Not All Heroes Wear Capes...

As fictitious as superheroes are,  there’s some element of real-life truth behind why so many wore capes:  They were created to offer the wearer a layer of protection. But much  like all the other ubiquitous items that we take for granted today, it’s hard to trace the cape’s time or place of origin—though it’s widely believed that the ancient French word cloke stems from the Latin word cloca, which translates to cape. 

The  earliest recorded instance of a cape dates to a 1066 illustration of a  soldier or shepherd that had a cape draped across his shoulder. Another  one in the 1300s depicted a woman with a cape attached to the collar of  her dress. (Fun fact: during the medieval times, capes were referred to  as ”mentels.”)

Early capes were simply round pieces of cloth that  were attached to the collar, but over time, they evolved into more  complex styles that demanded tailoring and intricate stitching. And  eventually, capes—and their many iterations—were used to signify rank or  occupation. Monks, for example, wore hooded, waist-length styles, while  royalty were presented with double-stitched, fur-trimmed capes made  from velvet, silk, or satin that fell down to their feet as a way to be  protected from the elements (for Elizabeth I, it was to prevent her feet  from getting wet). 

It wasn’t until the  Victorian era that capes, which were now worn by more women than men,  cemented their place in fashion history. And interestingly enough, capes  that were saturated in scarlet red—the bright shade was considered a  powerful color—epitomized good breeding and a high standing in society.   Conversely, capes were also worn as rainwear in the military in Europe  and were seen during wars up to and throughout the 1900s (in the U.S.,  capes are still authorized as an alternative to trench coats for army  officers). 

But as capes became more entrenched in fashion, their utilitarian roots  fell by the wayside. In the 1920s, they were shaped like cocoons and  worn as a companion to evening looks (their roomier fit was less  restricting compared with that of a coat—perfect for fuller dresses). By  the '30s, the line between capes and coats blurred, and a hybrid was  born: a more tailored silhouette, featuring a collar and buttons, but  with familiar cape elements, like slits for the arms (as opposed to  sleeves) and a flouncy hem. Different lengths were also cut to accompany  different dress styles.  

(read more about capes at CR Fashion Book)

Circa 1920 circus cape from England.  

Originally picked by Boudoir Queen.