As I start this article, I find I have the mental picture of how not to wear a shawl stuck in my head. It is of a poor shawl draped loosely, falling low on the back and being dragged across the ground behind. I can not tell you how many times I’ve seen a shawl worn this way. One may argue that shawls are show falling low on the back or draped about the skirt in photos such as those to the right. But, these are posed photos meant to show off the form and garment. If this young woman were to walk around with that lovely sheer silk shawl draped like that, it would be a sure way to ruin the shawl. And note, many shawls were costly, sometimes very expensive.
How were shawls worn? Yes, we still need to look to photographic examples, keeping in mind the purpose of the photo. These ladies, left, are shown in a real situation rather than posing for a portrait. Notice how their shawls are worn up on their shoulders, close to their necks. In the front, the shawls may be draped over their forearms or closed in front with a pin.
To achieve this look with a square shawl, fold the shawl in half diagonally from corner to corner. This creates a triangle. The fold of the triangle can then be adjusted allowing the upper half of the shawl triangle to be shorter than the lower.
For a rectangular double square or long shawl, start by folding the shawl in half creating a square first. then fold the square in half diagonally creating a triangle. The first fold should be worn on the under most side allowing the corners of the shawl to be on display in the V draping the back.
Continuing with stereoview images similar placement can be seen in this detail. This woman wears a paisley type shawl draped over her shoulders, high but not crowding her neck. The ends of the triangle are caught over the inner bend of her elbow.
On the opposite side of the same stereoview, a flower seller also wears a shawl. Her simpler, likely wool shawl is draped over her shoulders, worn closer to the neck. As it falls over the shoulders, it is pinned at the center chest as is evident by the curves of the draping. This allows her to hold her tray of flowers.
For more in-depth information, please read Paisley, Plaid, & Purled: Shawls of the Mid-Nineteenth Century.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
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