From Couture to Sarah Jessica Parker: Capes Are Taking Over Planet Fashion!

Alexis Mabille, Stephane Rolland and Giambattista Valli are caped couturiers!

Maybe it’s something to do with the fact that this summer is set to burst with superhero-tastic in the world of blockbuster films, but right now in fashiondom capes are taking over…. And we’re not talking about the subtle kind of sequinned capelet mums wear to weddings, we’re talking BIG swooshing numbers, worthy of a wardrobe hero stamp and guaranteed to make as dramatic an entrance as an exit. It’s not a trend we’ve particularly noticed in stores for spring/summer’12, but nonetheless all sorts of capes are breezing in from every angle right now – whether that’s the 1960s evening variety as favoured by so many red carpet goers at the MET ball two months ago, or the ones hitting the runways at this week’s couture shows. We’ve even spotted them one particular type of cape – the tan trench-cape– on such high profile bods as Victoria Beckham in Comme des Garcons and The Queen (YES! Really!).

Bianca Brandolini D'Adda and Lana Del Rey enjoy a cape caper at the MET ball.

The MET ball caped crusaders were Bianca Brandolini D’Adda in Dolce and Gabbana and Lana Del Rey in Joseph Altuzarra. Look closer and you’ll find that Andre Leon Tally also billowed away in a purple cape with his tux. We also recall that not so long ago SJP tried out this new twist on evening gowns with a floor-sweeping matchy-matchy cape to her scarlet red Giambattista Valli frock; she’s always ahead of the pack, that one. And there’s no forgetting Nicky Minaj’s wacky cape attempt when did experiemented with the whole Pope look…

Talk about making an entrance... SJP in Giambatista Valli

What’s new is that the dress and cape is morphing into one – and the couture runways are spearheading this after-dark need for them. With designers from Stephane Rolland (Cheryl Cole’s fave couturier) to Alexis Mabille churning them out, you can expect to see a lot more of the cape-dress (or shall we call them cresses?) hitting the red carpet soon....