No matter what the occasion or whether it is a formal or informal affair, every woman wants to look her glorious best on those special nights out. Cocktail parties, nights at the opera, visits to see top Broadway shows and even company Christmas functions or romantic dinners for two can see us scratching our heads to find the perfect outfit. While choosing an appropriate dress might not present too much of a problem, where many women come unstuck is in trying to decide what to wear over the top, and many an ensemble has been spoiled by the addition of a coat or jacket which is less than flattering to the finished look.
Even after the warmest of summer days, the evening can feel comparatively cool, and so venturing out with bare shoulders or in a low-cut or backless dress can be a risky strategy unless you have something to cover up with. The challenge, however, is in finding something which matches a dress not only in terms of color and style, but also in terms of elegance, and this is where silk shawls or wraps really come into their own. Being lightweight but still remarkably warm, they don’t appear bulky like many traditional jackets or coats, and the way in which the fabric drapes and hangs is flattering to women of all different shapes and sizes.
For many women, the ‘little black dress’ is the wardrobe staple for evening wear, and this is just one example of an item which can benefit enormously from an injection of color over the top. A hand dyed silk shawl draped across the shoulders can give a spectacular lift to even the plainest little black number, making it look both distinctive and elegant. Better still, if you happen to turn up and find that everyone else has also opted for black or, horror of horrors, that somebody has chosen exactly the same dress, your shawl will make you stand out in the best possible way.
Where formal functions are concerned, most women tend to go for plain rather than patterned dresses, and these are certainly the ones which go best with the unique design of a silk shawl or wrap, which helps to break up large blocks of color. With such a wide range of colored designs available, it is simply a case of selecting a shawl which contains matching or coordinating shades, although a dress which is black, white or even cream or ivory will go well with just about anything.
One thing to be aware of when choosing a silk shawl or wrap is that they do come in different styles and sizes. You will, for example, find wraps which fall into points at the hem and which help to add extra interest to a very simple dress. While some shawls are shorter, others are full-length and look spectacular as the fabric floats when you walk.
Whatever the style or length of your dress, a silk shawl or wrap will not only do wonders to give you an individual and elegant look, but will also prove to be a highly practical accessory for those special evenings on the town.