When it comes to red carpet dressing, the caped shoulder is quite a surprise.

The silhouette is a great success when it’s done well. This was evident on several occasions, including Kate Beckinsale in an icy crepe sheath and Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a dove gray Oscar de La Renta at And Just Like That premiere. 

A cape offers the obvious advantage of shielding the upper arms, which so many women fear don’t pass the muscle tone test. And they’re a great option for winter weddings and parties, too, where extra fabric is welcome to keep the cold at bay.

Even more, they are elegant and regal. These dresses are mature. Although they make a bold statement, it is more sensual than sexual. They are the perfect example of a magical super-hero.

Kate Beckinsale’s sleek, white Ursula dress, which she wore at the British Independent Film Awards, is another triumph for British designer Jenny Packham, who is on a fabulous roll when it comes to red-carpet glamour.

The gown is slimly cut and conceals everything in the right proportions. The fabric follows Kate’s body rather than shrouds it in a voluminous tent.

Kate Beckinsale¿s sleek, white Ursula dress, which she wore at the British Independent Film Awards, is another triumph for British designer Jenny Packham

Nicolas Ghesquiere at Louis Vuitton, who designed Bond girl Lea Seydoux¿s No Time To Die premiere gown ¿ involving a staggering 29,000 sequins and 8,800 glass beads ¿ adores a caped shoulder, which fits into his penchant for futuristic style

Left: Kate Beckinsale’s sleek, white Ursula dress, which she wore at the British Independent Film Awards, is another triumph for British designer Jenny Packham. Right: Nicolas Ghesquiere at Louis Vuitton, who designed Bond girl Lea Seydoux’s No Time To Die premiere gown — involving a staggering 29,000 sequins and 8,800 glass beads — adores a caped shoulder, which fits into his penchant for futuristic style

The cape detail at the shoulder is narrow and cleverly draped and — crucially — doesn’t disguise the fit of the bodice, emphasising Kate’s slim waist.

It’s the gold standard of caped gowns and follows on from another of Packham’s recent triumphs which she created for the Duchess of Cambridge’s appearance at the Bond premiere in September — a glittering, gold, Hollywood-worthy gown.

Emerald Fennell, actor and director, looked amazing in a Jenny Packham midnight blue cape when she went to the Golden Globes in January. 

Packham continues the tradition of British designers like Bruce Oldfield or Catherine Walker who are great at designing beautiful gowns. 

There’s nothing zany. The fashion world is not predicting a change. There’s simply immaculate, delicious glamour.

Her deep understanding of fabrics and how to place light-catching sequins and crystals gives the cape design its best look.

Packham isn’t the only designer that offers this type of gown for gala events.

A cape is one of Stella McCartney’s go-to silhouettes in her evening wear collections, which are worn by a roster of celebrity clients ranging from Olivia Colman to the Duchess of Sussex.

Jennifer Lawrence posed in golden Dior this week, demonstrating how useful these dramatic shoulders can be for looking sensational while heavily pregnant

Actor and director Emerald Fennell also dazzled in a Jenny Packham midnight blue caped number when she attended the Golden Globes earlier in the year

Left: Jennifer Lawrence looked sensational in this Dior gold Dior dress. Right: Actor and director Emerald Fennell also dazzled in a Jenny Packham midnight blue caped number when she attended the Golden Globes earlier in the year

Nicolas Ghesquiere at Louis Vuitton, who designed Bond girl Lea Seydoux’s No Time To Die premiere gown — involving a staggering 29,000 sequins and 8,800 glass beads — adores a caped shoulder, which fits into his penchant for futuristic style.

Jennifer Lawrence posed in golden Dior this week, demonstrating how useful these dramatic shoulders can be for looking sensational while heavily pregnant.

But a word of warning — capes can be tricky. Anyone who wants to imitate the High Street look should ensure the fabric drapes rather than flaps.

High heels are also mandatory; you can’t be a caped crusader in a pair of trainers.

And don’t attempt the short versions — unless Batman’s Robin is your style hero.

Elegant. Ethereal. It’s no wonder that they are my most popular product   

Here, British designer JENNY PACKHAMThe fascinating background of this very British garment is revealed…

Golden girl: The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham

Jenny Packham: Golden girl, The Duchess Of Cambridge

What was my first crush on a cape? My first cape crush was probably around ten years ago when I saw Christopher Lee play Count Dracula, in Hammer Horror.

As he floated above my prey, I was spellbound. He then took off, and swept the cape with blood red lines over her as he headed for the jugular. Wow and ouch, it was all one.

My childhood was filled with capes. Superman, Spider-Man and Wonder Woman were some of my favorites.

Capes were the only coats you could wear to fly through the sky and then land on your feet, striding towards the baddies with style — your cape unruffled, flowing in your wake as you throw that powerful punch.

However, they were also worn by the criminals. There wasn’t — and still isn’t — a single cinematic, swashbuckling highwayman who would get on his horse without one.

It’s no wonder it has been the coat of choice for women and men for thousands of years.

This simple cover-up has been a symbol of elegance, mystery, and confidence since the moment it was first woven.

From the must-have garment of the prehistoric era, to Lady Gaga’s swirling pop of purple chiffon at the House Of Gucci premiere last month, our love for the cape has continued uninterrupted. This is drama-filled drama: the cape, the king and queen of coats.

The Queen has many capes, mostly velvet and lavishly embroidered (given how voluminous they are, I wonder whether there is a dedicated royal ‘capery’ at the palace to store them all).

The most popular cape is used for stately and religious events. They are a great way to make an entrance. This fabric’s vastness is ideal for decorative symbolism.

So given their reputation for high drama, it’s little wonder that they are a red-carpet designer’s dream.

Capely perfection to me is the glamourous flow of billowing, chiffon with shoulders covered in crystals and the fabric falling into a sparkling waterfall.

Or an elegantly draped crepe, as seen on my Ursula gown — worn to a film awards event by Kate Beckinsale earlier this week.

Capes can look great on any age and are a smart choice for Hollywood stars. They also work well with sleeves for those who have more control over their arms, such as myself.

These are the kind of things that I want to incorporate into all my gowns. With just a couple of sweeping pencil lines, a dress with a cape incorporated transforms into something magical, ethereal and — just as important — a best seller.

Capes are a hot trend that is not slowing down. No matter how long or short they may be, their appeal to us is all about the possibility of being able to swirl into events.

Like all of my design over the years I’m inspired every day by early cinema. The archive of capes that capture the imagination is amazing.

Claudette Colebert wore the cape to all capes as Cleopatra at the 1934 Extravaganza.

But I must be honest; Errol Flynn as Robin Hood — a man wearing both tights and a cape — remains my ultimate caped icon.

How To Make A Dress by Jenny Packham is out now (Ebury, £14.99).