High-profile celebrities have been making the case for the cape-top dresses as a legit spring/summer trend, and by the looks of things, they’re on their way to winning.
1. Cropped Capelet Top and Matching Miniskirt
Behati Prinsloo’s Instagram snap of the head-to-toe Balenciaga outfit she wore to the Late Night with Seth Meyers show – posted on March 18, 2014
Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo gave us our first cape-top dress to judge at her guest appearance on the ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ show.
Behati Prinsloo in an Instagram snap of herself and Alessandra Ambrosio on the Late Night with Seth Meyers show – posted on March 18, 2014
Her leggy, head-to-toe Balenciaga look was composed of a reimagined LBD — a cropped capelet top and a matching miniskirt — and a pair of mesh-and-suede pumps.
On her Instagram account, Behati called the ensemble her “favorite outfit ever.” Our verdict? We’re 100% guilty of being in complete agreement with her.
Balenciaga Mesh d’Orsay Pumps, $895
2. Fire-Engine-Red Off-Shoulder Dress
‘The Only Way Is Essex’ star Chloe Sims took the cape-top dress for a spin on a night out with friends. She went for the va-va-voom vixen vibe in her super short, extra swingy, fire-engine-red off-shoulder dress.
Chloe Sims flaunts her legs in a fire-engine-red off-shoulder dress at Nobu restaurant in Mayfair, London, England, on March 18, 2014
Not content with the dress’ innate sexiness, Chloe added huge hoop earrings, bold red lips, and spicy red Giuseppe Zanotti sandals.
Chloe Sims shows off her sexy feet in Giuseppe Zanotti sandals
Her look is a bit over-the-top for our tastes, but it perfectly demonstrates how the cape-top dress can quickly jump from style to style.
Giuseppe Zanotti Red Patent Gold Ankle-Strap Sandals, $1,268.90
3. Edgy Cape-Top Dress
Zoe Kravitz is the latest celeb to swear on the cape-top dress’ hot-trend-in-the-making status. Apparently, she believes in it so much that she even shunned her usual edgy ensembles for it.
Zoe Kravitz flaunts her hot legs at the premiere of Summit Entertainment’s Divergent at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on March 19, 2014
At the premiere of her new movie, ‘Divergent’, Zoe went for a delicate and girly Balenciaga silk off-shoulder dress paired with lingerie-inspired Balenciaga “Boudoir” sandals.
Zoe Kravitz shows off her sexy feet in Balenciaga “Boudoir” sandals
Zoe also wore a very similar off-shoulder look to the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which further proves how much she is into this dress style.
Zoë Kravitz wearing a small golden ring in her septum piercing
To get the full benefit of the cape-top dress’ chic, sexy, and girly appeal, choose one with a long, fluttery, and flowy top.
Zoe Kravitz in a white dress with black floral embellishments from the Balenciaga Spring 2014 collection and sparkling black peep-toe booties at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach in Santa Monica on March 1, 2014
The more fluttery, the better! We love the tie-back style, the off-shoulder cutout, and the flutter-sleeve variations of these cape-top dresses:
Gamiss Cape-Top Chiffon Dress, $45.70 / Finejo Geo-Pattern Off-Shoulder Dress, $10.25 / Finders Keepers “Friend of Mine” Dress, $225. 83
Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Behati Prinsloo's Instagram / Nikki Nelson