How to Wear a Summer Shawl

Summer shawls are an essential accessory in your wardrobe over the summer months. They are the perfect addition to your wedding outfit, strappy dress or even swimsuit if it’s hot.

When you’ve spent hours scouring the internet and shopping malls looking for the perfect wedding outfit, a Summer shawl is a staple piece that will finish off any outfit perfectly. Worn thrown over the shoulder it can make the plainest of dresses look glam. Tie round the neck to smarten up a trouser suit. Or for a vintage look, pin it together with a sparkly brooch. The possibilities are endless and a good Summer shawl will see you through many a wedding or garden party with no one realising it’s the same one! It’s the little black dress of the accessory world!

Summer shawls are so versatile that they can be worn on holiday too. Cover up on the beach when the sun is high or wear as a sarong when you’re walking the beach. Then later on, at night, wrap low round your shoulders to shelter from the cool sea breeze. Take them in your hand luggage on your flight too so you can wrap round your shoulders to shelter from the aggressive air conditioning!

There are so many ways to wear a shawl that there are whole websites dedicated to the topic! Equipped with videos, images and step by step descriptions there seems to be no end to the possibilities! They all have names too; ‘the sarong’, ‘the noose wrap’, ‘the pashmina stole’, ‘the full wrap’ and even ‘hollywood style’!

Alpaca shawls are especially good for the Summer months as they are very light whilst still warm – perfect for when the Sun goes down. Alpaca is also very soft next to the skin. Ideal when you’ve stayed out in the sun that little bit too long. For the larger styles of shawl, hang round your neck and secure with a thin belt around the waist and you have a whole new outfit!

Alpaca Summer shawls are have particularly good longevity as the fibre is hard-wearing and doesn’t pill or ball like wool does. As a result alpaca summer shawls can be trans-seasonal and worn from season to season. When buying an alpaca garment it is like an investment. An alpaca shawl will last years rather than months if taken care of. Shawls bought for summer can turn into large scarves for the colder months. Just bundle the wrap around your neck for a luxurious scarf. They can even be passed from generation to generation. Alpaca wears so well often a garment will stay in a family for years; mother to daughter, sister to sister. When buying alpaca you pay for quality as well as practicality!