I was recently at a dinner party where someone was wearing the cutest little cape, and I immediately wanted to know where it was from. It turned out to be a British label called Cecilie Telle. It felt like perfect timing because, just days earlier, I had been telling a friend that ponchos and capes were making a comeback, and she almost didn’t believe me.
Not long after that conversation, she sent me a post of Emily Dawn Long wearing her namesake brand’s River Shawl with the caption, “She’s a top. She’s a shawl. She’s a scarf. She’s a blanket”—half-jokingly responding with, “Ponchos and capes are in,” finally getting what I meant.
A couple of weeks later, I saw another one at a birthday party. Then I noticed one in Paloma Wool’s S/S 26 show, which made me take another look through the spring/summer runway shows. Capes and ponchos were in Balenciaga’s, Dior’s, Paloma Wool’s, and Valentino’s collections as well. After multiple sightings, from NYC to Instagram to the runways, my suspicion was confirmed: Ponchos and capes are definitely go-to layers for spring.
See the trend on the runway below, and shop the best ones I’ve found.
On the S/S 26 Runways
(Image credit: Launchmetrics/Spotlight/Valentino)
(Image credit: Launchmetrics/Spotlight/Dior)
(Image credit: Launchmetrics/Spotlight/Balenciaga)
(Image credit: Paloma Wool)
Shop Ponchos & Capes
Since I tend to run cold, even during the warmer months, I like having something cozy to throw on when it cools off in the evenings, when I’m heading into a restaurant, and when I’m taking the train. With capes and ponchos, I love how lightweight and easy to move in they are. I’ve been eyeing Cecilie Telle’s Round Long Poncho and the under-$200 Cashmere-Wool Blend Poncho from J.Crew along with other options from brands such as COS, Massimo Dutti, Nüülee, Pucci, and more.
EMILY DAWN LONG
River Shawl
Cecilie Telle
Round Long Poncho
J.Crew
Cashmere-Wool Blend Poncho
Paloma Wool
No 2847 Boldo
ZARA
Asymmetric Interlock Cape
ZARA
Knit Cape With Contrasting Yarn Scarf
COS
Cropped Trench Coat Cape
Massimo Dutti
Wool Blend Cape With Shirt Collar
MANGO
Asymmetrical Knitted Cape
PULI
Poncho Sweater With Buttons
Quince
Mongolian Cashmere Poncho in Ivory
Nüülee
Namiraa Cashmere Poncho
Frankies Bikinis
Mountain Cable Knit Poncho
Anthropologie
Knit Asymmetric Poncho
Los Angeles Apparel
Flex Fleece Turtleneck Cape
Back From Bali
Sheer Poncho
Monticelli Cashmere
Essential Pure Cashmere Poncho
Reformation
Lilibeth Cape
GUCCI
Horsebit-Detailed Wool and Silk-Blend Cape
CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION
Taylor Wool and Cashmere-Blend Cape
LORO PIANA
Belted Leather-Trimmed Cashmere Cape
Diotima
Winsome Wool Cape
PURDEY
Welbeck Reversible Whipstitched Checked Cashmere-Blend Cape







