The evening shawl
t versatile accessor…is one of the mosies in the world of fashion.
It should be in every girl’s closet but it does not have to be limited for women only since it works just as great with men. You can use evening shawls in many ways. You can use the same piece for formal wear or evening wear. The truth is that fashion doesn’t take much effort. The best fashion icons look like they spent hours preparing, when in fact they did not. This is fashion – the art of making something effortless look beautiful and cohesive. How do you know which styles go best together?
Color:
If there is one fashion rule you should never miss, it is color. The world’s best known fashionistas, such as Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O. and even Victoria Beckham have shown that with the right mix of colors, there isn’t anything you can’t pull off.
Evening shawls work great
…as colorful and as dark accessories at the same time. Get creative and match two unexpected colors together while maintaining cohesion. An example of this is matching a green shawl with a pink blouse. You can further accentuate this by adding green pieces such as a green belt or shoes. Contrasting colors help highlight each other’s shades. They are a refreshing change from commonly matched colors such as black and white or black and red.
The color wheel will be your best friend, helping you pull this off. The color wheel represents the transition of every existing color known to the human eye. Just as with painters, the color wheel also helps fashion designers. The key rule to this is to choose colors that are either beside each other in the color wheel or directly across each other. Examples of these are matching blue and yellow or yellow and orange. Both pairs have the same eye-catching effect.
Accessories:
No outfit will be complete without accessories. Accessories can be anything from jewelry, shoes, belts and even hairpins. Accessories help highlight the rest of your clothes. Instead of simply wearing a plain shawl, go over your own comfort zone by adding other accessories with it. A perfect example of this is by placing a brooch on the knot of your shawl. The brooch can represent anything you want to express – your initials, a heart, a cross or a gem. This is unexpected and can be eye-catching.
Earrings are also powerful accessories that can make any outfit look better. Shawls are more commonly used for the shoulders. Because of this, they tend to emphasize your shoulders, making them a central source of attention. Balance this out with the upper part of your body by wearing a matching pair of earrings. Large oval earrings or dangling earrings work best for this purpose. Many women from the African countries of Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria sport their earrings this way, using colorful, wooden pieces. This will also work the same way with other head accessories, such as hats, headbands and ribbons.
Texture:
Shawls come in different kinds of cloths. They can be made of silk, lace or velvet. Each type of cloth will be suited for a particular type of outfit. For example, velvet is thick and is rich with color and texture. It tends to add volume and is not a very elastic material. Because of this, it is best to match it with silk or satin. Both are thinner, elastic and smooth. Do not match velvet with something of equal volume and richness, such as corduroy or wool. Similar to colors, you should work with contrasts when it comes to choosing cloth.
