PLANET OF THE CAPES
PRUDENCE WADE takes a look back at the history of the cape, and how it’s being styled today
INSTEAD of moping over the end of summer, cheer yourself up by adding a bit of autumnal drama into your wardrobe. And what better way to do so than with a cape? They are the perfect option for in-between weather – they drape delicately over the shoulders, and can be adjusted according to temperature.
The style has fluctuated in and out of fashion – and this autumn, it’s set to be one of the biggest trends in outerwear.
Before looking at why everyone from Dior to Celine have fallen back in love with capes, it’s important to understand the style’s history...
EARLY BEGINNINGS...
CAPES might seem modern and fresh, but the style certainly has a storied past. Over the years, it’s proved a uniquely democratic item of clothing, worn by people of all social statuses.
This could be down to its simplicity – all that’s required is a single piece of material, fastened at the throat. Peasants, clergy and nobles alike have worn cloaks from the Roman era through to medieval times and onwards, but all styled slightly differently.
DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE 20TH CENTURY...
FASHION hasn’t been immune to the charms of a cape.
It saw a particular resurgence in popularity in the 1920s, when upper-class women realised it could be more easily worn over full-skirted dresses than a coat.
The 1960s saw another The Michael Kors autumn/ winter 2020 runway show manifestation of capes, this time styled into brightlycoloured rain jackets by designers like Mary Quant. Again in the Seventies, poncho styles with intricate knitting and patterns became all the rage among hippies – something Burberry brought back in the 2010s with the help of models such as Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne.
CAPES TODAY...
OVER the last decade, the place you’re most likely to see a cape is the red carpet. The past year alone has seen the Duchess of Sussex wearing a caped fire-engine red evening gown, and Angelina Jolie’s flowing, ethereal outfit for the Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil premiere.
Other than the odd Burberry poncho, capes haven’t been hugely popular in fashion outside of formalwear: until now.
The autumn/winter catwalks were full of cloaks, showing how many ways they can be worn.
One of the most wearable ways to style a cape this season is all about keeping things classic in sleek camel colours with gold accents, as seen on the Celine runway. Seventies fashion is still having a moment, and Miu Miu made its cape out of 1970s favourite shearling – adding texture and warmth to the style.
Dior and Roland Mouret combined capes with another big trend of the season – check.
Another popular style is actually practical for changeable weather.
Waterproof, utility-style capes – often with zips, hoods and pockets – show you can be chic as well as practical.
For a more Gothic take on the trend, go for a simple and chic charcoal grey style – as seen at Michael Kors and the Dior front row.
The best thing about capes is how easy they are to style. You barely need to think about the rest of your outfit, because tossing over a cape will lend an easy elegance – plus some much-needed warmth.
If you are stuck, we particularly like cloaks worn with skinny jeans and boots – to keep everything streamlined, making the cape the star of the show.