Shawl stars – fab wraps for fall
You know those evenings — the first ones in early fall when things get a little bit nippy, but it isn’t quite time for a sweater, let alone a jacket or coat. Then please give a big round of applause for the Light Shawl. It’s the perfect happy medium between something that will leave you shivering and a covering that will have you drenched in sweat. As Goldilocks would say — this one is just right.
Shawls are all about versatility. Almost all of those here can be worn as you would a cape or a ruana, but also double (or triple) as a shawl and scarf. They’re where cool sunsets on the beach, breezy dinners on the patio and ultrasoft luxury hold hands.
Here are a handful of my favorites out there right now, to snap up before things get chilly enough that you actually need a coat:
The goes-with-anything topper: Free People’s Magic Dance Duster ($58 on nordstrom.com) is woven from soft fabric in a bright reds and purples — be sure to look for it in Mandarin Combo — a vintage-y floral-paisley print. As a duster, it complements everything from jeans or a little red dress to a late-season bikini at the pool.
Sweet pricing on sweet softness: Quince’s Mongolian Cashmere Wrap ($99.90 on onequince.com). To grab a shawl this soft on your way out the door for the evening is lucky enough; to grab one for less than a Benjamin is lucky to the core.
The supersized wrap-up:
Sometimes just one layer isn’t enough. You want — and need — to be double wrapped in luxury. Enter the Oversized Cashmere Wrap (40% off of $198 on jcrew.com) in fantastic fall hues like dark berry, deep rust and heather birch.
The grooviest kind of classic:
A statement pattern can completely glam up a casual outfit, and bring all kinds of edge to another. For that kind of dramatic impact, I love Raquel Allegra’s Moss Aqua Scarf ($145 on gretta.co). The moss and aqua tie-dyed jersey square scarf is hand-dyed, and can take any dress from zero to 100 as soon as you toss one on.
The best fall colors: For hues alone, it’s tough to beat the Lightweight Cashmere Travel Wrap ($169 on garnethill.com) — a la those evoking the earthy side of fall: cider and oat heather are my personal faves. It looks fabulous around your shoulders, and even better with arms through the wide, luxuriously loose holes.
The work-friendly solution: We all know meetings can occasionally run into evening, and client dinners are sometimes on the patio. Et voila: the Scalloped Knit Wrap by Lane d’Olimpia ($117.60 on bloomingdales.com). Its polished hem and wool blend do all the hard work of a daytime jacket, but with the casual flair of a true evening wrap.