mr paparazzi, tfs
Celine by Phoebe Philo did it. Vogue UK mentioned it in their May issue's "25 ways to be Chic' post. And now Alexa is doing it. You know if Alexa's wearing it it's going to be a huge trend in about 6 months time, when it trickles down through the gossip magazines to the windows of the chain stores. I'm talking about the 'jacket as a cape' idea, last seen on matronly country ladies who make sponge cakes for the WI.
How do you do it? Well it's simple, very simple. You rest your jacket or cardigan on your shoulder, but do not slip your arms into the sleeves. You let them hang loose by your sides. There are important things you need to adhere to though. The jacket has to be able to be done up when worn properly, or even better, a little oversized. If it is too small it is not going to rest comfortably on your shoulders and it will be slip off constantly. If it is a little oversize your jacket/cape should hang there perfectly, with a beautiful sinuous drape. The second rule to remember is to make sure the jacket isn't made of a material that is too heavy. Something like a heavy duffel could really weigh down and ruin the languid lines of the look. Keep to light cardigans, airy military jackets and the like.
There is something very chic about wearing your jacket this way. The ideas that it conjures up - of manners and niceties and 40s working gals keeping their shoulders warm at their typewriters - are all about being pulled together with not one hair out of place, the quintessential good girl with pearls and kitten heels in tow. Updated for modern times, that is, paired with little leather short shorts (garter attached, of course, this is YSL) or an itty bitty lemon yellow playsuit, the coat as cape is undeniably very, very chic. Just like rolling up the sleeves of your jacket or leaving just one button too many undone, it is always, always, the tiniest of details that complete an outfit. Anyone can wear a jacket, but to rest it on your shoulders and leave the arms swinging around you? Well, that takes gumption. And style. It takes that, too.
style.com
I remember Grease was my favourite movie of childhood. When I watch it today I am amazed that my parents let me within ten feet of it, considering how much sexual tension courses through it - oh, Kenicky! - but watch it I did, and adore it I did, too. I still remember being completely enamoured of Sandy. She was Australian and lovely and could sing - everything I wanted, really - and she used to wear her cardigans or her Cheerleader's felt jackets hanging off her shoulders over legs crossed under a circle skirt. Oh, so carefree and happy!
That's what the jacket on the shoulders as cape thing really is. It's about warmth but not restriction. If you just let it rest there you can keep your arms free for things like scented notepaper your friend marty marachino gave you, or a little envelope clutch bag or a glass of makers mark and apple juice. It's freedom with a little bit of class mixed in there. It's not the kind of messy, mucky 'roll up your sleeves' freedom, and it's not the kind of do it yourself 'chop off the arms' freedom. It's a classy, sophisticated, and, well, chic, kind of freedom. It's easy and elegant, you can slip a be-ringed hand into your trouser pocket as you walk along, jacket flying behind you or peel a mandarin in your lap while your barbour sits comfortably on your shoulders. This is not a heavy-duty look. It is actually a little bit dainty. And even when you try to rough it up with studs or leather or rips or combat boots wearing your jacket as a cape will make the whole thing shine up like a pearl.
Tomorrow I'm going to wear a jacket as a cape. Because where Alexa goes, I will surely follow!
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