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

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

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

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

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

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

As we move into Spring, we find our Muse in the ‘20s-inspired Bride whose timeless attire feels equal parts jazzy and modern.  The 1921 vision of Gloria Swanson in her Fitzgerald-approved Wedding Couture centers on the divine luxe of a flowing "Shawl" Stole - a dreamy addition to any Roaring 20’s Art Deco Wedding look further topped-off with feathers and beaded jewels.  The side-by-side photo of Yolan Cris sporting a 20's look in 2011 shows us that ultra-feminine Vintage Couture is today's Radical Chic!

Riotous, decadent and excessive, the 1920’s were an era of lavish vulgarity complete with sensory saturation.  F. Scott Fitzerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, captures this feeling of dizzying, glittering, hedonism with it’s vibrant descriptions of a decade immortalized with women obsessed with jazz, short skirts, bobbed hair and glistening legs – yes, these young beauties were seen showing their legs!

Soon after the First World War, a radical change came about as dresses with long trains gave way to above-the-knee pinafores, while corsets were abandoned and women borrowed their looks from the male wardrobe.  At first, many couturiers were reluctant to adopt the new androgynous style, but embraced it wholeheartedly by around 1925. 

The 1920's woman showed disdain for conventional dress and behavior, used rouge and lipstick, plucked her eyebrows and adopted a bustless, waistless, sleeveless silhouette. She offset her male-oriented dressed-down style with feathers, Shawls and Boa Stoles, embroidery, and showy accessories.  This modern lady dressed in fringed skirts and bright colored sweaters.  She wore scarves and blouses with Peter Pan collars.

For afternoon or Informal Evening Wear during the summer of 1922, the Parisian fashion houses showed Summer Dresses of organdy, lace, or lace mixed with chiffon and similar fluid materials.  All skirts were four to six inches from the ground, and famously sleeveless.  The “Flapper” style as it came to be called (known to the French as the 'garçonne' look), was popular with women at the time who were fun-loving, smoked and loved to drink!

The Delineator, in 1921, declared that women at the time loved to drink so much that “seven eligible bachelors say the Flapper would be a failure as a wife, and they refuse to marry her.” Historically, before Prohibition, the only time a lady even considered carrying any intoxicating beverage in her hand was when she put a few drops into a medicine bottle to take while traveling.  In the hey-day of the Flapper, all high-spirited girls carried their own flask. 

The magnetic personality of Couturièr Coco Chanel, a major figure in fashion at the time for her chic and progressive designs, promoted this sporty and athletic look. Chanel also popularized the bob hairstyle, the little black dress, and the use of jersey knit for women's clothing, elevating the status of both accessories, costume jewelry and knitwear as the topping of a look that epitomized Modern Glamour.

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.

Here, on the first day of Spring as we head into Summer, whether you decide to wear an authentic vintage or vintage-inspired dress or gown, White Stole will help you put together the correct period look for any vintage-themed garden event you may be starring in, or attending.  

As admirers of any girl sporting an expertly styled wardrobe, we can’t help but celebrate the arrival of spring with a few liner notes on the gals who embodied the 30’s style, and made it the look we still crush on to this day!

Here are the key fashion elements from White Stole’s Old Hollywood themed Garden Veranda Wedding guide to look for when recreating a classic 1930’s style for your Wedding Day:

Though only the more affluent could afford silk at that time, the 30’s look was fluid, flowing and ladylike in sheer silks, rayon or lightweight cottons in small to medium florals, or deco-inspired geometric prints.  The bias cut with draping ruffles defined the figure-flattering silhouettes of the 30’s.  Whereas the straight, angular silhouettes of the 1920’s played down the curves of a woman’s figure, the clothing styles of the 30’s instead celebrated the female form. Dresses were feminine and romantic with a return to the natural waistline.  Hemlines remained at ankle or shin length and even rose a bit higher toward the end of the decade. Belts were worn at the natural waistline.  Skirts with V-shaped yokes below the waist followed the line of the hips then flared out from the knee, ending in ruffles, tiers, folds or layers, while peplums were more popular toward the end of the decade. 

Iconic evening looks included backless gowns in velvet or body-clinging sensuous satin as can be seen in the photos of Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard and Ginger Rogers.  This decade is often remembered as the “Big Band Era” and the “Golden Age of Hollywood,” and the glamorous fashions worn by entertainers and silver screen stars heavily influenced the styles of the time.

In all silhouettes, the emphasis was on the neckline to bring emphasis to the vision of a woman’s face, making accessories an essential element to her look.  The fitted bodices were capped with elaborate collars that appeared Stole and Capelike, or incorporated folds, ruffles or draping flutter-sleeves.  Fur, fabric flowers or bows often decorated collars, the center bust area of the bodice or the waist, as well as hats.  Hats were worn at an angle, with wide brims, cloches, turbans, and berets being most popular while strappy sandals for evening, often in metallic shades or mesh, were considered high-fashion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We 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.

