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I scored this vintage Ralph Lauren plaid cape this summer in Nashville. It was on sale because no one else wanted to look at a wool cape in 90 degree weather.

This is a poncho. You want to wear it on an angle so the point of the rectangle falls down to the side of your hips. That's so you're creating a bias line across your body rather than a horizontal line across your middle, which cuts you in half. (These amazingly comfortable low wedges are in the October Style Vault).

This cape is technically a cloak with a shoulder cape, but we can call it a cape so people don't sneer.

I will often belt my capes to tame the gobs of fabric. If you do this, you need a wider belt rather than a skinny one. You can wear a cape over dresses, too. It's fine if it is shorter (or longer) than your dress.

Here's my cape - it's huge. I'll probably wear it on a plane as my blanket and then use it as my coat. If I don't belt it, I just throw one side over my shoulder.

Ponchos can be easier to wear than capes because you don't have to worry about what to do with the sides. Just plop it over your head, and you're done. But I do want you to remember to put the point at your hips, on the side, and not down the front.

My navy cashmere poncho (remember, a poncho goes over your head, not around your shoulders) is perfect for a cold fall day before I'm ready to pull out my heavy coats. Wear a long necklace over your poncho for some added interest. (I featured this cashmere poncho in the Style Vault last spring and it was hugely popular; it's been re-introduced for fall, and I just added it to the October Style Notes. You'll also see where you can shop this jewelry.)

Here's that cape again, but I'm wearing it closed. You can see the Batman-style shoulder wrap here pretty well. I also want to point out that it's fine if your capes/ponchos/coats are a different length than your dresses and skirts.

Of course there's a caveat. Your cape or poncho should hit at least right below your hips, and can go as long as you want it to; just not any shorter.

And how about a fur cape? Soooo luxurious. This one was a gift and I wore it for a season, then put it away for a season, and last year I wore it ALL the time and plan to this year, too. The right clothes have a long shelf life when you buy well (or have good friends).

I love the look of a jacket or a cape worn slung over the shoulders. I just added a beautiful fur cape and a fur poncho to the October Style Vault, Style Notes. Both are on sale for half off.

What if you don't have either a poncho or a cape? You can still get the look with an oversized shawl. Wear it like you would a pashmina, with one side longer down the front than the other, then drape it over the opposite shoulder.

An oversized shawl is a great stand-in for a dressy wrap when you don't want to hide your outfit under a coat, or you don't have a cocktail topper. I just added an oversize shawl to the October Style Vault, Style Notes, that comes in camel, grey, black and other colors. Also on sale.