With each passing day getting colder and colder (and your outerwear wardrobe shrinking and shrinking until all that’s left is a lumpy puffer coat and twenty-year-old pea coat… or something like that), shopping for coats has never been so essential. Especially when you’re going for winter chic, and all that Macy’s has are seventeen interpretations of the same black pea coat (see above). So why not take a break from the trenches, parkas, and (yes) even your pea coat, and get yourself a cape?
No, we don’t mean what Batman fights crime in, or what makes Harry Potter invisible (cloak and cape are the same, right?), but something more along the lines of Audrey Hepburn and Blair Waldorf. There’s just something about a cape that exudes class, elegance, and—above all—style. The latest hooded versions to pop up in retailers like Zara, H&M, and Forever 21 also have a “cool” factor that usually comes along with hoodies (it’s so true).
Don’t think for a second that they’re hard to style. Just layer a sweater underneath (you don’t have sleeves with these babies) and throw it on. Capes are statement pieces, so embrace yours as the focal point of your outfit—you’ll feel crazy chic, we promise.
Try out this burnt orange one from Zara. Pair it with neutral navies and cream colors for an outfit that will make you glow.
Or opt for this blue and green tartan one (also from Zara) that will give your black jeans an added boost.
Max Mara’s Juditta cape is the perfect balance of drapey fabric, and timeless minimalism. Plus, the no-frills black shade means you can pair this cape with anything and not have to worry about how it looks.
