24 September 2008

Questionable Fashion: Capes

My very first vintage obsession was with coats. Living in an area that spends long periods of the winter in the below zero range encourages an healthy love of all things warm. I can't tell you how many coats I own, but I would say it's at least twenty. After moving to Arizona I had no more need for heavy wool coats, especially of the fully lined variety. Yet I couldn't give any of them up, so for the moment they're safely stored away waiting for my return.

In my coat buying days, I frequently came across capes or cloaks and was tempted by them. But no one I knew owned a cape, no one walking around town had one on either. I resisted and passed up many of my ebay watch items. Now I wonder if a fear of not fitting in held me back or being likened to other cape wearing characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Sherlock Holmes, and Dracula. So my questions are, would that actually be a bad thing and can the cape work?

Little Red Riding Hood:


Vintage finds:

1970s hooded red wool cape, S-L. Available at ebay seller Apocalypse Vintage with a starting bid of $9.99.

1960s J.C. Macy red wool cape, S-XL. Available at ebay seller Time's Up Vintage with a starting bid of $39.99 and a Buy Now of $129.99.

Sherlock Holmes:


Vintage finds:

1960s gray and mocha plaid cape, XS-M. Available at ebay seller mama stone vintage with a current bid of $16.50.

1960s black and white woven wool or wool blend houndstooth cape. Available at ebay seller Love Spy Vintage with a current bid of $26.49 and a Buy Now of $149.99.

Dracula:


Vintage finds:

1950s cropped black bolero cape, XS-M. Available at ebay seller thriftwares with a current bid of $51.

1980s Ariel Bloom black mid-weight wool cape. Available at ebay seller hipster's Playground Vintage with a current bid of $14.99.



So what do you think? Yay or nay to the cape?

PS. Just for clarification, I say yay! I only have to move some place cold again.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yay to the cape! They are actually quite comfy and go with everything.
And I love what you did with this post: the iconic capes from the characters we all know and love and then the real ones. Great job!