Finally a fashion person admits that the coat cape is ridiculous

annagybe

Lately there has been huge amounts of fashion street style shots where the wear only has their coat or jacket hanging off their shoulders
EG

http://pinterest.com/pin/371758144210654134/

Wow it looks cool, I wonder how they practical it really is. Manrepeller tells it.

http://www.manrepeller.com/201.....nting.html

12 years ago

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from T-Rex

Tanya

Veteran

Very interesting! I have seen those shots, but always assumed they were quite posed - I mean who goes around with their coat like that? Sooner or later it is going to fall off, not to mention the issue of warmth. I am glad someone seems to have enough of the common sense to admit it.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hah! I drape my coat like that from time to time. I find it quite practical and warm when I'm in and out of stores and it's too warm to wear my coat, but it's really comfortable draped over my shoulders. It doesn't fall off. I've been doing this for years after seeing my late Mum do it.

Clearly, I don't find it ridiculous :).

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12 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Angie, I would like to apologize if it sounded I thought this was ridiculous, I did not mean to offend anyone. What I was trying to say is that I would find it strange to go around the while day wearing one's coat like this, but I can see how it can be practical not having to put it on and off a bunch of times between the stores. Now that you mention it, my Mom also does this at fancy parties when she wants to show of her dress/outfit but is too cold just in it. That is still indoors.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

No need to apologize, sweet Tanya. Your thoughts here are completely understandable! And many would find this type of coat draping a pain and highly impractical. Just like the Daytime Clutch. I on the other hand, find coat draping and a small clutch practical. I find a crossbody bag impractical because it hurts my neck and shoulders - so it takes all sorts in the style world :). I can 100% assure you that I do not drape my coat to look cool. That would be laughable!

12 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I assumed a lot of the "draped coat" shots on fashion blogs (and this one) are merely to show off the lines of the coat better, not necessarily to look cool. It drapes beautifully when there aren't actual human arms "distorting" the silhouette, haha. More of a clothes-hanger effect. I've never really thought about it - or tried it, but I suspect it would be impractical with two little ones hanging off me as well.

12 years ago

jayne

Veteran

I think you need also the right shoulders to make this work and not annoy! My shoulders slope so nothing stays on them!

12 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I figured the etymology of coat draping was a solution to this era's excess of dolman / drop shoulder /batwing / cocoon (etc) sleeves. So yes I admit to coat draping for this reason. And I agree it's imperfect, if falls off my shoulders too so I have to hug the coat when walking - not so chic.

12 years ago

dizzys

Active Member

I do this if I am mildly cold or don't want to carry my jacket if its too warm to wear after its been cold in the day. Same with sweaters. I also do that '80's thing with sweaters when you drape the sweater over your shoulders and fold in the sleeves ( why was this a popular look by the way?)....but only if I don't want to carry it. This usually occurs if I am out and about ....Never an intentional fashion thing.

Didn't girls do that look in the 50's and add a chain to their sweaters to drape them on their shoulders like people do with their coats?

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12 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I think this makes sense when you are dashing in and out of places, car to bar or in Angie's case store to store.

I also believe that in the age of street photography a buttoned up coat is just not as interesting as seeing the whole outfit.

Also, as coats become wider and more voluminous is there an element of figure flattery at play i.e. 'I am wearing this coat with shoulders like a line backer but look at dainty me underneath.'

Reasons one and two I can support wholeheartedly, reason three I can get behind if the climate allows.

12 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

Over the years, seeing these blogger and street style shots, usually taken in Europe, I've thought about posting an "Ask Angie" about this topic. My question would be "Doesn't the wearer risk a stiff breeze or gust of wind lifting the coat right off one's shoulders?" I have a strong shoulder line, so in theory a coat draped like this would have as good a chance of staying put as it would draped over the back of a good solid wooden chair, but I keep thinking that in reality it would catch the wind like a ship's sail at full mast and blow right off. True? So you'd have to have free hands to clutch it if you were walking a block or two and the wind kicked up, right?

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I will put a coat over my shoulders like this in a restaurant or a party if I am chilly, but I've never walked around like this. It just never occurs to me to try it, even though I often get too warm while I'm out shopping, etc.

I figured the fashion bloggers just did it to show off one more item of clothing.

12 years ago

Niefern

Active Member

Actually I think it looks good, although probably it is not very practical in most situations. I once read that wearing a coat like that was a sign of high status, and then I have noticed that some high-status people do actually wear them like that (judges, politicians, etc.).

12 years ago

T-Rex

Veteran

I worn coats this way only while sitting down, just to ward off the chill in a restaurant or something like that. I can't keep them on my shoulders if I am standing or walking. I think I have been assuming that the people who wore them that way were hunching up their shoulders to keep them on, and that always seemed uncomfortable to me. It's kind of surprising that some people find it comfortable and easy to do.

12 years ago

Anonymous

IKWYM Anna. I find it silly when people (or I try to) do something just to look cool that is completely impractical. Like the times I've tried to carefully tie a sweater around my neck but it's really too hot and I want to rip it off, but NO, I have to leave it on because it's part of my outfit. I'm all for coat/cape/sweater draping when it's genuine (like how Angie does it) and too hot to have it on all the way, but chilly enough to warrant the drape or just easier to carry it that way.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I do this if I am sitting down and I am cold, but the minute I move it falls off. I guess that's what happens when you have sloping shoulders.

I agree with Julie, that I think for blog photos, etc, people do this so you can see both the coat and the outfit. Kind of like how they stand pigeon-toed, so you can see both the front and side of the shoe.

12 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I've worn my trench coat like this for years and have never thought it was fashionable, just functional when it was too warm to button up the coat or when I was running between buildings.

I think it probably works best if you have a strong shoulder line and a structured coat. And Claudia's point about wind is a good one; draping doesn't work very well in windy conditions.

But I'm ever so grateful to Anna for pointing out that this is now fashionable; the next time I fling my coat over my shoulders, I'll have a little more kick in my stride as a wannabe fashionista!

12 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I find a big difference between the pin Anna linked to and Angie's picture. You can tell the pinned coat is practically falling off already, while Angie's has a lot more front coverage and looks like it is gripping her body much better. While I don't think this way of wearing a coat is inherently ridiculous, I will wholeheartedly agree that it's silly to *force* a "look" when the garment does not accommodate it and stay put!

12 years ago

T-Rex

Veteran

Dstalksalot, yes! I have a few of those sweater clip/chain combos from my Mom, and one that I apparently wore as a small child with clips that looked like rabbits. Too bad they are covered in real bunny fur.

I have seen exactly one person pull off the sweater tied around the shoulders thing. One. But she was beautiful, and French, and actually managed to look elegant while smoking a cigarette. I am not a fan of smoking, so I must have been impressed.

12 years ago

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