Fashion Word of the Day

1960s Mink Stole


Stole [stohl]


A woman's shoulder scarf of fur, marabou, silk, or other material.


The stole was originally a kind of shawl that covered the shoulders and fell down in front of the body; on women they were often very large indeed. After being adopted by the Church of Rome about the seventh century (the stole having also been adopted in other locals prior to this), the stole became gradually narrower and so richly ornamented that it developed into a mark of dignity. Nowadays, the stole is usually wider and can be made from a wide variety of material. The most likely origin for the stole is connected with the scarf of office among Imperial officials in the Roman Empire.


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