Coat Fashion Trends for 2012
Cape Coat Fashion Trends
There is a coat style for every woman and in 2011 you can
choose from a short cape coat, a maxi or midi coat: a duffle,
parka, padded quilted puffa, a fur coat, leather or more formal
ladies wool coat.
The recognition of individual styling gives freedom to select
from many styles to suit individual body shapes. For cape coat
styles check that the proportions are correct for your own body
silhouette.
Here is my review of the important cape coat fashion looks for
Autumn 2011 and Winter 2012. Heritage works the cape so well. Burberry did it in the best
British way.
Above Left & Centre - AW11/12 Burberry
Celebrates British Wool With 2 Cape Coats.
Right - Moschino Cheap & Chic Checks. All Burberry looks copied
well in mass fashion wear.
Burberry used colours with black to create amazing checks in
rich wools. Burberry used these luscious wool fabrics to create
coats and capes that were distinctive and desirable. Hound and
dogtooth checks, blanket plaids and tablecloth checks give a
cosy air to winter coats, throws, wraps, ponchos and capes.
Tailored jackets and pure wool check skirts also suit the good
quality British wool theme. Capes area perfect extra layer
choice when thinking of country walks wearing heritage
tweeds.
Left & Centre - NEXT AW11/12 Check Cape
£28/€38.
Skinny Jeans £22/€29 - NEXT Stockist 0844 844 8000.
Right - Modernist at House of Fraser. Boutique by Jaeger - Red
Cape Coat £330.
HOF Stockist Number: 020 7003 4000.
Cape Styling
Note how the Deep red Jaeger cape above has arm
slits for ease of movement. Some capes have cape sleeves. Look
out for capes that either have arm slits or semi sleeves for
easier function in wear. For the costume history of cape styles
see my fashion-era page on
Cape and
Cloak fashion history.
High Street Fashion AW11.
Left - Tartan Cape by Oasis AW11.
Centre - Mint Velvet AW11 - Check
Cape, £149/€189, Skinny Jean, £59/€79, Long
Boot, £179/€229, Ponyskin Pocket Bag, £139/€179 -
Stockist Number: 0845 456 2200.
Right - Check Plaid Cape From very.co.uk.
»
Plainer Neutral Capes
For high drama the capes the piece to attract notice in
autumn 2011. A plain fabric cape adds a versatile touch to
wardrobe planning and can come into its own in winter as a
versatile layering item. This black cape could soon be a
wardrobe must-have it's so classic. The camel cape looks easy to
wear and could be the alternative to a puffa jacket when walking
the dog.
Left - Mint Velvet AW11 Cape - Mint Velvet
Stockist Number: 0845 456 2200.
Right - Matalan AW11 - Retro Prim Cape £35, Pussy Bow
Blouse £16, Pencil Skirt £14, School Satchel £10.
Left - Camel Split Cape by Blugirl AW11.
Right - Phase Eight AW11 Camel Chesterfield Cape £160 -
phase-eight.co.uk.
Designers used luxury furs both real and fake to
create stunning capes for Autumn 2011 and Winter 2012.
Left - Issa Fur Elbow Length Cape - Issa AW11.
Right - Marc Jacobs AW11 Fur Cape.
Make a stunning entrance at Christmas parties
wearing fur capes over your favourite evening pants or dress.
Catwalk Animal Print Fur Capes.
Leopard print has been a huge trend over the
past decade and now leopard print is a classic. Leopard print
three quarter jackets are ideal winter coats for use casually
with trousers or as a luxury touch for evening. Plain fur capes
vary from short capelets to longer hip length pieces.
Right - Cape Influence Leopard Print Distressed Leather Jacket
With Kidassia Goat Collar Trim.
Above - Wallis AW11 Sequin Cape. Both of
these Wallis capes would dress up
the plainest of outfits.
Above - Wallis AW11 Black Beaded Cape - £75.
Catwalk Capes
And for the ultimate fetish fashion trend black
cape, this black leather and fur banded cape coat from Gareth
Pugh could be your must-have. How you choose to wear it, playing
it up or down, will create an individual fashion look.
Left - Ralph Lauren Black Capelet.
Right - Black Leather Banded Cape Gareth Pugh AW11.
Long Capes
Catwalk Cape Coats Fashion - Zang Toi AW11.
‡
Short Fur Capelets
These two fur shoulder capes below are just different colours of
the same capelet. They are the winter alternative shoulders
cover-up to the
pashmina. They offer just a little more cover than a fur tippet.
For something more covering these capes both from Monsoon
accessorize offer a
little more length. The damson fur cape would be very versatile as a
winter short coat substitute. The cream cape offers both evening
and bridal glamour.
Highwayman element shoulders added to coats give extra
warmth. This check coat is also from Littlewoods.
Left - Derek Lam AW11 - Camel Trench Coat With Bleached Golden
Fox Fur Collar.
Right - Miss Selfridge Ginger Fur Collar Coat £95.
This cape into coat styling has great utilitarian properties for
the newer fuller bloused sleeves on many pieces.
Left & Right - Littlewoods Coleen Coat.
