to their craft point to the skill and the unmistakable products that emerge from the luxury textiles industry in Como, Italy. 

White Stole offers representation of influential Italian luxury design and heritage production of printed, solid and yarn-dyed luxury women’s fabrics in silk, cashmere, cotton and modal using the traditional, custom-manufacturing that has originally been used in the production of Valentino and Leonard Paris Couture Silk.

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.


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The Historic City at the Center of Italian Silk Production ~ COMO, Italy

9/13/2014

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In the 6th century, silkworms were smuggled out of China in bamboo canes and brought to the eastern Mediterranean by two Persian merchants disguised as Priests. From there the labor-intensive business of breeding silkworms is believed to have spread first to Sicily in the 12th century, and then north to the shores of magnificent Lake Como.

The
Seduction of Silk on Lake Como's shores is little known to those outside of the fashion industry, but since the turn of the century, Como, a 2,000-year-old Roman town on the southwestern shore of the lake of the same name, has been the center of Italy's silk industry.

Como's picturesque Duomo is the perfect view of the history: Master weavers were already working in Florence in the 13th century. In the 15th century, Venice became a silk processing center. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Milan assumed prominence as both the Italian and European silk capital. By the turn of the 17th century, Como became the country's largest silk producer. Como now produces 85% of all of the silk made in Italy. The silk fibers are still woven, dyed and finished in Italy's finest silk factories, just the way they have always been.

The historic piazza in Como city center tells more of the story:  Designers from virtually every fine house - from
Valentino, Leonard Paris, Armani, Chanel, Hermes, Vuitton, Dior, Celine, Balenciaga, Herrera, Etro, Pucci, Burberry, Fendi, to Versace, and beyond - rely on silk from Como. A good deal of the credit for a designer's success goes to the silk houses. While the fashion-line's designers may come to the manufacturers with guidelines and inspiration for the types of fabric designs they envison, it is the manufacturers' artists in Como who actually execute the designs.

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.



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    White Stole and I introduce the New Face of Modern Wedding and StreetChic Accessories with Stoles, Shawls, Foulard Wraps that bring out the pretty-little-bling in any gown!
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