Cashmere Pashmina Shawl

First of all, the word "Cashmere" refers to very fine wool that is found at the roots of the hair of the Kashmir goat. Kashmir is an area in southwestern Asia whose sovereignty is disputed between Pakistan and India. The area is also known as "Jammu and Kashmir" This is an area of great elevation located within the Himalayan mountain range.

The word "Pashmina" typically refers to a fine type of cashmere wool. The origin of the word is from the Persian word "pashmineh," meaning wool. This wool actually comes from the underbelly of the pashmina goat. This goat is also known as the "changthangi" goat. This goat is a very special breed that is indigenous to areas such as Kashmir.

The word "Shawl" is a piece of material typically worn by women. The material is usually worn on the shoulders or on the head and shoulders to keep warm. This material can be cashmere or any other type of soft material. Usually the material will be cut in rectangular, square or triangular shape.

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Pashmina wool is revered for many reasons:

1 - High Quality. Pashmina is among one of the highest quality wools there is.

2 - Softness. This luxury fiber has softness equal to or greater than cashmere. Now that's soft! If you've ever felt pashmina walking by in the store, you know what I mean.

3 - Pashmina wool holds color beautifully. Typically some wools do not hold color and they will look dull. Pashmina takes the color exceptionally well and you can see from the pictures how vibrant the colors are. The color will not fade either.

4 - very lightweight. When one is wearing a pashmina in the typical manner on the shoulders, it is very important to be lightweight.

5 - Rarity. Although this is not as true as it once was only a few short years ago.

Remember, pashmina is used to describe a certain type of cashmere. Here are some other interesting cashmere facts:

• There are two distinct fibers of the Kashmir goat: the course outer hair and the super-fine cashmere undercoat. This fine undercoat is where the fiber for clothing comes from.
  
  
• The countries that supply the world with the most cashmere are China, Tibet and Mongolia. Other countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, New Zealand and Australia also contribute to the cashmere industry
  
  
• Each goat is capable of yielding up to one pound of fiber per year. There will be an average of 4 to 6 ounces of the fine fiber.
  
  
• In it's natural environment, Cashmere comes in gray, brown, and white. Although during processing it can be dyed any color that is desired.
  
  
• The classification "cashmere" is a result of the fiber containing under 19 microns.
  
  
• Cashmere is eight times warmer than sheep's wool
  
  
• Cashmere is thought to have originated from the soft down undercoat of the Asiatic goat (known as Capra hircus laniger), but cashmere fibers now come from 68 breeds of goats and exist in 12 countries.
  
  

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A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

Although your cashmere Pashmina shawl wrap probably still qualifies as an "accessory," it hardly belongs in the same category as "bauble" or "fun little extra." The Pashmina wrap packs as much power as your all-business all-wool suit, your perfectly chosen little black dress, your always classic black wool coat, and favorite pair of very expensive special occasion pumps. You do not invest in a Pashmina wrap on a whim; you artfully acquire it with a plan.

Examine your closet with an objective eye trained on themes and patterns: what clearly stands-out as the color you most often wear? It may not count as your favorite, but it must count as the one that dominates. Do you wear more patterns, prints, or solids? Do your choices tend more toward conservative and dignified or bright and sassy?

As you look for and choose your Pashmina shawl wrap, you want to find the one that complements the prevailing elements in your own distinctive style. If you wear mostly patterns and prints, you will get a lot more year-round use from a solid color wrap. If you wear mostly solids, you have more latitude with patterns and styles, but you still must exercise some caution: the bigger and brighter the pattern, the more it either will call attention to your own size or dwarf you. A petite woman will shrink to certifiably "diminutive" if she attempts to wear a big-bold patterned wrap.

There's No Law Against Trial and Error

You've probably heard this before: You never would buy a car without a test drive; why would you choose an investment garment without taking it for a lap around the store?

As you begin the selection process, start with color. The accent color in the wrap must match the prevailing color in your wardrobe. If navy blue rules your closet, then you should look for wraps that include navy but do not depend on it. Then, make sure the color not only matches but draws out your skin tone; does it illuminate the subtle undertones in your complexion? Your wrap more often than not will rest directly against your skin; therefore, the more it does to enhance your skin's natural beauty, the more you will experiment with new ways to wear it.

Now, look carefully at sizes. Cashmere Pashmina shawl wraps are not one size fits all. They range from slightly larger than bandanas to nearly the size of blankets. Consider how you most often will wear your wrap and how you can use it to accentuate your natural proportions. If you're Barbie-legged and tall, a small wrap will make you appear even taller. Similarly, examine the size of the prints in the wraps you like; they, too, should fit your proportions.

Finally, when you have come to the brink of your decision, stop to examine the fabric content: the best Pashmina shawl wraps blend 70% cashmere-the Pashmina goat kind-with 30% silk. That blend assures their brilliant color, rich texture, and fierce durability.
Before you say, "I'll take it," take it for a test drive around the boutique. Drape it as you know you will drape it out there in the great big world all around, and see how it moves with you. If its flow matches yours, you have "the one."

You may think that a shawl is used just to throw over your shoulders to keep you warm. One of the greatest things about a shawl is the incredible versatility they have.

