Fashion always tells a story, and if we read the subtle cues of design, we can figure out what a garment is really saying. The cape dress is no exception. Worn by the likes of Selena Gomez [1], Meghan Markle [2], and Natalie Portman [3], this defiant design detail will be all over this year's red carpets.
While puff-sleeve dresses started out strong for 2020 — being the most popular design silhouette at the 2020 Golden Globes [4] — the cape dress is posing some serious competition. Selena wore a pink Patou cape dress to the 2020 Hollywood Beauty Awards while pushing press for her comeback album Rare. Meghan also wore a cape dress recently — two of them, as a matter of fact. The Duchess of Sussex wore a red Safiyaa gown [5] to the 2020 Mountbatten Festival of Music and a green Emilia Wickstead number to the 2020 Commonwealth Day Service, significant choices for her final rounds as a senior royal. Portman also wore a Dior cape dress as a silent protest [6] against the 2020 Academy Awards snubbing women directors.
It seems that when these celebrities wore a cape dress for a public appearance, it was a display of strength and support for themselves or for fellow women. Natalie was showing defiance against the patriarchy, Meghan was giving the monarchy a dignified farewell, and Selena was reminding her fans that despite her health complications, she isn't going anywhere.
Ahead, take a closer look at the sartorial superwomen who are bringing the cape dress to the red carpet.
Selena Gomez at the 2020 Hollywood Beauty Awards
Selena Gomez [8] wore a pink Patou cape dress [9] to the 2020 Hollywood Beauty Awards.
Selena Gomez at the 2020 Hollywood Beauty Awards
Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Day Service 2020
Meghan Markle [10] wore a green Emilie Wickstead cape dress [11] for her final engagement as a senior royal family member.
Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Day Service 2020
Meghan Markle at the 2020 Mountbatten Festival of Music
Meghan Markle [12] wore a red Safiyaa cape dress [13] to the 2020 Mountbatten Festival of Music.
Meghan Markle at the 2020 Mountbatten Festival of Music
Natalie Portman at the 2020 Academy Awards
Natalie Portman [14] wore a black Dior cape dress [15] embroidered with the names of snubbed women directors to the 2020 Academy Awards.
Natalie Portman at the 2020 Academy Awards
