12 Ways to Incorporate a Cape into Your Wardrobe
When we say the word cape, you'd be forgiven if a movie villain springs to mind: the Wicked Witch of the West, say, or the Phantom of the Opera. But believe it or not, capes are trendy currently; and, more relevantly, they're a quite chic piece of outerwear that can work in fall and winter. In essence, a cape is any item that drapes over your shoulders, arms, and chest and hangs loose in the back. It can connect at the throat, the waist, or across the body. It usually has a front opening (to distinguish it from a shawl or poncho) and there aren't necessarily dedicated sleeves (to distinguish it from a coat). But the definition doesn't have to be rigid, as you'll see.
"A cape combines the functionality of outerwear with the elegance of a cape silhouette, making it a standout piece for your wardrobe," says JoEllen Dutcher, VP of product at Cuyana. She maintains that a cape can, in fact, be a piece of streetwear fashion.
If you're still not convinced, or you're eagerly anticipating wearing your own cape in the cooler months, keep reading for all the outfit inspiration you need.
Long for Warmth
A cape is styled much like a coat. The arm slits allow the cape to hang over the outfit; in this case, because it doesn't extend long through the arms, you can actually wear another jacket underneath to cover your upper body. The cape gives length, layering, and added drama.
Short as a Staple
"A neutral-colored wool cape is a great staple option, as you can wear it with jeans or a dress and still accomplish the same elegant look," says Gorecki. In other words, you can style this exactly like any other outer layer. The arm slits allow you to put your hands in your pocket and hold a bag; this would be so easy to wear instead of your normal pea coat, so long as you wear a long-sleeved shirt in winter.
A Trench-Cape
Capes look incredible when they're made with trench coat material: it really beautifies a winter look and iterates on a classic we all know. Technically, this is a trench-cape hybrid, since the cape sits on top of a sleeved jacket. Other trench capes don't have sleeves and instead use arm slits and a belt at the waist.
Dramatic for Formal
For formal events, we recommend a longer, neutral, or black-colored cape which can be easily paired with a maxi dress while creating a more dramatic ensemble. In this case, the cape is acting like a jacket worn over the shoulders (and also providing some warmth, since the top is essentially a bra). But this would work just as well with a formal dress underneath.
Flattering Your Frame
Picking the right cape length depends on your height and shape. This is not to say that you can't opt for something oversized if you're short, as we see here; the cape is just the slouchy outer layer on top of an already slouchy outfit.
A (Small) Pattern
Capes don't need to be a solid color! In the case of a small pattern, the cape matches the dress underneath, so the whole look feels cohesive and planned out. But you could just as easily swap out the dress with a neutral top and matching pants.
With Trousers
The base outfit with a trouser is tonal (all one color) and simple, so the cape goes on top easily without having to do much more to style it. Here, the coat and the bag are in the same color family, which brings an element of cohesion, but the cape could just as easily match your sunglasses or shoes.
Streamlined for Less Volume
Now this is drama! If you want to lean in and pick a cape that goes to the floor, make sure that it really goes with the rest of the outfit (as we see with the matching dress underneath). This works particularly well if you're not looking to add width up top since the cape extends to the floor.
Add a Belt
If you're worried that a cape might feel too bulky, add some structure back into the look with a flattering, waist-cinching belt. This will help break up the silhouette and elongate your overall look as will some slim pants or, in this case, bike shorts.
Heavy Wool
A wool cape is perfect for cold-weather looks. It'll also work in transitional weather, as we see here: the shorts are a nice contrast when it's warm enough to wear them, but you could easily swap these out with gray pants or a skirt. The arm slits here are particularly dramatic, but the shorter length keeps this in the realm of everyday fashion.
As a Layer
Remember: any instance where you might wear a scarf, a poncho, or a sweater thrown over your shoulders, you can replace it with a cape. This is actually a brilliant use of layering, with a matching sweater, cardigan, and cape sweater all on top of each other. The point is that capes are more versatile than you'd expect, and they make for a great, surprising piece of outerwear. Give them a try!
Forget Black Color
Let's make a pact: this winter, let's bid adieu to the predictable sea of black that often dominates our wardrobes. Don't get us wrong; black is timeless, versatile, and undeniably chic. But this season, let's break free from the monotonous color norm. Winter doesn't have to be a grayscale affair!
Wrapping It Up
Choosing any other color for capes could be a game-changer. Our top suggestion? Opt for lighter shades like grey, pinks, lilacs or soft hues and match it with light shoes. However, if you're leaning towards emerald, purple, or deeper tones, pair them with darker shoes (and no, they don't have to be black!).
Here's another reason: unless you fall into the Dark Winter or any Winter color palette, black might just drain your natural glow and leave you looking a tad lackluster. It's all about finding colors that complement your unique undertones and enhance your features, especially during the winter blues.
And let's talk about patterns! Embracing prints, especially animal prints, can add that extra flair to your winter ensemble.
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