Love can be expressed in so many ways and with so many things. Over the generations different things have come to signify love including diamonds, pieces of art. But those are the mainstream things that have captured the imagination of people, discerning people want something greater than what is generally given as an expression of love.

Amour Rose Hand Embroidered Kashmir Shawl

This is where Kashmiri shawls come in; long since the staple of high-fashion across Europe, Kashmiri shawls are now the must-give items on those occasions when something generic just won’t do. Selecting the right Kashmiri shawl is not very straightforward however and great care must be taken when selecting the colour, design and more importantly the material itself.

Kashmiri shawls done right

The Christmas Story Kashmir Shawl

Kashmiri shawls are perfect for pretty, much any gifting occasions but to get selection right you have to get all the right elements in place. Take Valentine’s Day for instance, this occasion is synonymous with bright reds and solid patterns.

Colour sorts itself pretty easily but patterns are another matter. Depending on the taste of the person receiving the shawls (discerning women demand the best at all times) you should ensure that patterns convey certain degree of ornateness. The embroidery doesn’t have to be too complex in its design but it helps to pick a shawl that conveys the great attention and detail that has characterized shawl-making for hundreds of years. Kashmiri shawls capture this technique and artistry very well.

Machine-made doesn’t convey love

Passion Ignited Red Paisley Kashmir Shawl

In recent years the shawl-making industry has been inundated with mass-produced shawls and one can hardly call these “Kashmiri shawls.” The time-honoured tradition of shawl making in the Kashmir region has been built on very artistic embroidery and skill, elements which now have been replaced by synthetic materials and machine patterns. These can’t convey love the way it should; it is like giving a woman a cubic zirconia and telling her it’s a real diamond—it just won’t cut it (pun intended).

The proper way to convey love is of course to select the right elements and this begins with finding a good source for the best Kashmir shawls. This blog was created in part to educate would-be buyers about the intricacies of selecting shawls but also to showcase the splendid pieces offered by the Kashmir Company. Pieces like our ‘Gardens of Kashmir Black Shawl‘ or the beautiful ‘Grand Kashmir Ivory Shawl’ have both captured the essence of what traditional and timeless shawl-making is about.

But our pieces are more importantly designed and painstakingly embroidered with the theme of love. This allows us to recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone who wishes to make the ultimate expression of love to anyone special in their life.

Click here to browse our wonderful collection of Kashmir shawls and feel free to leave a comment below.

Your taste in fashion accessories is of course a lot more sophisticated than most and this probably means that you are partial to stepping out wearing your favorite dress for a fine evening.

Given the cold winter evenings however, you may find yourself struggling to accessorize while retaining your glamorous appeal. If this happens, your best is draping a Kashmiri shawl over your dress. Unfortunately this is easier said than done which is why we’ve put together this handy style guide for how to wear a shawl. Nothing fancy or too complicated, just plain simple tips on how to make a shawl accentuate your style as you enjoy the sights and sounds of evenings this winter.

There are essentially three main styles that make wearing a shawl an absolute delight—any, we do many any will help you stand apart from every other woman inside that restaurant or party—guaranteed. Let’s get right into it…

Front Accent Drape

The Passion Ignited Kashmir Shawl

Shawls have become modern staples of elegance and no other style of wearing them keeps true to this modernity like the front accent drape. Here’s what you do: If the shawl is rectangular, hold it lengthwise and drape it across your chest. From there simply throw the ends backwards over your shoulders. The end result should be your shawl comfortably draped over the front section of your dress. In this look the shawl is the center piece and as such should only be used when your dress needs something else to bring it off.

Warm Elegance Look

Snow White in San Francisco Kashmir Shawl

Shawls are perfect for winter but they are not exclusive winter apparel. In those warmer months you can still adorn yourself with the rich elegance of a shawl. Once you know how to wear a shawl in dynamic ways they truly become a delight to own. This is how you pull this off: Simply drape a rectangular shawl across your back—lengthwise of course—then gently pull the ends forward over your upper arms. The ends should naturally gather in the inner crooks of your elbows, leaving much of the shawl over your back.

The “Two-shoulder” Drape

Red Magic Kashmir Shawl

Known as the ‘style of the fashionistas,’ the Two-shoulder drape has become the de facto style for women looking to add elegance to their favorite low-cut dress and is a must-have technique for how to wear a shawl. This is what you do: Start by folding a square shawl along a diagonal path to create a triangle. Once that is done, drape the triangle over your shoulders; when you do this ensure that the tip of the triangle points downwards and aligns smack in the middle of your shoulder blades. The other ends of the shawl will find a natural place over your shoulders and some portion over your chest.

There are of course countless other styles that will get you up to speed on how to wear a shawl. You can do some further reading here but in the main, the three styles outlined above are all you need.

Don’t forget too that the Kashmir Company is the authority on all things Kashmiri shawls and we stock a wide variety of shawls and scarves to suit any occasion. You can take a look at our exquisite winter collection by clicking here.

And don’t forget to leave a comment or tip below; as always, we’d love to hear from you.

The Passion Ignited Paisley Shawl

Passion Ignited Shawl for your loved one this Valentines.

Featured Shawl: Passion Ignited Paisley Shawl

Art Lovers Shawl Pashmina Jamawar Hand Embroidered Shawl

 

Skilled embroidery still alive in Kashmir

Featured Shawl: Art Lovers Pashmina Jamawar Shawl

The Helen of Troy Pashmina Jamawar Shawl

Shawls by their own incarnation are grand pieces of Art — items worthy of both wearing & collecting.

