Silk Scarves and Shawls - The Cunning Disguises For Special Occasions

Invitations to really special occasions such as weddings, christenings and even such events as corporate work functions can end up costing an absolute fortune. No woman wants to be seen wearing the same outfit twice, but sometimes there just isn't enough money to be able to fork out for something new yet again.

One great solution to the special occasion dilemma is to wear something that you have worn before, but to dress it up and 'disguise' it, and a great way to do this is by using a silk scarf or shawl. Now clearly the small square silk scarves that women commonly wear tied around their necks are not going to do much to change the look of an entire outfit, but the longer ones can do an excellent job. Depending upon the length of the hemline on a dress, it is quite possible for the scarf or shawl to cover everything but the hem itself. As most people are likely to remember the detail or the shape of the top of the dress, an inch or two of hemline is highly unlikely to be recognized. Transforming a skirt or an elegant pair of pants, meanwhile, couldn't be easier. A different blouse and a long scarf or shawl over the top and nobody will know that they have been worn before.

If your special event is one where there are only going to be one or two people who have seen you in the same dress, you might be prepared to risk a second wearing without completely covering up. In this case, you could either use a long scarf as a belt, or tie it under the bust to create an empire line. Even just the colors on the scarf will be enough to have most people fooled.

Although some of the silk scarves and shawls which are sold in department stores might be large enough for you to be able to pull off this little bit of deception, quite often their quality is such that they would not be entirely suitable for an occasion which called for something really dressy. This, however, is where hand painted scarves and hand dyed shawls come in, and particularly the long ones.

Hand painted scarves and hand dyed shawls are, of course, unique pieces. Each one has an individual design which means that even if you are wearing the same dress, skirt or pants, you certainly won't run the risk of bumping into someone else who is wearing the same accessory. The designs are made up of all kinds of different themes, so no matter whether flowers or abstract designs are your preference, you will always find something to suit. The wonderful range of colors too, means that choosing a scarf or shawl to match your outfit will not present any problem, regardless of whether you need something in pale pastels or something much bolder and brighter.

Spending those special events worrying about how much you have spent on your outfit really is a pity. With a handmade scarf or shawl to disguise a second wearing, however, you can just relax and enjoy the occasion.