Cloak and Dazzle

The shawl is the ultimate accessory. Both traditional and ultramodern at the same time, the art of wrapping oneself in fabric is as timeless as the idea of clothing. I love the idea of a piece of beautiful cloth that is at once always and never the same, its fluidity and substance like life itself. Fold, repeat, twist and fold again. It retains its essential shape and dimensions, yet it can be converted to any use at a moment’s notice. Shawls are wonderful year-round accessories. The wrap that keeps your shoulders warm on a breezy summer night can be doubled over to make the super-thick scarf that protects your neck on a winter morning.

Here's a gorgeous example from the "conscientiously chic" line Tarsian & Blinkley, which produces elegant designer clothing made by Afghan women.