That's a Wrap!
Shawl, Pashmina, Scarf, Shrug, Wrap, Stole 🤷🏽♀️
I consider the shawl, (also known as the Pashmina, also known as scarf, etc., but whatever) an absolute essential for the female traveler.
Here are just some of the many uses.
Folded flat, pocket size, a scarf easily fits into your purse or suitcase, taking up very little space.
While traveling, just as soon as you’re out the door, wrap it around your waist, around your neck or around the telescope handle of your roller board suitcase so you’ll always have access to it.
It is for warmth, whether around your shoulders or as a blanket. (good for a nap or on overnight flights)
Full Body Blanket
Crunch it up in a wad and it makes for a pillow when snoozing on a train or plane.
It’s a cover for head and shoulders when entering a temple, mosque or cathedral, ‘a must’, in many countries.
In a crowded city, put your passport and money/credit card in your small purse. Drape the purse strap over your shoulder, across your chest from one side to the other, so the purse is hanging in the center of your stomach. Place the shawl over your shoulders tied in front or artfully tie around your neck. Then the ends of the shawl are covering your purse. Perfect for averting pickpockets.
If you get too hot, then remove shawl and tie it around your waist, threading it through the purse strap. More protection to your purse from pickpockets yet not cumbersome and you are no longer too warm.
Let’s face it, it will cover that spot plastered on your blouse from that rum and coke spill during turbulence. It has also served me well when I need something sopped up from a small spill. (I frequently travel with small grandchildren.) And speaking of traveling with others, it makes a nice blanket for them, when needed.
Always in Style in Europe: it’s a fashion statement, a show of respect when needed, it’s warmth and comfort, it conceals and maybe even protects. WOW! It’s Essential.
So all that above is about on-the-go traveling, but then there’s this;
Let’s say you are on a long trip or cruise. After a while you’ve grown tired of the clothes you packed. A shawl comes in handy! Wrap around your top or wrap around your waist or even your bottom half to cover and freshen up an outfit that you’ve already worn. Once wrapped around your neck or your waist, then mix it up with some jewelry, and maybe different shoes and Voila! New outfit! And others are none the wiser….You’re Welcome!
I like the inexpensive solid color wraps, approximately $15.00.
I prefer the cotton ones because they are warm, yet not TOO warm or itchy or as cumbersome as the wool ones. The simple cotton scarfs and can be tossed in a washing machine back at home and in a pinch, if your scarf should inherit a stain while traveling, wash it out in any sink and hang it out overnight to air dry, or use a personal or hotel provided hair dryer. The cotton wraps are so much more durable, lightweight and easier to care for.
I love my shawls. I carry them, believe it or not, in the summer in Phoenix, because the air-conditioning in restaurants and grocery stores, etc. is out of control.
Jump out to YouTube and type in, “How to wear a shawl” and you will get some crazy GREAT ideas.
So there’s the wise ‘Smart Packing Lady’ tip of the month…. Get a shawl….
Throw one in your carry-on bag and one in your glove compartment and leave them there.
One day, you’ll be glad you did.
** I must give thanks to Majid Sadr, Greg Raines, Sam Farallon, Alisa Anton of UnSplash for these photos of models wearing wraps. Thank You All. (the other is this Grandma, sporting a shawl, after a long wait, in a cold hospital waiting room 😜)