Cape Crusade

I hate to admit it but I've all but abandoned my search for the perfect cape. Inspired by Lord of the Rings and Sherlock Holmes, I've spent the past couple of weeks dreaming about a forest green woolen cape with plaid lining and a fur collar. I've posted on Facebook, pinned on Pinterest and trawled Etsy and Fabricworm for suitable materials. I even had a skilled seamstress lined up who has drawn up a draft pattern and everything (hi Rosey dear!).

So, why? Well, a number of reasons (including cost), but in the end, I've determined that I just need to give the whole cape caper a break.

Recall with me my futile search for my Dream Jacket in my 20s. I was looking for (funnily enough) a knee-length, dark green, 70s style jacket. I had spied one in a (closed) shop window on K Road, Auckland while on holiday and become fixated with finding one like it once back in Oz.

There were many 'interim' jackets - brown suede from Glebe Markets, brown leather from a random Op Shop in Auckland, dark brown vinyl/velvet from Glebe again and more recently, a navy leather jacket from Retro Star on Flinders St.

When I took the navy jacket to the counter at Retro Star, I said to the saleswoman "You know, this is so close to my Dream Jacket except it's navy instead of green..."
To which she replied "I like navy, it's smart. But we do get green jackets in a bit so you should come back!" (Great sales tactic, hey?) "And anyway, that's what makes it a Dream Jacket, isn't it?"

Interim 'cape'

I left, thinking about the wisdom of the op shop checkout chick. I've come to think that she is right. Anything that we spend lots of time and energy dreaming about is probably not going to be that satisfying once we actually get our mitts on it. The beauty of the Op Shop find is that you stumble across it, like hidden treasure in a dusty dungeon filled with other people's offcasts. Then it becomes an anecdote when you receive compliments on the coat/shoes/bag: "Oh, this old thing? I found it in an Op Shop on King St and paid 20 bucks for it..."

Anyway, where God shuts a door, somewhere He opens a window (thankyou Reverend Mother). This week I found an 'interim' cape - well it's a woolen jacket thing, plaid and a bit cape-ish. And warm, and covers my growing belly (baby #3 being cooked as we speak). And it was on sale, so everyone's happy.

For now.

How about you? What's your Dream Thing - be it clothing, household appliance, electronic device or miscellaneous item? How did you feel when you finally got it? I'd love to hear all about it!