Knitch Magazine

The fall fashion scene is filled with modernized familiar favorites, funky enhancements and brand-new, soon-to-be classics. But the rebirth of a popular trend from the turn of this century has caught us a bit by surprise yet has fired our imaginations also. The cape is back in all its former glory and brings to mind a wide range of images and possibilities. And, no, we’re not thinking here of the Caped Crusader or Count Dracula except when we’re planning Halloween costumes. Definitely the cape is one of the most dominant themes this season on haute-couture runways and in knitwear designs alike.

Technically according to dictionary definitions, a cape is an outer garment without sleeves that hangs over the shoulders and back and often has a front neck closure. The term “capelet” has also come into vogue and refers to a shorter cape that usually covers only the shoulders. But some designers have been recently blurring the lines of these more technical definitions and are combining elements of capes, coats, jackets, cardigans and even ponchos all into the same garment. Some have coined the term “cape coat” or “cape cardi” as with the Zara Plus Cape Coat from Filatura Di Crosa and Berroco’s Borealis Kensington Cape Cardi.

Capes have fascinated some of our favorite designers recently no matter what the technical definition of the different styles. Debbie Bliss began her love affair with capes last year before other designers had become so enthralled when she created for us the Fez Shoulder Cape. Then she’s followed that gem up with a cape in every one of her new fashion books this season as with her Glen Cape Coat. Also Nicky Epstein shows her flair for creating short capes with her Guanaco Canterbury Capelet and the Kid Classic Cypress Capelet. Last but certainly not least comes Louisa Harding with her distinctive, whimsical designs including her Thistle Fiddlers Green Capelet.

And we love that from this resurrected passion has arisen such a diversity of styles and shapes that all of us can find the perfect cape or capelet to accent our wardrobes this autumn and well into the winter. Even those who prefer lacy, feminine garments have lovely options from which to choose like the gorgeous Prima Lace Capelet and the Ultra Alpaca Diamond Capelet from the designers for Vogue. Then for crochet lovers everywhere, we have Bouton d’Or’s Cosy Liseuse Crocheted Capelet and the Crocheted Courcelles Capelet from Anny Blatt.

Of course, you know a trend has really taken off when it is available in other types of handcrafts as well as knitting and crocheting, and the cape phenomenon is no exception. All of the major sewing pattern brands – Vogue, McCall’s, Simplicity and Burda – offer lovely cape options, but our favorites come from Vogue as usual. Several of these companies can even help us combine our upcoming need for Halloween costumes with our wish to keep the guys in our lives in fashion -- we can turn them into Sherlock Holmes for holiday, and they can continue to wear the caped cloak for special occasions!