shawl

A shawl is a large soft cloth draped around the shoulders for warmth. No fastening, no sleeves — just wrapped.

It is one of the oldest garments there is and survives across most of the world, from Kashmir, where the finest wool ones are made, to a knitted one over the back of a chair. Babies are wrapped in them too. The word came into English from Persian by way of India. A stole and a wrap are near neighbours, and a pashmina is a particularly fine version.