Silk Scarves and Shawls for Added Warmth

It is strange how short our memories can be when it comes to the weather. As we enjoy the blistering heat of summer, those bleak, wintry days and evenings become nothing more than a distant recollection, but when they do come around we have forgotten just how cold they really feel. As the stores fill with the latest autumn and winter fashions at the end of the summer season, often a part of us is still hanging on to the memory of those hot days and balmy evenings when we select our coats and jackets, and when winter really does arrive we find that we are less than well-prepared.
Rather than investing in yet another coat or jacket, and particularly for those really cold days which take you by surprise with their bitter chill, one great way to achieve added warmth is by wearing a stunning silk scarf or shawl over the top of your existing outer wear. If silk does not at first strike you as a particularly practical fabric for cold, wintry days, then just bear in mind that it has been used for many years for its wonderful insulating properties. Even the aviators of yesteryear who had to face the extreme cold up in the air in their cockpits were protected by aviator jackets lined with this very material. Today you will find many items of clothing and accessories, such as jackets and gloves, which also use it for lining.
A women's silk scarf or shawl worn over a coat or jacket does not just provide added warmth, however. It adds a look of sheer elegance and glamour and gives the item of clothing a complete facelift. Hand painted scarves and handmade shawls in particular make a stunning statement and the eye-catching designs are certain to turn heads.
Hand painted scarves and shawls really do stand out from the printed alternatives in all kinds of ways. The silk used in their production is 100% pure and so the fabric moves and drapes in a way which poorer quality silk or manmade fabrics simply cannot emulate. Every design is totally unique too, which means that your look is as individual as you are and you never have to face the embarrassment of bumping into someone who is wearing the exact same thing as you.
The colors on hand painted silk scarves and shawls though are probably one of the most noticeable things about them, as they have their own special vibrancy which is not apparent in the printed items. Because the dyes are absorbed into the material during the hand painting process, they do not affect the feel of the silk either, so it remains beautifully soft. Whether you choose bright, bold colors to chase away the winter blues or soft pastels to flatter your coloring and your outfit, you don't have to worry that a few drops of rain will cause the dyes to run. The hand-making process ensures that the colors are fixed so that they will not leach if you happen to get caught in a shower or when you hand wash your fabulous accessory.