I am having a serious Cape Crush these days .
This is not my first Cape Crush and certainly won't be my last! Of course when I think of a classic Cape that can only mean Bonnie! Bonnie Cashin truly was the originator of American Sportswear and she defined cape style with her sweeping bold fabrics,tweeds, houndstooths, plaids, herringbones, checks...in great colors, with her signature details of turnlock closures, buckles, drawstring ties, coolie collars, leather trim, great linings and pockets, fur collars and cuffs...
Bonnie Cashin Cape, Fall 1966. Photograph: Francesco Scavullo via
This season Coach found their way back to their original designer once
again, back to when Coach was Coach! I have gushed on before about my love for Classic Bonnie Cashin Coach. Why they ever left that look is beyond me but apparently the folks at Coach saw how popular "vintage' Coach bags are on sites like ebay, Etsy and 1st Dibs and decided they really should go home again! This year a new line of Legacy bags and Coach Classics including
the perfect Bucket Duffel Bag-I own two from "back in the day" and would not part with them for anything! Online the Coach site even lets you design your own Duffel Bucket bag! As Coach looked back they of course had to incorporate the fabulous
Bonnie style capes. The Cashin Capes will always be a staple of any classic wardrobe.
Capes have been all over the editorial spreads this year and they all owe a dramatic nod and bow to Bonnie!
Katarina Friedrich by Adriano Russo for Vanity Fair Italy October 2012 via
Of course with capes on the brain There must be at least least on the needles so I went in search of Classic Cape knitting patterns from the Bonnie era:
1960s Vintage Cape Knitting Pattern-Etsy
Kelly via Rowan
...and then I took a look at how current knit designers are interpreting Bonnie style:
