Types of Stoles for Women: Printed, Woven, Embroidered and Silk Explained

A stole is one of the easiest ways to change an outfit. Draped over a kurta, a coat, or a plain black dress, it adds colour, warmth, and a finishing touch in a few seconds. But two stoles that look similar on a hanger can feel completely different once you wear them. One may be a light printed modal for summer evenings, another a woven wool for winter.

This guide explains the main types of stoles for women: how they are made, which fabrics they use, how silk and modal compare, and which stole suits which occasion. You can browse our full range of stoles and scarves for women as you read.

Types of Stoles for Women: Quick Facts

• A stole is a long, rectangular piece of fabric worn around the neck or over the shoulders. It is wider than a scarf and lighter and narrower than a shawl.
• By how the design is made: printed, woven, and embroidered.
• By fabric: silk, modal, satin, wool, and pashmina are the most common.
• Best for summer and evenings: silk, satin, and printed modal.
• Best for winter: woven wool, jamawar and pashmina.
• Best for occasions: embroidered and zari-woven stoles.

Stole, Scarf, Shawl and Dupatta: What Is the Difference?

The names are often used interchangeably, but each piece is different:

• Stole: long and fairly narrow, worn around the neck or draped over the shoulders. Usually lighter than a shawl.
• Scarf: smaller, often square or short. Usually tied at the neck.
• Shawl: larger and wider, designed to wrap around the shoulders and upper body for warmth.
• Dupatta: a long scarf worn as part of a traditional Indian outfit, usually matched to a kurta or suit.

Sizes vary by brand, so always check the dimensions on the product page.

Printed Stoles

A printed stole has its design applied onto the surface of the fabric after it is woven. Printing allows fine detail, many colours and pictorial designs, which makes printed stoles the most varied type.

Digital Prints

Digital printing transfers a design directly onto fabric, much like printing on paper. It can reproduce very fine detail, photographic images and smooth colour gradients. Digital prints work especially well on modal and satin, which take colour richly.

Block Prints

Block printing uses carved wooden blocks dipped in dye and pressed onto the fabric by hand. Each block prints one colour, so multicolour designs need several blocks. Small variations between repeats are a sign of hand printing, not a fault.

Kalamkari

Kalamkari is a traditional Indian art form of hand-painted or block-printed designs, often showing flowers, birds, or stories. Kalamkari stoles have a distinctive, artistic look and pair well with plain outfits.

Who should choose a printed stole: anyone who wants colour and pattern in a lightweight piece, for daytime, office wear or travel.

Woven Stoles

A woven stole has its design created during weaving, by interlacing threads of different colours. Because the pattern is part of the fabric itself, it looks the same on both sides, or shows a mirror image on the reverse. Woven stoles feel richer and more substantial than printed ones.

Jamawar

Jamawar is a weave with intricate, often paisley or floral patterns, traditionally associated with Kashmir. The name originally referred to fabric used for robes. Silk jamawar stoles are lightweight, with a soft sheen and an all-over pattern.

At Taroob, silk jamawar stoles such as the Silk Jamawar Shikargah Stole and the Navy Tonal Denim Silk Jamawar Stole start from about Rs. 1,400 (21 October 2026).

Kaani

Kaani weaving is a traditional Kashmiri technique where the pattern is built up using small wooden spools, one for each colour. The result is a dense, detailed design that takes great skill and time. Kaani-inspired weaves give stoles a heritage look.

Taroob’s Beige Super Soft Jaal Kaani Stole was priced at about Rs. 3,000 on 21 October 2026.

Zari and Jacquard Weaves

Zari is metallic thread, traditionally gold or silver, woven into the fabric for shimmer. Jacquard weaving uses a loom that controls each thread to create complex patterns. Both suit festive and wedding wear.

Who should choose a woven stole: anyone who wants a richer, more durable piece with a pattern that looks good from both sides. Woven stoles are ideal for winter, weddings, and gifting.

Embroidered Stoles

An embroidered stole has its design stitched onto the fabric with thread, either by hand or by machine. Embroidery adds texture and depth that printing and weaving cannot match.

Common techniques include:

• Sozni: fine Kashmiri needlework, usually in floral or paisley motifs.
• Aari: chain-stitch embroidery worked with a hooked needle.
• Zari embroidery: metallic thread stitched onto the surface for a festive shimmer.
• Thread work: colourful embroidery, from simple borders to all-over designs.

Embroidered stoles usually cost more because of the handwork involved. Taroob’s Pink Black Valley of Dragonflies Embroidered Scarf, for example, was priced at about Rs. 5,000 on 21 October 2026.

Who should choose an embroidered stole: anyone dressing for weddings, festivals and formal events, or looking for a stole that can lift a simple outfit on its own.

