Cool weather approaches and the fashion gods have spoken; capes are in this year. Although we’ll readily admit that a woman with a cape looks confident and chic, the idea of pulling one off ourselves can be daunting. “How do they make it look so cool?” we wonder as we stare into the fitting room mirror. “This looks so boxy, baggy, oversized, pompous, random, etc.”
Fear not, far from befitting only the opera house and people “cool” enough to be immune to normal laws of fashion, capes today come in a variety of accessible styles perfect for your look (tom-boy, boho, girly, classic, etc.) Below are some fashionable, mom-friendly outfit inspirations featuring capes. Get inspired, dress your best and feel confident wearing this season’s hottest trends, we’ll show you how.
This outfit is the epitome of a casual, tomboy-chic fall look. Rather than looking like a last second addition, or perhaps a shabby throw blanket, the shawl-like blanket-cape has intention. Other than having the confidence to know you’re stylish, the key to this look is the detail paid to other pieces in the outfit. Yes, this outfit consists of loafers, deconstructed jeans and a boyish pull-over; however, the textured pull-over is tucked just right into her waistline and the jeans are cuffed and rolled. I spy a watch/bracelet on her wrist (accessorizing!) and her hair is spectacularly styled. Try adding a shoe with a small wedge or even edgy pumps to lengthen the leg and take this look to the next level.
Capitalize on this fall’s trends with a boho-chic patterned cape. Set against the neutral backdrop of an all-black outfit, a printed cape adds dimension and interest.
Belting a blanket-cape adds structure and prevents you from looking like you’ve been swallowed by your outerwear. Another added bonus, losing that feeling that you have to constantly hang onto your cape to prevent it from blowing away will free up hands for other things, like little hands, handbags or pulling a wagon.
To successfully work this look, you will need to create faux sleeves. Drape the cape around your shoulders and cross over in the front. Loosely belt, then holding the belt in place with one hand lift first one arm and then the other- this will untuck just enough fabric from the belt to allow for a full-range of arm movement. Then, tighten the belt the rest of the way.
Look like a chichi French girl in this outfit. This structured cape could function as stand-alone, formal outerwear for the seasoned opera-goer. Prevent the piece from looking stuffy and up its style-factor by layering. In this case, a patterned Tee, denim shirt/jacket and the cape create a balanced look with three distinct layers. The high-waisted cut of these jeans will conceal any muffin-top, creating a sleeker figure. The pointed toe shoes lengthen the leg and add interest with a bold accent color.
Play with your clothes. There’s no need to stick to time-honored rules like only wearing bold patterned capes with basic monotone ensembles. In this look, the striped top works with the flannel-check cape to create visual interest. Take the look a step further by layering a green khaki jacket (unbuttoned) under the cape.
Check out these cool, affordable capes we found:
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