Just in at RARE vintage: Pierre Balmain 1960s

There are capes and then there are capes.  This is The Cape.  

Pierre Balmain haute couture 1960s.  It has a wonderful 60s French haute couture feeling of crispness, newness and incredible French chic.  The cape actually has a dropped butterfly sleeve - so no simple slits - it is totally unlike anything I have seen before and soooo beautiful!

1960s Pierre Balmain cape available for purchase at RARE vintage.  Email info@rarevintage.com or phone 212.581.7273

love, kisses and vintage, Juliana

The Luxe Bohemian: An Hermes Cape

Cashmere.  Coziness.  Cape.  Hermes...

My Christmas Wish List, well, really, I don't know about you, but I pretty much have a year round wish list tab running...  there is always something...  but right now, when it is Christmas wish list time (which means someone else buys it for you : )), I would wish for this luxe bohemian take on the cape by Hermes.  It has the color of curry in a luxurious cashmere and decadent leather fringing by Hermes.  I think it is most likely Martin Margiela for Hermes circa late 1990s but if anyone reading this knows for certain, please let me know.

I would wear it with a cozy sweater, a skinny jean, a great bag and voilá!  The quiet statement piece...

Hermes cashmere late 1990s. Martin Margiela for Hermes. Photos by RARE vintage

For more information or to purchase, please email info@rarevintage.com or phone 212.581.7272

Capes are for L♡VERS

Capes are for lovers because cape lovers love a good snuggle.  That is a lot of love in that last sentence!  Capes are cozy and they are also cool.  Check out a few fabulous street style photos before seeing our two incredible capes:

Our first cape is very Phoebe Philo for Celine but in fact is a Madame Gres cape.  Madame Gres adored volume but it is a volume that is light and when worn there is the surprise of the gorgeous chevron interior.

Madame Gres chevron print cape in a dark raspberry

Our second cape is a delightful Pauline Trigere with a wonderful peek of houndstooth check.  I love that both of these capes have a somewhat simple exterior and then a whimsical interior.  It's like icing on the cape!

Pauline Trigere houndstooth print cape.

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Timeless and Classic: A YSL Cape

Capes have been around forever and they always pop up as a trend every few years.  Part of the reason is because they are cozy and you can wear any type of sleeve under them.  Coats have had such narrow sleeves for awhile now that if you wear a little jacket under them, you have to take your jacket off and put it on when you take your coat off.  Which can be a bit annoying.  But with a cape you could have on the most fantastically complicated Comme des Garcons piece underneath it and not feel stuffed like a sausage.  

Capes are also a little mysterious and intriguing.  You always feel a little like Anna Karenina rushing out to meet Vronsky or Catherine meeting Heathcliff on the moors.

It is a little late in the season but when I saw this amazing cape from Yves Saint Laurent in a beautiful, luxurious mohair with an attached black velvet capelet and soft full collar that stands around the face I knew that I had to have it for RARE.

Isn't it exciting that the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent will be curating a show of the Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche line next year in Paris?!  It will be very interesting to see what ready to wear pieces they choose from the archive.  Right now they have the largest show yet of YSL couture including drawings, photographs and films.  There are many reasons to go to Paris, an auction at Drouot, a glass of wine on a sunny day at the Café les Deux Magots, a little shopping for the children at Bon Ton, a little shopping for me... oh yes (sorry!  so easily distracted!) and the Saint Laurent exhibit at the Petit Palais.

1970s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche mohair and velvet cape.  One size (will fit many!)

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