PatternVault

The cape trend of the last two years shows no sign of abating. (Read a Fashionising post about the trend here.) In terms of sewing patterns, Donna Karan’s V2924 was ahead of the trend (see Erica B’s version here) and this fall we have V1322 by DKNY. Paco Peralta has several cape designs available including the sculptural Funghi. In vintage reissues, Butterick has re-released some vintage cape patterns in their Retro line: B6329 (from 1935) and B6411 (a reissue of Butterick 4570 from 1948).

I often find myself reaching for the vintage version of a current trend, and I’ll have a cape project to share with you soon. While looking for the right pattern, I was struck by the variety of cape designs over the decades. Here’s a selection of vintage cape patterns from the Twenties to the Eighties.

1920s

Two 1920s patterns in my collection have capes with interesting details. This mid-Twenties pattern for a dress by Renée also includes a cape with button/strap closure:

And I still love the pointed yoke of this Miler Soeurs cape (see my grey version here):

1930s

The Thirties were a good decade for capes. This 1936 copy of McCall Style News shows a matching cape and dress ensemble:

Sewing bloggers’ 1930s capes show how contemporary these vintage outerwear styles can look today. Debi’s mid-Thirties cape pattern has a similar look to the ensemble illustrated above, but with a false front creating the illusion of a matching jacket. Click the image to see her finished version:

Puu’s late ’30s cape has a high-collared yoke, arm slits, and rounded, gathered shoulders (click the image for her construction post and see the finished version here):

1940s

The fashion for capes continued into the Forties. The decade’s strong-shouldered silhouette is visible in these two cape patterns from my collection. The first, from the early ’40s, has a pronounced, boxy shape and optional broad stand-up collar:

The second cape shades into New Look sleekness, with a narrower collar and lower hemline:

1950s

In the Fifties, capes showed a de-emphasis on the shoulders and a fullness that carries over to the early ’60s. Vogue 1089 by Robert Piguet is actually from 1949; I thought it might really be a capelet, but the envelope description calls it a “flared cape with diagonal double-breasted closing below soft shaped collar”:

Here’s an illustration of the Piguet ensemble by Bernard Blossac:

This mid-Fifties cape by Jacques Fath has big, buttoned cuffs at the arm vents. The shaped collar is part of the suit underneath:

1960s

The Sixties were another good decade for capes. On this Vogue Pattern Book cover, Wilhelmina Cooper exemplifies the “thoroughbred look” of Fall 1963 in a tailored yellow cape:

This elegant cape by Nina Ricci has a wide shawl collar and is shaped by released inverted darts. The model is Maggie Eckhardt:

Astrid Heeren models this fabulous mod cape by Pierre Cardin:

This late ’60s design by Pucci is modelled by Birgitta af Klercker and was photographed in Rome at La Cisterna:

1970s

As the Seventies progressed, capes generally kept their collars, but gained a new fluidity. This mid-Seventies Halston “poncho-cape” has a collar and button front, but is reversible:

This late ’70s Chloé design by Karl Lagerfeld, featuring Jerry Hall, includes a three-quarter length, circular cape with pointed bias collar. The cape gets its strong shoulders from an inside button and tab at each shoulder:

1980s

In the Eighties, fluidity gained the upper hand, as seen in these full, collarless, and unstructured capes by Yves Saint Laurent:

Would you wear a vintage cape, or do you prefer the cape’s more recent incarnations?

Tagged: capes, Chloé, designer, fashion, Halston, Jacques Fath, McCall's, Nina Ricci, Pierre Cardin, Pucci, Renee, Robert Piguet, Simplicity, vintage, Vogue Patterns, Yves Saint Laurent

§ 7 Responses to Caped Crusaders: Vintage Cape Patterns

• Debi says:

  September 26, 2012 at 2:57 am

  FABULOUS post! I absolutely adore capes. I really love the two 1920′s capes you show. That first one with a tab is just amazing! Thanks for highlighting my 1935 cape…I really love it–I also want to try out the ‘false sleeve’ capes from the early 40′s!

  Reply
• puu says:

  September 26, 2012 at 7:41 am

  great post as always. you’re making me jealous of debi’s 1935 wonder all over again! something about the earlier decades of capes strikes me as more romantic than the later versions, although the 60s and 70s have more appeal to me than the 50s versions. but for me, there is nothing classier than a 1930s or 1940s cape pattern….

  Reply
• Karen says:

  September 26, 2012 at 12:37 pm

  Yes, I would wear a cape and actually just made one from a vintage Vogue pattern, c. 1970s. (I just did a post on it a couple of weeks ago.) I have several other cape patterns in my collection, with plans to make at least a couple more – I think they are elegant!!

  Reply
• Dustin says:

  September 27, 2012 at 3:00 am

  I’ve always liked the look of capes, as long as they’re not too restrictive. I was actually obsessed with capes a few years ago, to the point where I wanted to make one for myself based on a ’70s Fabiani pattern from black wool. I never got round to it and my fad has now passed, but I still love cape patterns. Not many people wear them so it’s really novel and distinctive when someone is wearing one. I’m really looking forward to seeing your choice of cape pattern.

  Reply
• Candy De Leon says:

  September 29, 2012 at 8:09 pm

  Thank You for sharing.

  Reply
• PatternVault says:

  September 30, 2012 at 9:31 pm

  Thanks, everyone! With any luck, capes will move beyond a trend

  Reply
• CoudreMode says:

  December 7, 2012 at 6:43 am

  I love capes too but feel the drama of a cape works best in cities and places where one can be seen walking around. Driving while wearing a cape is really annoying!

  Reply