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Apart from the string used as a tie at the neck, there are no fastenings on a cape. A cape won’t meet in the middle, though, so it will always be open. Normally reaching only as far as your hips or mid-thigh area, a cape is a lighter, shorter version of a cloak.Īlthough capes usually only cover the back of your body, they sometimes have enough fabric to reach the front. Capes fasten at the neck, rest on the shoulders, and cascade down your back. What Is a Cape?Ī cape is a piece of fashionable outerwear similar in style to a cloak. Nothing is impossible when you wear a cloak.
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It gives the wearer the appearance of calmness and being in control. In contrast to the cape, a cloak is both practical and functional. A cloak is a perfect garment to snuggle into and keep the evil Sauron at bay.Īll of this embraces the cloak’s identity as a utility garment designed to keep the wearer cozy and dry.
Difference between cloaks and capes full#
A dark and gloomy trail full of foreboding. Hobbits from the shire wore cloaks on their long journey to Mordor. Then there’s the Lord of The Rings series. Still, whether it’s a robe or a cloak, it’s the ideal garment to add magic to a wizard series. Although technically, they were robes as they had sleeves. They used cloaks as part of the Hogwarts school uniform. One such work of fiction that brought the cloak back to people’s awareness was the Harry Potter series. The cosplay group gets their love of the cloak from TV, film, and fantasy fiction. These days they are only worn by those into history bounding, historical re-enactment, and cosplay. Although for front-fastening cloaks, there are sometimes small slits for the hands to come out.Ĭloaks have fallen to the wayside of fashion over time. Most have a fully functional hood to keep out the rain and are sleeveless. Some cloaks end at the calf level, while others touch the ground. To be a cloak, it has to encompass your body from neck to toe. Less likely to travel in carriages or by horse, the fabric in their cloak would have protected them from the elements and the dirt of the road. Their cloaks would have been plainer and more practical. Their cloaks would have been ornately decorated with embroidery and fancy embellishments. Royalty, for instance, would have used fine fabrics or velvet. The material used would differ depending on if it was for a wealthy person or someone of lower standing. Although it would have had the same basic design regardless of social class, the type of fabric would have set different types of people apart. Many cloaks are made from heavy fabrics like wool due to the insulating properties it possesses.ĭuring medieval times, the cloak would have been the go-to garment for people from all walks of life. It’s a bit like wearing a woolen blanket. They can be pulled tight across the front for added warmth. Some military dress uniforms, Ladies cover-ups for eveningwear, Superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder WomanĪ cloak is a whole-body covering designed to be worn in cold or wet weather. History bounders, cosplayers, fantasy fiction characters like Hobbits and Harry Potter Sleeveless but sometimes has slits at the front to slide the arms through Can be made from velvet to indicate wealth and status Sometimes has buttons or clasps down the frontįastened at the neck with a tie holding it on the shouldersįully functional hood able to protect the wearer from the elementsĭepends on the cape although the hood is usually just decorative rather than practicalĬalf-length or below the knee. We’ll go into more detail later in the article.įastened at the neck with a tie or clasp. The following table gives a brief overview of the properties. Let’s take a look at some of the other key points that help identify your garment like a cloak or a cape. Coupled with an off-the-shoulder ball gown, they create an image of romance and style. Designed to be fashionable rather than practical, a cape is a great way to keep your shoulders warm on chilly evenings. They go down as far as the thigh area and only cover the back of your body.
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A traditional piece of outerwear cloaks keep your whole body warm.Ĭapes are a lot shorter. In some cases, a cloak will touch the floor.
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Cloaks cover your body around from the neck down to the lower leg. Both garments are designed to keep the top half of the wearer dry and warm.Įach item of clothing has a particular function it’s better suited to. There isn’t much to choose from when it comes to differences between the cloak vs cape. Is It Socially Acceptable to Wear a Cape?.Do People Still Wear Capes and Cloaks Anywhere?.What Is the Difference Between Cloak and Cape?.
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