At the autumn/winter 2019 shows, it was all about the cape coat. Designers zeroed in on the tricky item this season, serving up fresh new ways to wear the style most commonly seen during transitional months. There were the candy-coloured tweed capes hanging off the shoulders at Chanel. At Burberry, Riccardo Tisci showed wool capes that were striped and fringed, making them more of a statement piece. And at Celine, Hedi Slimane sent out a classic camel version that draped just below the knee. While the silhouettes were varied, the unified message was clear: it’s time to leave your sleeves at home.
Now, celebrities are catching onto the trend, too, though it took a supermodel to test-drive it properly. Kate Moss stepped out in London wearing a black leather cape, unbuttoned to reveal a chic white blouse underneath for that effortless model off-duty look courtesy of Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. It had just the right amount of flair with discreet cargo pockets for a slight utilitarian feel. She paired it with streamlined black trousers and accessories, including black moto boots, a sleek black clutch and a sparkly bracelet.
While a rock’n’roll cape for going out may seem an unlikely choice, consider Moss’s take the ultimate inspiration for stepping into spring: because why wait until autumn to try something new?
