shawl

Rectangular, square, or triangular piece of fabric worn around the shoulders, often made of wool, silk, cotton, or lace; it may be plain, printed, or embroidered and is sometimes fringed with tassels around the outer edge.

In the early 1800s shawls were small silk squares. From 1830 onwards they became major fashion items, for indoor and outdoor attire, varying from long narrow shawls in the 1830s–40s to large shawls in the 1850s–60s, which were designed to cover the large crinoline skirts of the period. The popularity of shawls for day and evening wear continued into the 20th century.