Fall 2011 Trend: Caped Crusade
Photos: Imaxtree
Fall 2011 runway looks from YSL, Chloé and Dior
Step aside, Superman: Capes aren’t just for the DC Comics set anymore. For Fall 2011, designers offered outerwear that ran the gamut from boho blankets and ponchos to sleek, superhero-worthy fare.
Chloé, unsurprisingly, went the former route with a blanket coat of many colors sure to be snapped by many a street-style photog come fall, while Rag & Bone's blanket offerings came in tweed or fringe-trimmed knits.
At Hermès, designer Christophe Lemaire went similarly rustic with a cozy-looking textured white cape, and in New York Tommy Hilfiger went comfy and chic with a short-in-front, long-in-back knitted cape.
Sporty types will surely find something to love in Alexander Wang's and Altuzarra's quilted poncho-cape hybrids, while Derek Lam's and BCBG's offerings were a bit more luxe.
On the sleek side were Lanvin’s spare black hip-length cape and YSL’s black evening option, which was worn over an equally glamorous jumpsuit.
Rick Owens went a step further with a series of super-fitted capes that wrapped around the body in a positively straitjacket-inspired fashion. Who needs arms?
But if you really want to go the super route (that’s -hero, not -model), the ne plus ultra came from the theatrical runway at Christian Dior. Karlie Kloss opened the show in an eye-obscuring hat, leather jacket, velvet pants, and knee-high boots—all topped with a floor-sweeping cashmere cape fastened at the neck.
Now that’s drama.
