The hotter it is out there, the more we find ourselves huddling indoors, half frozen, all goose bumps and icy limbs. One woman I know keeps a thick winter blanket at her desk in the summertime because the temperature in her cubicle plummets to rival a meat locker when the mercury outside soars.

The more practical, portable equivalent of my friend's office blanket is the hugely popular pashmina — a fringed shawl or scarf that is lightweight, packable, affordable — and everybody has them. Serviceable, yes. But boring and predictable.

To help you battle the chill, whether from an aggressively cooled inside or outside when the sun goes down, I went shopping for some stylish wraps that will let you give your summer shawl a much-needed vacation.

--Ellen Warren, shopellen@tribune.com