Evening cape
Clothes for Women
Inventory number
2018.5.14.4.CW.CT.C1910.FRAuthor:
Paul POIRET (French, Paris 1879–1944 Paris)Description
Very rare evening cape made of brown and apricot color velvet. Three circular stays are sewed into the wide hooded collar to build this imposing and splendid head contour.The cape may be the oldest piece of clothing, but over time it has evolved from a simple fur wrapped around the shoulders to an elegant and sophisticated outerwear that has adapted to different styles and situations. Cape designed with a voluminous, hooped hood that can accommodate even the fullest of hair styles. Hoops sewn into the fabric of the hood prevent it from damaging the hairstyle. This type of hood came into fashion in the 18th century, when ladies' hairstyles reached impressive proportions – like the carriages with folding roofs, the calèches, and huge, hooped bonnets were nicknamed calashes. Paul Poiret revisited this episode of fashion history at the beginning of the 20th century, creating the elegant orange velvet-lined 'calash' hood, which became the most glamorous element of an otherwise restrained, simple cape.