In a broad sense, there are many different social situations where a shawl is appropriate.

First of all, cashmere pashmina shawls can be used in a casual or informal manner. If you are wearing some jeans and a t-shirt, a pashmina shawl could add a little flavor what might typically be considered a "plain" outfit. Maybe you are wearing a cute tank top with a denim skirt; a shawl would be a great addition. You can drape the shawl over one or both shoulders; this portrays a very nice casual look.

A shawl can work if you want to be very fancy and elegant as well. Maybe you are wearing nice pair of slacks with a blazer. You could wear around the neck and wear it loose enough to show off your neckline.

Lastly a shawl can be used not only for fashion, but as a functional piece of fashion. This means you can use a shawl for pure comfort. Maybe your shoulders are cold; maybe your whole body is cold. You can use a fuller sized pashmina shawl to wrap around your whole upper body. Wrap it around your shoulders and tie it around your waist, you'll stay warm all day long.

Later I will go into specific detail on the many different ways one can wear a shawl. Trust me, there's more than you think!

Average shoppers often have difficulty matching their fashion choices with their skin tones; not every girl knows her "season" or palette. Because Pashmina wraps make powerful statements, smart shoppers will invest a little extra time and care in choosing just the right tint and hue for their complexions. A few simple rules of thumb always apply: First, the Pashmina Wrap that looks terrific on the stunning super-model probably will not work well on you, because designers dress their models to exaggerate their statements. Second, black still goes with just about everything, and white has a nasty tendency to bleach-out everyone and everything. Unless you have invested heavily in major-league tanning, use discretion about white. Third, the accent color in your Pashmina shawl wrap should coordinate with the dominant tone in your outfit.



To get a good estimate of your palette, find swatches of bold primary colors-red, yellow, and blue. One by one, hold each swatch next to your forearm, carefully assessing whether or not it illuminates your skin. If it really is your color, bold red will draw out your skin's red undertones; similarly, bold yellow will light-up yellow undertones, and blue will highlight blue undertones. Take a tip from the people who formulate make-up: when in doubt, go with blue.

Then, matching your Pashmina shawl wrap with both your skin and your outfit, trust the obvious. High contrasts frequently work well and closely matched or carefully coordinated color schemes work well. Red and black, royal blue and gold, navy blue and crimson, and just about every other combination your see in "the old school colors" develops a fit contrast. Matching requires patience and attention: the colors either match perfectly, or they don't work. Beige and flax-not the same, but both work well with yellow skin tones. And coordinating requires some knowledge of tints and hues: tinting, you add black to a color, making it deeper and darker. Tint "daisy" and you get gold. Tint daisy too much and you get brown. Creating a hue, you add white to a primary color. Add some white to crimson, you get pink. Ironically, though, red and pink seldom coordinate well.

The simple summary: primary red will reveal red skin tones-if you have them; otherwise it will just look all wrong. Same principle applies to blue and yellow. Once you have found the primary undertone in your skin, start with it as the primary color in your Pashmina shawl wrap.

As I mentioned above, the word "Cashmere" is the term for the soft down undercoat of Cashmere goats. This goat is also known as the "changthangi" goat. This goat is a incredibly extraordinary breed that is indigenous to areas such as Kashmir and Nepal. These areas are at an extremely high elevation. The goats need such incredible warm coats to be able to survive. The fleece of Cashmere goats is actually two different fibers. The outer layer is made up of a very coarse hair which is called the guard har (it guards the hair underneat) and underneath this coarse hair is the very fine cashmere. This very fine undercoat is the actual source of Cashmere fiber used for clothing such as shawls, scarves, etc.

Through spring, summer, and fall, the Pashmina Shawl makes the perfect complement for evening wear. Sophisticated enough for the ballet and opera, and ever so cuddly warm, the Pashmina shawl elegantly combines comme il faut with comfortable. But the Pashmina shawl goes casual, too; and remember how deliciously functional it is. The perfect complement to your favorite wool coat, your Pashmina shawl becomes your everyday winter fashion statement: do not let the cold stop you from expressing your inner exotic princess. A great way to perk-up a simple dress, the cashmere Pashmina shawl transforms ho-hum into "how cool is that!" And perfect for those in-between days as winter becomes spring or the first hint of autumn creeps into the air, the Pashmina shawl adds function and flair to jeans and a simple sweater.

Of course, fashion and function are just fine, but don't forget how good it feels. Fewer fabrics feel more delectable than cashmere, and nothing in your wardrobe so perfectly puts-on the cashmere as your cashmere Pashmina shawl. Makes you want to cuddle yourself all day long%u2026and even better, it could make your husband want to cuddle with you all day long as well!

Fashion finders in the fast lane acknowledge the cashmere Pashmina shawl and scarf know no boundaries. Neither age nor ethnicity nor gender can deter the finely fashion conscious man or woman of the new millennium from donning the Pashmina. On a man, the Pashmina scarf makes a bold accent against a black tuxedo, and it makes the perfect complement to a dull winter overcoat. The Pashmina scarf makes the perfect complement to a classic leather jacket or pea-coat; and it looks great with a turtleneck and blazer. No man should fear the color and style the Pashmina scarf brings to his otherwise gray and dreary wardrobe.