I’d Rather Wear My Black Shawl Than Go Naked

I know the girls at P.E.T.A. keep on telling us that they’d rather go naked than wear fur, but not everyone has the confidence to shed their inhibitions as well as their clothes. Hey, it might be OK for a few young models to pose ‘au natural’ for the odd photo shoot with strategically placed objects covering their modesty, but the look just doesn’t transfer well to the high-street!

That’s why P.E.T.A., in a bid to attract more active participation, have developed a new slogan, “I’d Rather Wear My Black Shawl Than Wear Fur”. True, the advertising isn’t quite as striking without the shock value that a few nude bodies bring to any image, but the look is a little bit more classy and a lot more accessible.

Renee Zellweger launched the campaign in New York… OK, I jest, this wasn’t really a social statement. Renee was actually just keeping everything under wraps as she walked to a photoshoot for Elle magazine.

But that’s the great thing about a black evening shawl, it’s such a versatile accessory…. jazzing up a formal dress or covering your semi-naked body as you walk to a photo shoot for Elle magazine in the centre of New York…. It does it all!

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cashmere scarf

Reese Witherspoon's Purple Evening Shawl

Reese Witherspoon looks like she must have been wearing her dark glasses when she picked her wardrobe this morning. I mean, this look just doesn’t work! The purple evening shawl, black dress and black leggings are just dark and unremarkable.

Maybe Reese was trying to pass incognito through LA’s LAX airport without getting snapped by the paparazzi, so she chose an outfit to make her look totally anonymous…. God forbid she actually thought it looked good. I wouldn’t mind stealing her boots, but the shapeless black dress and everything else she’s thrown on are just plain boring.

This is exactly the same dull color combination of purple wrap and black dress that Carla Bruni was snapped wearing to a French state occasion, with the same tragic results. Monica Bellucci could teach both of them a thing or two about which colors really compliment a purple shawl.

Unless you’re shooting the latest teenage vampire movie I’d avoid this black and purple look!

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cashmere shawl

Angelina Jolie’s Green Evening Shawl

Love her or hate her, you’ve got to admit, Angelina Jolie is a beautiful woman who could probably walk around in a sack and look good!

She never seems to try too hard, but looks effortlessly classy just by choosing simple elegant clothes.

Here she couples an olive green evening shawl with a plain white t-shirt and black pencil skirt to create a subtle but elegant look.

It’s exactly the same technique I commented on earlier where again she sets off a simple black outfit with the warm shades of a peach evening shawl.

In both cases the shawl isn’t just draped loosely around her shoulders but wrapped tightly around her entire torso, covering her like a shirt.

Olive green is such a great shade for brunettes and here you can see it really picks out Angelina Jolie’s hair and tanned skin tone.

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Monica Bellucci’s Pink Evening Shawl

Monica Bellucci gives another master class in the subtle play between different color tones, as she collects a World Achievement Award at the Women’s World awards gala in Vienna on Thursday 5^th March 2009.

I’d written earlier how the Italian actress, 44, coupled a violet evening shawl with a darker purple dress to devastating effect at the Cesar Film Awards. Here at the Women’s World awards ceremony in Austria she uses exactly the similar technique, using a light pink evening shawl to set off a darker pink gown.

It’s an effortlessly glamorous look that is simple, subtle and absolutely stunning!

The beautiful pink ball dress is itself a story in contrasts. With the hem of the dress falling to the floor and creating a small train, the look harks back to a classic bygone era, which some might even call conservative. But with the figure hugging cut of the dress and the straps sitting just off the shoulder, the total effect is stylish, contemporary and pure sex bomb!

Pashminas are the perfect accessory to complement this kind of décolleté evening dress. They give you so much flexibility. You can either gently train them around your elbows, allowing the length of the shawl to fall vertically by your sides for that impression of height. Or, you can wrap up and cover your shoulders. They’re just so versatile.

I couldn’t finish without talking about accessories! Neither the little silver clutch purse nor the beautiful necklace is over-powering, but they just add that little bit of sparkle to a look which would grace any red carpet.

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pashmina shawls

Kate Middleton’s Ivory Evening Shawl

A beaming Kate Middleton steps out into the night in a classic ivory evening shawl. Kate might have something else to smile about soon as speculation is intense that her boyfriend Prince William, second in-line to the British throne, will propose soon.

Princess Kate! Those words must have been in her mind frequently during the couples seven year relationship. The two have been together since 2003 when they met at the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland. After a little bump when they briefly separated 3 years ago they are now reported to be closer than ever.

It is rumored that William will give Kate his mother, Lady Diana’s, 18-carat sapphire ring when he finally pops the question. Royal watchers have even speculated that their wedding will attract more media interest than the 750 million worldwide viewers that tuned in to watch Charles and Diana tie the knot in 1981.

In fact maybe Kate’s actually thinking about Queen Kate, as that would be her title should Prince William succeed to the throne after his father. Anyway, that’s a lot of speculation, and the British monarchy is always full of surprises, so back to the here and now.

The ivory shawl plays perfectly against Kate’s dark denim jeans and knee-length leather boots, as well as going nicely with Kate’s pretty earrings. The effect of the cream against the blues and browns of the outfit are subtler and warmer than the dramatic black on white effect that Megan Fox achieves with her white shawl contrasting to her black outfit.

Clearly jazzed up for a night on the town, the million dollar question is what is Kate wearing underneath the wrap? A little strappy top? Or is she going to surprise William with tassels?

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Carla Bruni’s Camel Evening Shawl

Carla Bruni’s camel evening shawl adds color and warmth to her crisp white shirt, not to mention an extra layer to wrap around her on a breezy day.

Whilst Carla has coupled this top with a pair of tailored black pants to fit in with her formal role as France’s “First Lady”, it’s such a flexible accessory you could use it with so many other looks.

With the same pashmina and shirt combination, you could mix it with a pair of blue jeans for a stylish, casual look or a light colored skirt for a more relaxed feminine summery look.

So elegant and so versatile!

And so much softer on her than the black dress matched with the purple evening shawl that Carla wore at another state function.

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Kate Moss Borrows Gran’s Evening Shawl

Kate Moss must have found her evening shawl in her grandmother’s old clothes box!

Surely there’s no other way to explain the outfit she’s thrown on?

I still can’t even believe I’m saying this! Kate is normally one of the fashion untouchables…. a woman who can do no wrong.

I mean, doesn’t everything look good on Kate Moss…. well, apparently not!

Does anyone have any ideas what look she’s going for? Bohemian artist? Romantic gypsy? Color blind geriatric?

Is it the washed out colors of the pink t-shirt? Or is it the tired light blue of the jeans? There’s just something about this look that just doesn’t hang together.

The dazzling golden tassels of the shawl immediately attract the eye, but sit awkwardly against the black lapels and a fabric with all the appeal of a faded pair of curtains.

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