Clothing and accessories keep you comfortable, let you share your fashion sense, and help you make a statement everywhere you go. One functional and trendy accessory is the wrap, which is any finished fabric used to loosely cover an outer garment by being wrapped around the upper body. They keep you warm and add flair to an outfit, but with different varieties—including scarves, shawls, and stoles—it can be hard to choose which one is best for you. This handy guide highlights the differences between them to help you pick the right one.  

Different Types of Wraps

1. Scarves

These are the smallest of the wraps, and they’re used to keep a person’s neck warm. They are long, thin pieces of cloth that wrap or tie around the neck. They can be up to 16 inches wide and 80 inches in length, which allows you to wrap it around your neck multiple times and drape the leftover portions across the shoulders or down your torso. They can be used for both casual and formal occasions to keep warm.

2. Shawls

Larger than scarves, shawls are pieces of fabric shaped into rectangles, squares, or triangles. Shawls are wrapped around the shoulders rather than around the neck, and they can be used in everyday life to keep your upper body warm. While they are about as long as scarves, they are much wider, coming in at up to 45 inches. This size provides ample coverage for the shoulders and upper body.

3. Stoles

Stoles are very similar to shawls, but they are typically reserved for more formal occasions. Taking the shape of long, narrow rectangles, they are made using luxurious materials like velvet or silk. Most people pair them with a ball gown or formal dress to accentuate the outfit and cover the shoulders. While they may be thinner than shawls, stoles are still long enough to be draped around the body.

 

No matter what type of wrap you’re looking for, you can find it at the Alaskan Native Goods store Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers’ Co-Operative in Anchorage, AK. For more than 50 years, this gift shop has been supplying amazing handmade gifts from local Alaskan women. They have a vast selection of scarves, shawls, hats, and other accessories that are steeped in the area’s rich cultural heritage. Learn more by calling (907) 272-9225 or browse their selection online.