The cashmere shawl..

(not cat hair!) came back into fashion about 1840. Because the new version was larger it acted as an outer wrap and when folded in half and draped over the shoulders would reach almost to ground level in some cases.

Note the paisley is more influence of the Indies as discussed yesterday.

(Garments: left, the 1824 shawl covered the narrow Regency skirt.  It got bigger as the ’40’s progressed and skirts got bigger, right)