Cape Fear

TRENDSPOTTING | by ALEXANDRA SMITH

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE SPORTED ONE since that Batgirl costume in third grade, but capes, and their shorter capelet cousins, are quite popular in helping brave the cold this winter.

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Hot as they may be, it doesn’t take an Anna Wintour to know that capes are hardly nouveau chic. Most of us can conjure the image of a turn-of-the-century gentleman in tweed cloaking (Sherlock Holmes anyone?), or perhaps think back even further to the sinister hooded capes of medieval Europe. In fact, it’s their very historical ubiquity that makes capes seem, at first blush, somewhat antiquated today.

Not so fast. There’s a reason this garment has survived so many centuries. Besides being ridiculously functional (what could be cozier, other than the Snuggie, but we won’t go there), capes are versatile, sophisticated and generally quite flattering. They pair well with evening and office-wear alike; they add polish to an otherwise casual boots-and-jeans ensemble.

Yes, capes are pretty easy to pull off. But there are a few things to keep in mind should you choose to wear one.

• First, an easy rule of thumb: The shorter the woman, the shorter the cape. If you’re under 5-foot-5, a capelet might be the better option.
• Second, stick with sleeker pieces underneath ― anything too bulky will throw off the lines of your cape. Skinny jeans or a pencil skirt, for example, would pair well with this look.
• Finally, unless you’re really looking to make a statement, keep the rest of your outfit ― particularly accessories ― minimal. Capes are powerful pieces (no wonder Superman wore one!) and can quickly become overpowering if one isn’t careful.