What Is a Stole?

Keeping bare shoulders warm, or adding another layer of warmth, makes a stole or wrap an essential fashion accessory. A stole can be draped loosely or tightly, used to cover the knees when sitting or to show off an exquisite fabric or fur.

Definition

A stole is a garment wrapped around the neck or shoulders and can have several applications. They can be found in academia, in religious settings and in fashion. The materials a stole is made from will vary according to the arena it is found in, but most often is made of a luxurious material. Stoles often indicate some level of social or cultural status.

The Religious Stole

Catholic deacons, bishops and priests use the stole as an ecclesiastical vestment. It is also used on occasion by Anglican, Lutheran and Protestant churches. The stole is used to indicate an ordained minister, in most cases. A stole used in this manner is generally no wider than six inches and can be as long as eight feet. The center point of the stole sits at the nape of the neck with each strand hanging down the front of the wearer. A religious stole may be colored and decorated for a particular occasion or holiday.

The Academic Stole

Typically seen during a graduation ceremony, the stole is an indication of academic achievement or honors. It is sometimes referred to as an honorary stole and its history in academia can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Academic stoles can be used as a replacement for honor cords, which are usually given for achievement. Stoles can also identify membership in a professional or fraternal organization. Academic stoles can vary in width and length but are generally worn in the same manner as a religious stole---around the neck with both ends hanging down the front of the wearer.

The Fashion Stole

In women's fashion, the word stole is sometimes used interchangeably with the word shawl. There are subtle differences between the two. Stoles wrap the shoulders for warmth or as a style statement, and are generally designed to fit tightly or closely to the body. Stoles are usually made of high-end fabrics---fur, silk, organza or leather---and worn on special occasions. The fashion shawl is usually a fuller and looser garment, wrapped loosely around the shoulders.

The Fur Stole

The fur stole has a questionable and little-known history. The use of the fur stole during the Italian Renaissance had more to do with personal hygiene than any type of fashion statement. Known as "flea pelts" the furs were worn to attract fleas and lice away from the wearer. The idea being that the stole could be shaken and the fleas disposed of. Stoles were often referred to as a scarf or fur scarf during the early part of the 20th century.