Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner share a passion for archival fashion, extravagant glamour, and increasingly coordinated mother-daughter looks. Their latest red-carpet appearance, however, drew on a particularly fascinating chapter of Hollywood history, connecting the family to Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Scorpio season.
At the Rome Film Festival, where Kardashian was celebrating the season two premiere of Ryan Murphy’s legal drama All’s Fair, Jenner arrived in a dramatic black velvet cape with a hood and ivory silk lining. Glittering scorpion embroidery adorned the front, while long white gloves and a floor-length white gown completed the striking ensemble.
The look paid homage to a Tiziani Roma cape worn by Elizabeth Taylor in 1969, when the Hollywood icon attended Princess Grace of Monaco’s 40th birthday celebrations.
A legendary cape with royal connections
Taylor first wore the theatrical design to Princess Grace’s celebrated Scorpio Ball in Monte Carlo on November 15, 1969. The party honoured Kelly’s astrological sign, and Taylor attended with her husband, Richard Burton, who was also a Scorpio. Taylor herself was a Pisces.
The cape, decorated with diamanté-encrusted scorpions and lined with contrasting ivory moiré silk, was a suitably extravagant choice for the occasion. It reflected the opulent style that had become synonymous with Taylor.
There may also be a connection to one of fashion’s most influential designers. Karl Lagerfeld was working as a freelance designer for Tiziani at the time, and Christie’s has suggested that the cape could have been one of his creations. The possibility makes the piece especially fitting for Jenner, a longtime admirer of Chanel.
In 2011, the original cape was offered at Christie’s as part of the auction of Taylor’s personal collection. It sold for $74,500. Whether Jenner wore the original garment or a faithful reproduction has not been confirmed.
Either way, the choice was particularly appropriate for Jenner, whose birthday falls on November 5, making her a Scorpio herself.
Kim Kardashian brings the look to All’s Fair
The Scorpio reference extends beyond the Rome red carpet. Viewers of All’s Fair may have noticed Kardashian wearing a similar cape in the season two trailer, in character as high-powered divorce lawyer Allura Grant.
In the series, the look is paired with a substantial diamond necklace, echoing the magnificent million-dollar Cartier diamond Taylor wore to Princess Grace’s birthday celebration.
The Kardashian-Jenner family’s fascination with Taylor is well established. At the Academy Museum Gala the previous week, Kardashian wore an archival Balenciaga gown from 1951 that, according to vintage fashion specialist Lily et Cie, evoked the Hollywood legend. Kardashian has also worn diamond jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz that once belonged to Taylor during her appearances on the Balenciaga runway.
A vintage Yves Saint Laurent moment in Rome
For the Rome premiere, Kardashian delivered an archival fashion statement of her own. Working with her new stylist, Law Roach, she wore a leopard-print Yves Saint Laurent Fall 1986 haute couture gown sourced by Lily et Cie, a favourite among vintage collectors and celebrity stylists.
The dress featured a structured sweetheart neckline, crisscrossing lace-up details, and a body-skimming skirt that flared dramatically toward the hem. A matching sweeping shawl added another theatrical element, particularly when Kardashian posed with it draped over her head.
Together, Kardashian’s shawl and Jenner’s velvet hood created another coordinated mother-daughter fashion moment.
Just a day earlier, the pair had demonstrated contrasting approaches to the season’s sparkle. Kardashian wore a cutout, crystal-embellished Erdem design, while Jenner opted for a Chanel skirt suit finished with glittering trim and leopard print.
From a royal birthday celebration in Monaco to a star-studded premiere in Rome, the Scorpio cape has travelled through an extraordinary fashion lineage. Its story brings together Hollywood glamour, royal history, couture craftsmanship, and the Kardashian-Jenner family’s enduring fascination with archival treasures.
For Jenner, the cape was more than a dramatic accessory. It was a fitting tribute to a fashion icon—and a particularly stylish way to celebrate Scorpio season.
Ethan’s penchant for the pulse of the fashion world extends to covering lifestyle topics, offering readers a seamless blend of the latest style updates and lifestyle trends.