History of the cape

I got my inspiration for a cape whilst browsing on tumblr. I often reblog alot of styles of fashion and fell in love with the Chic street style, which then led me onto the Parisian Chic Style. The one idea I fell in love with was the cape jacket. Immediately I wanted to design my own version of this. 

A cape is any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long piece of clothing that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck.

In fashion, the word cape usually refers to a shorter garment and cloak to a full-length version of the different types of garment. Nowadays cape/ponchos are used in raingear, a cape is usually a long and roomy protective garment worn to keep you dry in the rain. These are very efficient and do the job well, so clearly suit the purpose.

Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic returns to fashion, for example, in nineteenth-century Europe. Roman Catholic clergy wear a type of cape known as a ferraiolo, which is worn for formal events outside of a liturgical context. The cope is a liturgical vestment in the form of a cape. Capes are often highly decorated with elaborate embroidery. Capes remain in regular use as rain wear in various military units and police forces, for example in France. A gas cape was a voluminous military garment designed to give rain protection to someone wearing the bulky gas masks used in twentieth century wars.

Victorian capes were very beautifully embellished and worn by alot more women during the Victorian period. Before the Victorian period capes were often only worn my men.  In medieval times capes were worn as a status symbol. Peasents were too poor to own a cape, and could never afford the luxuary fabric they were created from. 

 Capes, especially those made of hard-to-acquire fabrics or in difficult to acquire colors, helped one determine and emphasize their social position. Capes differ in this regard from cloaks in that capes serve a purely social and extraneous function. Whereas cloaks were the clothing equivalent of swiss army knives (could be used as jacket, windbreaker, heavy duty coat, etc) capes were the province of royalty and well-to-do, who could afford to have articles of clothing for purely decorative purposes. And since knights often came from well-connected families, wearing a cape further embellished or reinforced their extreme social status. Capes were removed prior to the actual joust and were never taken into actual battle, unless the knight was particularly vain and snobbish, but that was an exception rather than a rule.

 
Some Knights wore capes that had the House Colors that they belonged to on it. Others wore it as ornamental, others for show of Prestige or class level within their house. During the Crusades the Knights for capes showing the cross of Christianity to distinguish between them and Muslims. Another reason for wearing a cape was to keep your armor clean or unscratched before a Jousting Tournament or just to keep warm. Remember they were wearing 90lbs of metal and that was not warm at all.


In full evening dress, ladies frequently use the cape as a fashion statement, or to protect the wearer or the fine fabrics of their evening-wear from the elements, especially where a coat would crush—or hide—the garment. These capes may be short (over the shoulders or to the waist) or a full-length cloak. Short capes were usually made of fur; however, because fur is less accepted as a fashion accessory in modern times, other expensive materials are substituted for it, with a luxury lining and trim. Typical fabrics used are velvet, silk and satin. Capes are still authorized as an alternative to the more utilitarian trench coat for U.S. Army officers in mess dress, formal evening uniform.


Elvis Presley was famous for his wearing of a customized cape designed by Belew. It was named the  "Aloha from Hawaii" cape. The floor-length cape, designed by Bill Belew, has an eagle design across the back composed of prong-set studs in red, blue and gold on a white ground. The cape is lined in blue satin. Presley worked closely with Belew to design a motif for the cape that represented America for the 1973 concert that was broadcast via satellite. Presley reportedly wanted to use the cape to hide behind during the Aloha intro and then drop the cape to reveal himself to the audience. The completed cape was found in rehearsals to be too heavy for the actual performance. Belew created a shorter version for the actual performance. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Greg Howell of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Graceland.