Cape coats are in for spring 2023 and I’m loving it! Capes are a great way to style your transitional spring looks without being chilly. It was one of my favourite spring outerwear when I was living in Greece. Dutch weather though is a bit cold for my liking so I still didn’t say goodbye to my trusty warm coats!
We saw the cape trend in a few runways including Valentino, Issey Miyake and Gabriela Hearst. When it comes to capes I prefer to keep the rest of my outfit fairly minimal to let them shine. I’m quite small so I want the cape to short (max mid thigh length), otherwise I feel that I get lost in the fabric. When I started sewing last wear I new that I wanted to eventually make a coat. Let’s not forget that I live in the Netherlands and coats are probably my most worn piece of clothing! But making a coat is very overwhelming when you are a beginner so I’ve decided to make a cape instead.
The pattern I used is the the Vogue pattern V8959, I made the option A in size small. I had to do a lot of alternations though to the sides for it to fit me great, so in the end I think it would be better to make the xs instead. The fabric I chose is a wool blend fabric but I think it was a bit stiffer than I would like it to be for a cape. Mistakes like this are inevitable though when you are learning!
And now for the styling! I saw you 2 outfits I recently wore with the cape. The first one is a cute combination with a skirt, over the knee boots and a cashmere sweater in pastel colours. It’s a great transitional outfit for spring because the wool pieces keeping you warm without it look too wintery. If it’s warmer in the area you leave you can swap the boots for ankle boots and the cashmere sweater for a lighter knit or a cotton top. A beret finished my look because I can’t resist them but you can either go for another hat or no hat at all!
The second look is less cute but more powerful and girlboss! I combined the cape with a pair of trousers and a wool turtleneck sweater. It’s a great office look if you ask me! I finished the look with a pair of long leather gloves to make it more winter appropriate. Capes and long gloves in my opinion look extremely elegant and posh together. I’m so here for the vibe! Plus they are a great way to keep your hands warm without hiding them underneath the cape.
Which outfit would you go for? And are you fan of the capes or do you prefer coats and trenchcoats?
