If you’ve been looking at your winter outerwear recently and thought that it’s just so… sleevey… then consider a cape. I bought two last year, a short camel one and a longer dark blue one.
Don’t leave! Hear me out. Really, really – I wouldn’t suggest this if I hadn’t thought about it hard. You won’t really look like you’re wearing a stupid cape, you will just look like you are wearing something modern, draped, slouchy, with an elbow or bracelet-length sleeve to show off your excellent knitwear underneath. They go incredibly well with wide-legged jeans and trainers, a high/low mix that says “I am completely normal” and not “To the Batmobile!”
I had to search high and low for my pair of capes last year but this year, they are everywhere.
On blasted Zara of course, this restrained one, and this sort of rainmac one – a mum at school has got something similar and it completely works. I’m being serious!
Then over to H&M, who really believe in the cape thing for AW21. This one is sort of like an updated duffel coat, and this one I’m less sure about, just because it’s one of those items of clothes that seeks to tick two trends at once: cape and green quilt. Overkill? I’m not saying it looks bad, but I wonder if it will stand the test of time.
At the other end of the price scale, there is one of these left on Outnet for 50% off, someone’s got to own it! Might as well be you. If you are one of my fabulously wealthy readers, (they do exist), get this one and text me so that my face can melt off with envy.
Last but not least, House of Hackney has designed this gabardine cape for Barbour – Becky B had something similar, but vintage, years ago and I always coveted it like mad. If I didn’t already have an extensive range of raingear I would snap this up – only sizes 10 and 12 left in the dark blue but more range in the olive.
Handbags tho….🤔
Yes, and trying to navigate busy car parks with two children plus all the bags etc – hands already full, need to be able to load myself up like a packhorse That’s what puts me off the cape idea. Love them concept though.
it’s definitely not an action item
May I hear more about this extensive range of rainwear please I desperately need a coat with a hood that’s not ming!!
the only one I really like is one I found in a charity shop with no branding on it, which is really irritating because it’s a good coat and I wanted to share it. all raincoats with hoods are disgusting or slimy or just in some other way deeply bad and unsatisfactory.
I’ve recently bought a couple of knitted ponchos which have a similar effect (although a little more cowboy). So cosy and as you say, arms are free so you don’t get too hot in this ‘four seasons in one day’ weather we currently have.
Literally cannot rest now until I have a cape. Why didn’t I know I needed one? Please can you also do a thing on hats because I’m just not sure about berets? I don’t want to be all Jenny Agutta circa 1970.
channel Michael Jordan visiting Paris instead… hats are like any accessory really – you just have to try a lot on before you find the one that suits you
On hats, can you or any of your lovely informed readers suggest a rain hat that doesn’t make one look like a mad old lady or a nursery school wannabe?
I was a relatively late (or early) newcomer to the poncho. This transformation happened after a random purchase in a charity shop. Since then I have become an avid wearer of ponchos, capes and huge wraparound scarves.
Capes…maybe not so good in windy weather …
no they’re perfect, one looks like the wicked witch of the west
😂😂😂
I really like the Zara khaki cape. It only seems to come in small or medium though. Sigh.
i went to Zara, tried on the medium one and bought it. When it is described as oversized cape it is accurate. Lots of room for layers or a coat underneath.
Thanks for this Esther, I’ve been wondering about a cape for a while, but wonder if it’ll make my arse look even larger?! I showed my husband one and he said you’re not a fucking superhero. But he knows nothing about fashion.
Don’t listen to your husband
Ain’t that just the truth…
This is not a cape question so I hope it’s allowed…
What’s the alternative to a leather biker jacket? I really, really love mine but they are everywhere now so maybe time for a change?
I quite liked the brown leather jacket that Anna Maxwell Martin wore in Hollington Drive. Any suggestions or recommendations please?
Jo sorry this is a rather tardy response, but I have only just come up with a solution. It might not be quite right but Baukjen have “The Dara” leather jacket, which looks rather smart to me …https://www.baukjen.com/products/dara-leather-jacket-caviar-black
Christ I’ve just seen it’s £430!!!!!
I am sorely tempted by the thought of a vintage welsh cape:
https://www.urban-village.co.uk/search?type=product&q=Welsh+cape