How to Wear a Down Shawl: Modern Ideas

Do you associate the down shawl with retirement age and imperfect taste? Or perhaps you think only village girls wear down shawls? How rash! This accessory is comfortable, practical and suitable for all seasons; it is an indispensable item for a woman of any age. Especially today, when the choice of items is huge and their use is universal – provided, of course, you have the desire and a good imagination.

Choosing a model

For many years women wore down shawls on their heads, then they moved to fashionable women's shoulders and quite casually slid down to the waist. And now…. Any placement of a shawl, especially a down one, has become appropriate.

The qualities of the yarn of a down item allow it to be used anywhere – in any setting and in various weather conditions. And this is no exaggeration! When the item comes into contact with the body, even in summer, there are no unpleasant sensations, because goat down has unique and rare thermal conductivity properties.

The size and shape of down items vary from large square pieces to compact rectangular ones. Voluminous down shawls let you tie them beautifully, wrap them several times or place them comfortably on your shoulders. Medium-sized openwork items let you create new looks not only in winter but in summer too, while small delicate shawls will mark out and flatteringly emphasise the part of your figure that may be unnoticeable at first glance.

A striking accessory

For your outfit to look harmonious, a shawl should be chosen as a component of the ensemble. A dark dress is best set off only by an openwork shawl in light tones. A simple light dress of jersey or wool will become more attractive and original if it is decorated with the deep black or grey openwork of an airy down item with its corners tied, worn as a bolero. This way of wearing it can also suit a sporty style of clothing.

The use of a shawl should match how covered-up the outfit is. If you are wearing a skirt and a short-sleeved blouse, a small openwork down shawl with its ends casually tied (gathered like an accordion) in a knot at the neckline will only emphasise your feminine silhouette.

With a low-cut blouse, a shawl folded diagonally and tied around the neck in several knots will create the effect of a fluffy necklace.

You can adorn your head with more than just a shawl tied under the chin. A shawl folded diagonally, with one knot in the centre and the spread-out ends taken back, is fixed with a knot at the back of the head to make a fashionable headpiece that looks great with any hair length.

So, we have already met two options. These are the bolero and the necklace. But we will tell you more about them:

1. A bolero, as already mentioned, can be made by tying the ends of the shawl so as to leave openings for the arms. Such an item can be worn in winter and on cool summer evenings, to work and to formal events. Everything depends on the colour range and possible combinations with other items of clothing.
2. A down turban not only protects the head from cold and wind but also looks striking. A large but almost weightless "gossamer" item is thrown over the head with the ends to the back; the two tails are twisted and brought together at the front, twisted again and tied at the back.
3. An office dress can be decorated by tying two corners of a down shawl at the back of the neck. Slightly above the lower corners, the two sides of the shawl are neatly tied or pinned together so as to form a slimming skirt; then the neckline is arranged and draped across the chest. This is a wonderful option for correcting the figure.
4. A shawl gathered like an accordion on both sides is thrown over the shoulders and tied with the opposite end, creating a coquettish flower on one shoulder.
5. A shawl thrown over the shoulders is twisted twice at the front, then one spread-out end is thrown over the left shoulder and the other over the right. The result is an airy bow that can be formed on a dress with short sleeves.

If you still doubt the versatility of such an item of clothing as a down shawl, it is only because you have not yet used all your imagination or have not looked through the whole range of our online shop. Each down shawl presented has its own story, an inspiring name, and will certainly find its use at any time of year.