Cape

Large sleeveless mantle, with two side openings for the arms, and a hood, often lined with fur. In the early 1800s, men would wear it as an evening mantle, black with a red lining and a silk collar. Its width allowed women to use it over crinoline skirts.It is often made with precious fur and worn with an evening dress instead of a stole. A variant is the pelerine, which falls only to the waist. Worn on top of an overcoat, it can also be removed. It was the garment of pilgrims and the uniform of French policemen. Following the ups and downs of fashion, the cloak has often been relaunched throughout the twentieth century.