Featured Shawl: The Helen of Troy Pashmina Jamawar Shawl

Shawls by their own incarnation are grand things—items worthy of both wearing and collecting. But few shawls evoke the grandeur and splendour of shawl-making like the Jamawar. The Kashmir Valley is the birthplace of these highly sought after treasures where highly skilled artisans have been making them for hundreds of years.

The Return to Timelessness Jamawar Pashmina Shawl

 Shawls by their own incarnation are grand things—items worthy of both wearing and collecting

Today the tradition continues and the so-called ‘magic weave’ of fine Jamawar shawl making is helping to keep the tradition alive in Kashmir. To some people who are not experts on the fine art of shawl-making, Jamawar shawls struggle to capture their imagination. It is only after they discover that pure Jamawar shawls take sometimes years to make. When things are done right and every ounce of effort and detail is put into a Jamawar shawl, the front and back of such a shawl is virtually indistinguishable. As a consequence these types of Jamawar shawls are highly collectible and have become symbols of timeless fashion.

The Reflection Jamawar Pashmina Shawl

Skilled embroidery still alive in Kashmir

One of the difficulties people seeking authentic antique Jamawar shawls have is that in recent years the industry and the fine art of shawl making has been compromised by cheap materials and machine-driven manufacturing. There are few companies proving their commitment to keeping the art form pure and true and the Kashmir Company is proud to be one of them. Through our deep commitment we’ve been able to help bring authentic Jamawar shawl designs to collectors and shawl wearers all over the world.

The Guinevere’s Jade Jamawar Pashmina Shawl

Our finest pieces, such as the Guinevere’s Jade Jamawar Shawl are one of a kind and once sold are never replicated again.  Whether you are collector or someone conscious of high fashion looking to drape a Jamawar shawl over your shoulder you can’t go wrong by looking at our selection. Click here to see our exquisite Jamawar shawl collection.

Own your slice of exquisite history

Valentine Rose – Leech Raymond 1949

February 14 is around the corner—again, and if you are like most partners, you are busy thinking about what gifts to get your other half. Since getting it wrong is not an option, we thought we’d put together this handy little guide so that come February 15^th, you can at least look your other half in the eye and keep love brewing for the rest of 2013. So, without any rambling, here are five awesome ideas for selecting the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Tip #1 – Get the day marked on your digital calendar 

The Renewal Shawl

We all lead busy lives and whether you’re a man looking to get something for a woman or vice versa, the daily hustle and bustle can lead you strapped for time. Aiming off here is key and so the first thing one should do is make a list of key dates in the timeline that will influence the day itself. Let’s say for example you’ve decide to get the Spiced Sausalito Shawl for her this Valentine’s Day, you’d need to order it in good time to ensure delivery before the big day. Most online merchants have fast shipping as part of their sales process but this means nothing unless you aim off properly.

Tip #2 – Strike the right balance

Depending on the stage of your relationship with that special someone, your efforts this year will and should be tailored accordingly. This means choosing the right Valentine’s Day gift to match the status of the relationships. If you’ve got lots of cash on hand and want to make a big “I love you” statement, then getting something greater than your run of the mill flowers and candy might be necessary. On the other hand, if things are just developing, you want to keep your gift in line with where things are at. For this purpose, functional gifts like scarves, shoes or handbags are suitable. They say “I care” without making too much of a push for massive reciprocation.

Tip #3 – Tread carefully where lingerie is concerned 

The Christmas Story Shawl

Valentine’s Day is associated with romance for sure and lots of men focus on one type of gift round about this time of year—lingerie. While it may be tempting to rush down to a nearby Victoria’s Secret and get something sexy for her, it bears to remember that Valentine’s Day is more about her and very little about you. Women especially like to boast about what they got on Valentine’s Day and often this involves taking the stuff to work and showing to it friends. Something sexy and discreet may not be ideal for that so keep that in mind when contemplating lingerie.

Tip #4 – If all else fails at least get a card

For people on a budget or those who have a tough time selecting gifts, it helps to remember that Valentine’s Day is a day for doing at least one thing—you simply can’t afford to let the day pass without at least one gesture. To that end, you should get at Valentine’s Day card at a minimum. You know your partner better than anyone so don’t hesitate to pick a card that conveys all the emotions expected of the moment. Funny or witty cards always do the trick and the time-tested cupid-laden Valentine’s Day card has never failed.

Tip #5 – Create a lessons-learned file 

Walk in the Headlands Shawl

This last tip is perhaps the most enduring and followed correctly, you can have smooth-sailing Valentine’s Day gift selection for years to come. The idea is to keep a personal note of the hiccups you have when you select gifts for your partner. It’s not enough to keep it in your head—that won’t help since little details will be forgotten. What didn’t she like about the gift last year? Was it the colour, the size of the gift? All these details must be recorded. When it comes to selecting that gift next year all you have to do is reference your lessons learned file and you’ll be good to go.

So there you go; five super tips to get your mind buzzing with gift ideas this Valentine’s Day. Don’t forget that your search for the perfect gift doesn’t have to be long and painful. The Kashmir Company stocks a wide selection shawls and scarves which have been making perfect Valentine’s Day Gifts for well over 300 years. You can pick up a shawl or scarf from anyone of our flagship online stores where fantastic gifts abound.

To browse our Kashmir Seasons Collection click here. Or click here to browse the wide selection from the Kashmir Company line.

Last but not least leave a tip or a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

Painting courtesy – British impressionist painter | Raymond Leech 1949
All other media © copyright – The Kashmir Company

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