Whether you picked yours up for $5 on the streets of Manhattan or at a fancy boutique, I’d be willing to bet that you have a pashmina somewhere in your closet. These large, fringed pieces of cloth are silky soft and surprisingly warm, making them clear winter staples, but how to style them isn’t so obvious.
With only a few weeks of winter left, we’ve all come down with a bit of spring fever! Infuse some color into your cold-weather wardrobe by taking this week’s challenge: work a pashmina into an outfit. Before you change clothes, take a few snapshots — YOU could be featured here and provide inspiration for other CF readers!
Ready to take on this week’s challenge? Read on for ideas on how to wear a pashmina!
Table of Contents
Tips and Tricks for Rocking a Pashmina
- Wear it as a scarf. This is probably pretty obvious, but it bears repeating. Pashminas make ideal scarves – they’re full, not the slightest bit itchy, and long enough to wrap around your neck a few times.
- Bring it with you while you travel. Pashminas are lightweight and fold easily, so they’re great to bring along with you on long road trips on on flights.
- Wear it as a headscarf. Pashminas can easily be knotted, pinned, or draped, making them perfect for going incognito – just add a pair of sunglasses for a very Jackie O. look.
- Try it as a shawl. A wide, lightweight scarf like a pashmina looks great draped across one’s shoulders on a chilly night. Knot it in the front or pin it with a brooch to hold it in place.
- Wear it around your hips. Depending on its weight and length, a pashmina can work as a colorful belt or just for a little extra warmth on your backside if it’s super cold out.
- Make it into a funky top. Pashminas have enough fabric to offer you coverage – so why not take yours and get creative? Try to pin, tie, or wrap it to make a unique top. This IS a fashion challenge after all!
Outfit Inspiration
Outfit #1: Class Up a Pashmina with a Trench Coat
An easy way to perk up your trusty trench or pea coat is by wearing a brightly colored scarf underneath and letting it peek out at the collar. Pashminas are perfect for this because they’re full and will feel super soft around your neck. Alternatively, you could wrap a pashmina around your hair to keep it from getting messed up in the wind or rain while walking from class to class. An outfit like this will look great with almost any top in your closet, a pair of skinny jeans, and boots.
Outfit #2: Wear a Pashmina as a Scarf
Pashmina, Clogs, Jeans, Sweater, Beanie
With a bold pashmina worn as a scarf, the rest of your outfit doesn’t have to be fancy to make a statement! Rock a pair of flared jeans and clogs for a ’70s look that’s right on trend. A cozy batwing-style cropped sweater like this Rag and Bone one (semi-affordable at $80) is stylish but won’t take away from a bright pashmina knotted like a noose or wrapped around your neck. Finish with a beanie.
Outfit #3: Wear a Pashmina as a Shawl
Pashmina, Headband, Brooch, Dress, Tights, Boots
After 15 inches of snow last week, the weather forecast in Oklahoma is set to be in the 70’s all next week – I personally can’t wait to break out some spring attire! A fun way to rock a spring-y dress when its still a bit chilly out is by pairing it with a chic pashmina. Start out with your favorite dress and wrap your pashmina around your shoulders. Secure with a brooch to keep your hands free. Pull on a pair of tights and combat boots, but add a little feminine touch with a bow headband.
Rocked the Challenge? Be Our Cover Girl!
Did you wear your trusty pashmina this week? Take some photos and send them to fashionchallenge AT collegefashion.net along with your name, your college, a description of what you’re wearing, and blog URL if you have one. We’ll feature your photos here to inspire other CF readers!
CF Reader Looks
Celia – Texas A&M at Corpus Christi
LOVE my pashminas! I have three of them – red, blue, and beige. Here, I knotted the fringe in the back to wear it as an infinity-style scarf, perfect for a chilly day.
For more of Celia’s faboosh style, check out her blog here!
Caitlin – Simon Fraser University
I love my pashminas! I’m wearing the red and blue one I got while visiting San Francisco’s Chinatown. I draped it over my shoulders as a shawl and belted it to add some shape to my outfit and keep it in place.
For more of Caitlin’s fierce style, check out her blog here!
Liz
This is my favorite teal pashmina, I liked how it added a little pop to this basic look!
For more of Liz’s awesome style, check out her blog here!
What Do You Think?
Do you own a pashmina? What is your favorite way to wear it? Do you think they work better in the summer or winter months? What fashion challenges would you life to see in the future? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment!
Great post! I love pashminas and have found some really cute and cheap ones on Amazon.
pashmina’s are very big here,everyone has one! I have them in in all colours :D. If you dont have one i suggest you invest, these never go out of fashion. I love them, i love them!! Great post
lvoe love love this article =) looove Caitlin form SFU’s usage of the pashmina, definitely going to try that
I have SO many of them, and only getting more as I go to China each time. I always though those were just normal scarves! Currently have a deep red and black patterened one, a bright purple and green, a dark and light green, and this purple-blue-green combination one. I often like buying simple, solid color tops, and like tossing on my colorful pashminas to make the outfit work.
I love them all especially Caitlins look. It is one I haven’t thought of yet! I will so have to try it!
i love how simple and stylish the first outfit is and i like the look with the teal pashmina
I own a very pretty baby blue pashmina and it goes with everything! it adds such color to all my outfits. =)
Hey girls! Thanks so much for the feedback. The link to Celia’s blog should be fixed!
I’m with Marisa on this one. I don’t really think of solid color scarves as a fashion challenge? But they are very cute and utilitarian nonetheless!
I love pashminas! I always bring one when I travel. Temperatures vary so much and sweaters take up so much space. A pashmina can double as a shawl, scarf and blanket. Its the best!
I LOVE pashminas! I personally think they make the best scarves, they are the perfect size and still warm and ultra-soft. I’ve been waiting til I have some money to buy a bunch in different colors since there are so many on sale right now 🙂
My mom and I are obsessed with Pashminas. We have them in every color!
Pashminas are a style staple. Every girl should one a basic black one and fun bright color! I love to wear my orange, black, teal, and beige ones! They are also essential for traveling! You can roll them up into a pillow or use as a blanket and you look so chic when arriving after a 9 hour flight!
I’d say they are more of a fall/winter accessory. I don’t like to wear them as shawls with dresses because I think they look a little matronly/old fashioned.
I always wear my pashminas as scarves, and I wore one once as a shawl in a chilly classroom. I always use them to add colour and interest to an outfit, super easy! I’ve never really given much thought to wearing them in different ways before though, I’ll have to try some of your suggestions out 🙂
I have had a nice purple one from Express in my closet for years and I’ve never known how to wear it! Thanks CF!
I wear pashminas literally every single day. They are the headband to my blair waldorf. My signature. I love them. I`ve rocked them in every single color, and in every single way imaginable. I`ve even gotten my friends started on wearing them!