Silk Stole vs Modal Stole

Silk and modal are two of the most popular stole fabrics, and they suit different needs.

Silk Stole

• What it is: a natural protein fibre made by silkworms.
• Feel and look: smooth, with a natural sheen and a fluid drape.
• Temperature: light and comfortable, cool in warm weather and slightly warming in cool weather.
• Care: delicate. Dry cleaning is usually recommended.
• Best for: evenings, festive occasions and gifting.

Modal Stole

• What it is: a semi-synthetic fibre made from beech wood pulp.
• Feel and look: very soft, with a smooth, slightly matte drape.
• Colour: absorbs dye well, so printed designs look rich and bright.
• Comfort: breathable and gentle on the skin, so it suits everyday wear.
• Care: generally easier to care for than silk. Always follow the care label.
• Best for: daily wear, office wear, travel and printed designs.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose silk if you want sheen, a luxurious feel, and a stole for special occasions. Choose modal if you want softness, comfort, and easy care for everyday use. Taroob makes custom prints on both modal and satin, and woven designs in modal and wool. The choice often comes down to whether you want a print or a woven pattern.

Wool and Pashmina Stoles

For winter, wool and pashmina stoles add real warmth:

• Fine wool stoles are warm but lightweight, and they work well over coats and kurtas. Taroob’s Fine Wool Moonlight Stole was priced at about Rs. 2,500 on 21 October 2026.
• Pashmina is made from the fine undercoat of Himalayan goats. It is exceptionally soft and warm, and one of the most prized fabrics for stoles and shawls. Explore our pashmina shawls for women for this.

For fuller coverage on colder evenings, a shawl is the better choice. See our shawls for women.

How to Choose the Right Stole

• For everyday and office wear: a printed modal stole in a colour that matches most of your wardrobe.
• For summer evenings: a silk or satin stole.
• For winter: a fine wool, jamawar, or pashmina stole.
• For weddings and festivals: an embroidered or zari-woven stole.
• For gifting: a woven jamawar or kaani stole, which looks rich and suits almost everyone.

Ways to Drape a Stole

• Classic drape: place the stole around your neck and let both ends hang down the front.
• One shoulder: drape the stole over one shoulder and let it fall down the back. This is elegant over a kurta set.
• Loop: fold the stole in half, place it around your neck, and pull the loose ends through the loop.
• Shoulder wrap: open the stole wide and wrap it around both shoulders for warmth.

A stole layers beautifully over a co-ord set or kurta set. Pair a printed stole with a plain outfit, and a plain stole with a printed or embroidered one. Browse our co-ord sets for women for outfits to style with your stole.

How to Care for Your Stole

• Silk, wool, pashmina, and embroidered stoles: dry clean.
• Storage: fold stoles loosely and store them in a breathable cotton bag, away from direct sunlight and damp.
• Moth protection: keep wool and pashmina with natural moth repellents such as cedar.
• Pressing: steam rather than iron directly over embroidery or zari.
• Always check the care label, since finishes and dyes vary.

Custom and Gifted Stoles

Stoles are one of the most popular gifts because they suit almost everyone and need no sizing. Taroob also makes custom stoles at its Amritsar atelier, with custom prints on modal and satin and custom woven designs in modal and in wool with gold zari. They suit weddings, family occasions, and corporate gifting. Learn more on our corporate gifting page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main types of stoles for women?

The main types of stoles for women are printed, woven, and embroidered stoles. They also differ by fabric, most commonly silk, modal, satin, wool, and pashmina.

What is the difference between a printed stole and a woven stole?

A printed stole has its design applied to the surface after weaving. A woven stole has its design created during weaving, so the pattern is part of the fabric and shows on both sides.

Is a silk stole or a modal stole better?

A silk stole has a natural sheen and a luxurious feel, and is best for occasions. A modal stole is softer, breathable, and easier to care for, and is best for everyday wear and printed designs.

What is a jamawar stole?

A jamawar stole has an intricate woven pattern, often paisley or floral, traditionally associated with Kashmir. Silk jamawar stoles are lightweight with a soft sheen.

Which stole is best for winter?

Fine wool, jamawar, and pashmina stoles are best for winter. Pashmina is the softest and warmest.

What is the difference between a stole and a shawl?

A stole is longer and narrower, and usually lighter. A shawl is larger and wider, designed to wrap around the shoulders for warmth.

Understanding the types of stoles for women makes it easy to choose the right one. Printed stoles bring colour and are ideal for everyday wear. Woven stoles feel richer and suit winter and gifting. Embroidered stoles are made for weddings and festivals. Choose silk for sheen and occasions, modal for softness and daily comfort, and wool or pashmina when you need warmth. When you are ready, explore our full collection of stoles and scarves for women.