Embrace the Cape-Top Dress: A Must-Have Spring/Summer Trend

Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates from Your Next Shoes. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more details.

High-profile celebrities champion cape-top dresses as the ultimate spring/summer trend, and they’re clearly leading the fashion game.

1. Cropped Capelet Top and Matching Miniskirt

Behati Prinsloo Balenciaga cape top and skirtBehati 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 (Credit: Behati Prinsloo’s Instagram)

Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo gave us our first cape-top dress to judge at her guest appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers.

Behati Prinsloo Alessandra Late Night With Seth MeyersBehati Prinsloo in an Instagram snap of herself and Alessandra Ambrosio on the Late Night with Seth Meyers show – posted on March 18, 2014 (Credit: NBC)

Her leggy, head-to-toe Balenciaga look comprised a reimagined LBD — a cropped capelet top, 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 PumpsBalenciaga 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 wore 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, 2014Chloe Sims flaunts her legs in a fire-engine-red off-shoulder dress at Nobu restaurant in Mayfair, London, England, on March 18, 2014 (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Nikki Nelson)

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 sandalsChloe Sims shows off her sexy feet in Giuseppe Zanotti sandals (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Nikki Nelson)

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 SandalsGiuseppe Zanotti Red Patent Gold Ankle-Strap Sandals, $1,268.90

3. Edgy Cape-Top Dress

Zoë Kravitz is the latest celeb to swear on the cape-top dress’ hot-trend-in-the-making status. She believes in it so much that she even shunned her usual edgy ensembles.

Zoë Kravitz stuns at the premiere of 'Divergent' in a chic cape-top dress – March 19, 2014Zoë Kravitz stuns at the premiere of ‘Divergent’ in a chic cape-top dress – on March 19, 2014 (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Nikki Nelson)

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.

Zoë Kravitz shows off her sexy feet in Balenciaga "Boudoir" sandalsZoë Kravitz shows off her sexy feet in Balenciaga “Boudoir” sandals (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Nikki Nelson)

Zoe also wore a similar off-shoulder look to the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, further proving how much she is into this dress style.

Zoë Kravitz wearing a small golden ring in her septum piercingZoë Kravitz wearing a small golden ring in her septum piercing (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Nikki Nelson)

To get the full benefit of the cape-top dress’ chic, sexy, and girly appeal, choose one with a long, fluttery, and flowy top.

Zoë 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 AwardsZoë 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 (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Nikki Nelson)

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.