A love affair with the cape continues.
I am a fan of the cape; I love the snuggly ones and I like the more structured ones. The hands don’t worry me, I have that all figured out – especially with the soft poncho style capes. When I wear a cape, I lose the cross body style bag and carry a clutch or a simple handbag.
There is something super snuggly about wearing a cape, especially the cashmere styles. I guess they are really ponchos with a front opening. The ability to draw the neckline in as tight or as little as I like appeals and the voluminous generosity of the fabric over a tailored look is attractive. In these colder days leading up to the holidays, they really are a brilliant alternative to multiple sweaters or layers.
A classic sweater style dress is one I wear often and when worn with a pair of ankle boots and a soft cape it is an easy ready-set-go outfit. It will probably be my Christmas Day choice or at least to date, this is what I am thinking.
Typically, I like them all.
The art of the cape lies in the fit across the shoulders and the weight of the fabric. Knitted fabrics don’t pose problems generally as they can be arranged over the body in a way comfortable to the wearer. They are light in weight and wearable with most outfits.
A well-tailored cape requires soft shoulders, the right positioning of the arm slits and a weight of fabric that won’t feel like you are hauling your life on your back. I fell in love with one recently and everything about it looked right except the weight was impossible. It went back before my back went out.
Short capes look wonderful over a sheath style dress in the evening and are a perfect and most elegant accompaniment to the favourite LBD. There is something very glamorous about a short cape in the evenings.
I’m not entirely sure where my cape-crush came from but I do know it is not a new one. I will admit to stocking up on one this sale time.
If you don’t wear a cape, do wrap up in one, I think you will absolutely love it once you do.
Start soft and work up. xv
One Way To Wrap Up
wool and cashmere cape || chelsea cape with faux fur || eileen fisher cape || wool cape with collar || maj zip front
burberry reversible || st john milano knit || stella mccartney knitted cape || sofia cashmere cape with leather trim
images, balenciaga 1953 louise dahl-wolfe archive