In life, there just simply are certain garments we want to wear in the most beautiful moments of our lives.  And in the world of Formal Wear, Valentino is a brand that follows both elegance and practicality…thanks to its secret ingredients that have maintained touch with the trends that influence Gala Fashion all over the world.  Season after season each collection is more amazing than the last.  At the same time, it’s evident that designs by Valentino always follow traditional style and taste, which will always rise to the top.

The polished elegance of Stoles, Capes, Shawls and Bolero Wraps that dominate Valentino's Runway at every Fashion Week prove to all of us that in every season, and in every fabric, whether lace, fringe, fur or sheer silk, Valentino's designers celebrate the flawless in women's true nature.  The extraordinary House of Valentino breathes inspiration from all women across the globe.  Whether shy, extroverted or romantic, Valentino designs are famous for creating gowns and accessories of elegance for everyone to dress their own personality without ever neglecting refinement and originality.

Either a sheer, black Embroidered Lace or Fur-Trimmed Lace Valentino Gown, or an ivory Lace-Caped Valentino Gown, such as the ones pictured here, exude pure elegance.  White Stole sees starlight when we look through the lace peep-holes in these gowns!  Equally elegant is the embroidered detailing and accents that present in the double-sided, luxurious "Sophisticated Lace Dream" Silk Twill Shawl Wrap by Valentino in the White Stole Collection, giving it the Ultra Luxe vibe you are seeking for any Wedding, making it easy to pair with a chic evening gown, glamorous heels or a beaded clutch.  For extra bonus, move the tie to a front shoulder, so your collarbone will definitely get noticed!

Simply choose from one of our favorite Valentino or Leonard Paris Silk Satin Stole Wrap Collections. These iconic brands’ graphic collections feature rich embroidery and color blocking to add superb styling to timeless essentials, all with a decidedly cool downtown flare!  Whether 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.

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.

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.

Walking to the beat of your own fashion-heart is all about “your own” pumpkin pie recipe, not Grandma’s!  There are times when abiding by a tried-and-true recipe is critical – like when trying to not make a souffle flop.  But when you are approaching the most important day of your life, we all know deep in our heart that abiding too strictly to fashion “codes” simply drops the exquisite fun and personality from our taste buds.  Not to mention making for less than delicious moments!

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

Thankfully, all it takes is a little creativity…and yes, nerve… to steer from convention to elevate yourself to the level of the celebratory dining table!  So here are a few ideas that should propel you to break free of any fashion “rules” you might think exist…and look totally stylish on your Thanksgiving Wedding Day! 

These photos of a White Stole Bridal Party mixed-and-matched 5 Stoles from White Stole’s brown and blue-tipped, long-haired ivory "Ultra-Luxe" Stole Collection over the Attendants' rich purple dresses with the dark-brown-tipped "Ultra-Luxe Passionate" Stole for the Bride over her Vintage Wedding Gown.  The result White Stole calls the New Royal in Vintage Weddings!

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.

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.

It was 1958 in Paris when Jacques Leonard asked Daniel Tribouillard to start a new company: Leonard Fashion. A man of artistic temperament, Daniel Tribouillard set out to differentiate the brand in Haute Couture.  

In 1960, Tribouillard launched a revolutionary new process for printing English weaves that were very fashionable at the time but said to be “unprintable”. In fact, his clients were won over by his much-loved floral prints, and in just a few years, the bold young man was applauded across the globe, Encouraged by his success, Daniel Tribouillard brought the Leonard brand to the world, developing his style by adopting the Orchid as an emblem: a delicate wild flower “without geometric limits.”

In 1968, Daniel Tribouillard presented his first collection of printed silk jersey dresses with a slogan emphasizing the lightness of the fabric: “The Leonard Dress: 150g of happiness”.  In the early 70s, the House diversified its production (perfumes, ties, silk scarves) and created its own distribution network. The years went by, innovations and inventions came one after the other and shaped the brand's reputation. In 1994, the House of Leonard joined the French 'Féderation de la Couture' and performed its first fashion show at the Carrousel du Louvre.  2013 took the Leonard Paris line to new heights in their cutting-edge creative process and production technology as they have continued to research and explore unknown solutions that could be adopted for an individual woman. 

Today, Leonard Paris is synonymous across the globe with unparalleled creativity and  emotion.  Leonard's originality is founded on a unique and recognizable style shared by all of its designs,  as well as the fabrics used. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.