How to Wear a Shawl Over an Evening Gown: 5 Ways

The easiest way to wear a shawl over an evening gown is low across the back and over both arms, so the neckline stays clear. For a strapless gown, try it from the neck so the ends fall down the back like a cape. Choose sheer silk in the same shade as the gown, so the two read as one.

1. Over both arms

Hold the shawl behind you at the waist and let it rest in the crook of each elbow. This is the most elegant option for a ceremony, and the house styles the floor-length Cris shawl this way over the Salima gown.

2. From the neck, down the back

Drape the centre of the shawl at the front of the neck and throw both ends behind you. It gives the line of a cape without hiding a strapless bodice. The Ari shawl works well this way.

3. As a cape

If you want real coverage, choose a cape cut for it. The Celestina is floor-length sheer silk mousseline that sits on the shoulders, and the Klara is made to go with the Saeeda mini.

4. Over one shoulder

Lay the shawl over one shoulder and let the other end hang at the back. It suits a one-shoulder neckline and keeps a hand free for a glass.

5. As a winter wrap

For a cold evening, swap silk for texture. The Fussili scarf in wool and alpaca and the Enya fringe scarf in wool and mohair wrap around the shoulders and go over the arms, as the house shows over its gowns.

Which shawl suits which neckline?

How do you keep a shawl from slipping?

Hold it in the crook of the elbows rather than on the shoulders, since silk slides on silk. For a long event, a small pin at the back of the bodice keeps a shawl in place without marking the fabric.

When should you take the shawl off?

After the ceremony and before dinner. A shawl over the arms at a church and a temple shows respect, and the reveal of the gown at the reception is part of the effect.

Should the shawl be sheer?

For a gown, yes. A sheer silk shawl lets the gown show through, so the look stays light. A heavy pashmina hides the bodice and changes the proportion.

How long should an evening shawl be?

For a floor-length gown, choose a floor-length shawl such as the Cris, so the line stays long. For a mini dress, a shorter wrap and a cape such as the Klara keep the proportion right.

See also the Maria Lucia Hohan wedding guide, how to style a Maria Lucia Hohan gown and the full Maria Lucia Hohan at Coveti.

Frequently asked questions

How do you wear a shawl with a strapless gown?

Drape the centre at the front of the neck and let both ends fall down the back, which keeps the bodice visible.

What fabric shawl goes with an evening gown?

Sheer silk mousseline in the same shade as the gown reads best. For winter, a textured wool scarf works.

Should a shawl match the dress?

For a formal event, yes. Maria Lucia Hohan cuts several shawls in the same silk and shade as its gowns.

By Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti.