Capes that'll leave you cozy and on-trend are worth the whirl this fall
You'll be sleek and chic in this long 7th Avenue ivory plaid cape jacket with self-tie belt; $199.95 at New York & Company stores and nyandcompany.com. Credit: New York & Company
Capes are a cozy new trend in outerwear this fall. But here’s the thing—they can sometimes be a tough sell.
For every woman who loves the drama and distinctiveness of a cape, there’s another who finds it too voluminous for easy hopping in and out of the car. And then there’s the issue of how much you can move your arms.
But enthusiasts remain undaunted.
“Don’t be afraid of capes,” urges Randi Butwin, co-owner of Shag New York, a boutique in Roslyn. “They’re all over Europe, they look amazing and they’re perfect for the shopper who’s interested in something a little different.”
For skeptics, Butwin points out that there are plenty of alternatives—ways to get the feminine whoosh and whirl of a cape, without going full-on cape.
At Shag, you’ll find oversize wraps that offer the look of a cape, but with more versatility. “You can layer them over jeans and a great cashmere sweater, or over a leather or denim jacket—or I like to wear it as a scarf and wrap it around my neck like a hundred times,” Butwin says.
Or try a poncho, a ruana (an oversize shawl that originated in the Andes) or other cape-like hybrids (cape-jackets at New York & Company, poncho-sweaters at Loft, ruana-scarves at Target).
Modcloth's classic Pardon My French Quarter cape, with high collar and buttoned tabs, comes in herringbone (pictured) or navy plaid; $89, sizes XXS to 4X, at modcloth.com. Credit: ModCloth
Like Butwin says, there’s no need to be afraid of capes. Or anything that looks like one.
