Does anyone else still wear pashminas?

When I was in college in the mid to late 2000’s, I made a point of learning how to dress better. I read a bunch of style blogs and started digging through thrift stores to build up my wardrobe. (This is how I learned to get so good at thrifting.) I’ve tried to keep up that thought and care in the years since, at least on days when I’m teaching or expecting to see somebody— though I’ve been a little slacker when it comes to rehearsals.

One big recommendation I saw a lot in that process was to wear pashminas. Those are long, wide fringed scarves made from the wool of the pashmina goat. They were everywhere at the time and I collected a fair number. At first I gravitated toward the solid colored ones, as I thought they’d be more versatile. But I actually had an easier time coordinating the patterned ones with outfits.

I still wear those patterned ones, especially in the wintertime. I like the texture of the wool, and i like that they’re wide enough to keep my neck warm. These days there are really only four I wear regularly— this gray and black one, a green and gold one, a rainbow gradient one, and a black and beige one. I also had one in black and shades of brown that I left somewhere and lost, much to my annoyance. I still have other, but they have been mostly repurposed into costuming, or in some cases, packing china used as props in Mrs. Hawking.

I notice that people don’t seem to wear them so much anymore. Even as scarves to keep warm. But I still like them; I think they’re cozy and and a nice way to add visual interest to an outfit. I wear them even when it’s not cold out sometimes. I probably look kind of dated in that way, honestly. My aesthetic is still somewhat frozen in the early aughts. I only stopped wearing bootcut jeans last year, and I still have a fondness for low-rise waists, bare midriffs, and hip-slung belts. But I enjoy them and like how they look, especially when I’ve always found it difficult to dress warm in a way that looks good on me.