Cape Sleeve Dresses
Some dresses also use the cape feature in sleeves which hint at
the generous fullness of the 1970s wider bell and cape sleeve
fashion. The latter cape/shoulder styling was used a great deal
on wedding dresses and blouse styles so watch out for that as a
new trend look in wedding gowns. Capes available at Yves St
Laurent. The short capes or a cocoon coat may be the best option
for a cover up for dresses like these.
1970s wider bell and cape sleeve and shoulder styling was used a
great deal on wedding dresses and blouse styles; so watch out
for that as a new trend look in wedding gowns.
‡
Ponchos
Following on from the cape is the even freer spirit theme of
the poncho and Mexican throw - think Spaghetti western. Fringe
is an integral part of many ponchos or capes.
Left - House of Fraser AW11 Poncho.
Right - NEXT - Navaho Wrap £30/€41.
NEXT Stockist Number: 0844 844 8000.
Navaho
The Boho ethnic contrast of Navaho folksy blanket, poncho
free flowing garments are functional for winter layering in and
out of doors. If it looks as if your granny stitched, knitted or
crocheted it then it's likely to be hot on trend.
The softer
earthy colours of some Navaho styled pieces make for easy casual
relaxed wearing. The natural tones are not so intense or crowd
alerting as some jewel tones that can merge on acid brights.
Knitwear pieces also utilise the poncho as do felted wools and
check tweeds which add heritage style always a winter winner.
Above - Dorothy Perkins Knit Poncho.
Right - ASOS AW11 Navaho Jacket.
Proenza Schouler took inspiration from Native American
crafts. Easy loose silhouettes, texture on texture combined with
geometric traditional ethnic prints. Rodarte's 'Little House on
the Prairie' incorporated handmade crafting effects and rich
colourations.
Navaho is a trend that also comes and goes and is part of the
global culture ethnic trend that dominated the noughties. River
Island has picked up a treat on this look and you'll find other
retailers have lots of Navaho inspired pieces from bags to
braids as well as ponchos and knitwear pieces.
What fabric should you buy your cape you may be thinking with
so many choices shown here.
Fashion fabrics for autumn 2011 are simply fabulous. Fashion
designers chose materials with superb tactile qualities and
shininess.
Look out for fuzzy fabrics, furry textures, goat hair, teased
mohair and soft cosy pieces that make you want to get closer.
Faux fur is used extensively with whole garments and fur trim
collars, tippets and bag flaps all getting the fur or skin
treatments. Rich texture is easiest to do if you select fur collars and
cape jackets
of fur. Maribou feathers in rich jewel colours add exotic
alternative texture for capes, hems, cuffs and necklines.
You will fall in love with mixture of textures from
subtle languid fluid silks to coarser hairier and sports
fabrics. Silk and silk/wool mixes are the winter must-have
fabrics. Other luxury materials such as silk panne velvet make
the perfect luxury fabric for winter festive capes.
Coat Accessory & Add-Ons Autumn 2011
Bags Tippets Gloves
Get instant lift with a bright bold fashionable handbag. Make
sure your bag is suitable to wear with your cape by trying a few
styles. Or wear a cross body bag under your cape.
Update your autumn pieces that with jewel toned court shoes.
Select a heel that suits you and try a small platform for the
seasonal touch.
The Mary Jane shoe has multiple straps and worn with patterned hosiery/pantyhose
adds retro quality to leg looks. Pump shoes have shorter
pointed toes and easy heels. Solid square heels and cone
heels follow 1970s trends in
women's shoes. Platforms and wedges, which are still available,
often have fur cuff trims.
The key elements of fashion trends for autumn 2011, winter
2012 depend on longer lengths and bold rich vibrant colours in
contrast textures and luxury fabrics. The silhouette pays homage
to forties, sixties and seventies decades of style fashions.
Tailoring Fashion Trends for Autumn 2011
One of most commercial fashion trends in UK in 2011 has been
the new retro 1970s. Now for autumn this trend
continues, but is joined by the late forties look along with a
favourite retro fashion of recent years - sixties Mod.
The strongest cape silhouette at Designer shows was the cocoon
cape coat.
Whatever silhouette or retro trend you select you can be sure fashion
styles
for autumn 2011 and winter 2012 focus on mixes of zinging jewel colours.
Top Fashion Trends for Autumn Winter 2011-2012
For 2011/12 some fashion designers have reworked styles from
several specific decades of the 20th century. They've created
so many fresh innovative looks enabling every woman to style her
individual lifestyle new image and wardrobe. Sixties looks merge
with seventies retro and forties elements all working together.
The fashion outcome suggests a remix that makes a woman think
'This is familiar, I've seen this before, but I'm not sure
where.' For everyday wear many will love the shorter 70s remix
military coats, that are ideal coats for driving a car.
This fashion trends article focuses on the Autumn Winter
2011/12 main styles and trends in women's capes and
ponchos.
Conclusion of Key Fashion Trends Autumn 2011 Winter 2012
Copyright of images courtesy of IFTF, Prshots.com, Swarovski,
House of Fraser, Oasis, Debenhams, Littlewoods,
M&Co., Accessorize Monsoon, Matalan, ASOS,
Next, very.co.uk, Mint Velvet,Phase Eight, Wallis, Miss Selfridge,
Dorothy Perkins.
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