Decorative Capelets
a simple way to adorn your utilitarian outerwear
Ever since I saw these images of Chloé Harrouche on Francesca’s Belluoimini’s substack, I haven’t stopped thinking about them. It could be that they remind me of “all things cocooned” which have been a long obsession of mine—a ser at this point. Or it could be the Chemena’s Chloé effect—a estar?
It could be the capelet’s fragility, its preciousness against everything that surrounds it. The potential to be ripped at any minute by a bag hardware or a poorly designed door handle.
The capelet is neither practical nor a burden. It doesn’t protect from the elements. But it’s light. Barely there.
It has a clerical quality to it—reminiscent of those chalinas my grandmother Corina would wear to cover her head at Mass when she was a girl. The ones I would use to dress up my Barbies while she wasn’t watching. Carefully so as to not rip the fine French lace.
My mom has kept two of those chalinas, one black and one white. They cover an antique Baby Jesus that belonged to my great-grandmother, which my mom curiously keeps in her closet in a sort of altar.
I asked her to borrow the white one, and this is how I styled it during some of those under-40-degree Tallahassian days:
The chalina as well as Chloé Harrouche’s capelets are also sort of Victorian-looking (Amy Azzarito, feel free to chime in the comments). A little bridal—its conventional femininity offset when paired with a puffer coat and a tough boot.
You know, the friction. Perfectly accomplished by my friend Gigi during Thanksgiving break:
The delicate see-through lace over the “Boston” text emblazoned on her sweatshirt. The texture on her bag. And the hat hanging from her pants, just so. A masterclass in not letting oneself be swallowed by the mundane, in always looking for fantasy. Or at least a glimpse of intentionality.
Gigi’s lace capelet is from a now sold-out Anthropologie shirt. Chloé Harrouche’s piece I haven’t been able to identify, but I assume it’s vintage. So, naturally, I headed to the usual suspects…eBay, Etsy, etc. and gathered a few options for all of you who don’t have a chalina from your grandmothers but still would like to experiment with a decorative, redundant capelet to spice up your everyday utilitarian coats.
The options are:
LACE
BEADED
Remember this Bode collar I showed you a couple of weeks ago? Well, here are some similar (better and accessible) options that could also be worn over a coat for the desired Chloé Harrouche/Gigi effect:
CROCHET
Then there is crochet, summery but worn in the winter for that bit of irony that makes every outfit sort of unexpected. As seen on this brand I found on IG:
But eBay has some great vintage options:
BUT OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE INCLINED, THERE’S THIS:
Hope you find this inspiring <3
Laura
You’re just so incredibly creative! I love how you honour the women and traditions in your life, but in your uniquely beautiful way
Thanks for this - I had seen Francesca post that image, and then forgotten about it and now I am reminded again: I crocheted a capelet a few years ago and maybe now is a good time to revive it!.