The Perfect Capes for your Autumn Wardrobe
The jacket is one of the all-important staples of any fall wardrobe. Choosing the right one will pull together your look and can be worn for more than one season. A great jacket should have lasting appeal and longevity. The classic coat conjures up the peacoat, trenchcoat and A-line swing jackets. Seldom does the idea of wearing a cape seem anything less than fanciful. What we tend to forget is that hooded capes were first worn in medieval Europe. If only the Sartorialist existed in 1654.
Assuming that Little Red Riding Hood isn’t your style icon, there is no need to fear the comparison unless you are also a grown woman carrying a picnic basket – in which case I would recommend you not venture outside into wooded areas. For the rest of us, I declare it safe to wear your capes in broad daylight. Worn in Victorian times and also the jacket of choice for Sherlock Holmes’ tweed Inverness cape, if you choose wisely, your cape is a piece that can be worn for years.
A popular look on the AW10 catwalk, luckily there are a great number of capes available this season, with and without hoods, that can fill that shawl-shaped hole in your closet. Bright, structured capes in pink and yellow and of course classic black were shown at Yves Saint Laurent, drapey dramatic ones from Canadian knit designer Mark Fast and full length capes in shades of camel, the colour of the season, at Hussein Chalayan. For evening, an adorable black sequined number from the Jaeger London collection would be a perfect alternative topper for cooler nights and not at all reminiscent of Hogwart’s School for Witches and Wizards.
A rummage through the infamous Angel’s Costumier’s Military Sale last winter, a veritable treasure trove of authentic military uniforms, costumes and outerwear from television shows unearthed an entire section devoted to military style capes. After pouncing on a navy blue wool hooded cape, imagine my disappointment when I realized there were no arm holes (a real hindrance on the mean streets) and that this particular cape was made for a 6 foot tall English police officer.
Although not the easiest thing to find in vintage shops and fairs, it’s a good bet that if you do manage to find a lady cape that fits you properly and has the requisite arm holes, it’ll become a treasured piece in your wardrobe. Try to avoid the full-length fur cape as it will be hard for you to avoid the appearance of the “lady dictator” or at least draw unfavourable comparisons to a certain dalmation-loving Cruella de Vil.
A fall cape is the perfect way to update your jacket collection while maintaining the most lady-like level of sophistication. A fur muff to warm your fingers in the place of conventional gloves is, of course, optional.
A few of the most covetable cape style jackets for fall:
Hearts & Hands Check Cape
Urban Outfitters, £195
Stella McCartney Wool Knit Cape with Yoke
Farfetch.com, £873
3.1 Phillip Lim Wool and Leather Cape
Brownsfashion.com, £690
ASOS Hooded Military Cape
ASOS.com, £70
California Fleece Cape
American Apparel, £54
Alexander McQueen Wool Intarsia Cape
Net-a-porter.com, £935
Main image via Castaway Vintage
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