Why don't we wear capes/cloaks anymore?

balderdash@lemmy.zip to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 438 points –

I understand that modern outer layers are more functional. A leather jacket, for example, can be dressed up or down so as to be worn in a variety of situations. It is also better at keeping you warm.

However, I think capes/cloaks are more aesthetically pleasing garments. It also feels good to have the fabric flowing around you as you walk. But what do you think?

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The actual reason that we don't is pretty much because of the invention of sewing machines. Once sewing machines were widespread, making coats became sooo much cheaper than they had been. Coats need a lot of tightly made seams which took time and so made coats very expensive. With sewing machines, making these seams was vastly quicker and more reliable.

Coats win over cloaks in so many ways because you can do things with your arms without exposing them or your torso to the rain and cold: impossible with a cloak.

Capes were the short versions - and intended to cover the shoulder and back without seams that might let the rain in, but with the new machine made seams, they were not needed either.

The really big change was when it became affordable to outfit armies with coats instead of cloaks or capes. At that point all the caché and prestige that was associated with military rank disappeared from cloaks and capes and they were suddenly neither useful not fashionable.

Nowadays, of course, they are no longer what your unfashionable dad would have worn: they are quite old enough to have regained a certain style.

The other big reason is that the world is cleaner. Capes and cloaks also protect the whole body from mud/dust and can be easily removed. Riding a horse or walking on dirt roads is a lot dirtier than riding in cars or walking on a sidewalk

The original type of coat that would have been worn when riding was the Great Coat - which did cover the whole body, down to the ankles (and included the front of the body much better than a cloak). Those would have been worn by military officers, particularly.

Those were fine for riding, but then if you were off your horse and end up in the newly developed trench warfare - starting from around the US civil war onwards - you ended up wading through mud which got caked to the coat. So then they started cutting the coats shorter and they became Trench Coats.

you ended up wading through mud

Horse shit. In cities, you waded through horse shit.

As someone who has done extensive reenactment in period dress, sometimes in towns dedicated to realism that banned cars and relied on horses for travel, you wouldn’t believe how terrible even a dozen carriages and a few dozen private horses can be to your skirts/trousers and shoes. Especially when it rains.

People sometimes make light of women in the past who changed their outer clothes two or three times a day, but if you were in town, your attire would be absolutely foul after a few hours in the same outer skirt. A long cloak helped immensely to keep your skirts or trousers from soaking up horse sewage.

Once cars took over, that stopped being a problem, cloaks weren’t as desirable as they obscured fashion, and coats became shorter and more for protection from the weather than from horse shit.

There was a bit of military influence, but that was more about fashion than functional influence.

e: clarification

Vogue tells a different history of the trench coat, claiming its origins are actually raincoats for active well-to-do British gentlemen:

https://www.vogue.fr/fashion/article/vogue-encyclopaedia-the-history-of-the-trench-coat

The "British Warm" was the intermediary as I understand it: a shorter greatcoat favoured by Britsh officers in WW1. The Trenchcoat itself was modeled to fit over, accompany or replace this.

For a military officers that are practically nobility would have more and different clothing options than the average citizen.

I know someone who wears a cloak cape. They explained this to me how practical it was back 300 years ago that you could wear your nightly blanket.

I asked them if that was a situation they ran into often while living in Brooklyn. Having to bed down for the night with your cloak.

Or just living in New York where it's cold in the winter. It's a blanket you wear over your coat. You're not supposed to wear it as your only piece of outer clothing.

100% of the cloaks and capes I've seen IRL have been as part of either someone's weird cosplay or some neckbeard/weeb shit. I think that, a bit like the fedora, they're just sorta ruined now due to the people who wear them.

They've just morphed. A poncho is basically a cloak that doesn't open. A long dress coat is basically a cloak with formal buttons.

A long dress coat is basically a cloak with formal buttons.

Also sleeves, which are the main difference anyway

I think this is why the cloak died. Sleeves are just so useful.

They can kind of get in the way though. Cloaks could give your arms more freedom of movement if you really need it. I could see a resurgence in military and/or trade uses.

I wear a Fedora sometimes - AC can get cold and my hair isn't as thick as it used to be... it just seems easier than converting to Judaism to be able to wear a Yamaka:-P.

Surely you know there are other options than just "fedora" or "yarmulke."

Cowboy hat? :-P

img

But I am open to suggestions if you have any...

In addition to the usual ubiquitous collection of random baseball caps, I also have a top hat.

I figure if I'm going to be lumped in with somebody, I'd rather it be the steampunkers than the neckbeards.

Here's a few that I think are probably more fashionable than a fedora:

Baseball cap, pork pie hat, knit hat (e.g. skull cap, watch cap, beanie), docker cap, scally cap, newsboy hat, ivy cap, ascot, bucket hat.

That's a great list.

And almost every one of those is likely to work better for OP, work with more outfits, etc, and have less of a stigma than a fedora.

Just a quick note that in the USA, unless there is a sports logo on it, cap = MAGA hat, sorry, dems the rules.

cap

But Breaking Bad hat, now that is a damn fine argument that you made there!? :-P

it

Just out of curiosity because I see signs for it all the time, we went to Boot City yesterday.

The first thing you see when you go through the door as the overpowering smell of leather hits you is a massive row of cowboy hats that just keeps going and going.

It was not a pleasant experience overall. This was amusing, however:

I was hearing Jeff Foxworthy in my head. "If your living room furniture is made of cow horns..."

AC can get cold and my hair isn't as thick as it used to be... it just seems easier than converting to Judaism to be able to wear a Yamaka:-P.

I pity Americans who don't just wear a touque (or as you might call it, a beanie). Honestly it's the perfect hat for cold weather. Here in Canada, basically everyone wears one for the half of the year where it's cold enough to warrant a hat. Some people are fancy and wear an Ushanka hat or a Nordic hat in the winter, but 99% just wear a touque.

I've lived all over America and people wear beanies

Indeed I wear a beanie the whole winter, whenever I can get away with it.:-D But in 100 degree weather, it wouldn't work quite as well...:-P.

Yeah I'd imagine if it's so hot that water is boiling you probably can't wear a hat comfortably

Hehehe, Oh Canada... :-) Don't you know that you are using the correct "wrong" temperature system - the only sensible one is based on how many pinkies were on the toe of the king's son's aunt's cousin's horse 200 years ago. I am sure you will agree with me that nothing else makes close to that degree of common sense - on THAT much at least we are SURE to agree! 🙃

But since you're a lemmy user you probably fall into that bracket anyway

Wear a beret.

If necessary, affect a French accent.

Or throw people off by affecting a Texas Twang or Southern Drawl.

Can't really pull off a fedora (or similar) without a suit that matches, otherwise, yeah, you just look like a neckbeard or maybe a Michael Jackson cosplayer. If you aren't dressing in formal attire, consider a baseball cap, beanie, hood, cabbie hat, or even a stetson if it's up your alley.

The issue is it has to fit the overall outfit. A fedora can still look really good if you have a well tailored suit to match it, while most of the things that look good with a cloak are, frankly, uncomfortable to wear everyday compared to modern clothing. This is why it's essentially only done for cosplay and larping nowadays, looking like that is fun every now and then but not so fun that you'd want to go about daily life dressed that way.

Alternately, maybe cool people should start wearing them and then they could get rid of the stigma.

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It's because of cars and trains

Horses and to a lesser extent bikes let you just throw the cape out behind you as you ride, but if you're riding in a chair, you have to bunch it up as you're getting in so you don't accidentally auto-asphyxiate yourself with the titanic cheeks you inherited from yo mama

I feel like capes went out of style around the industrial revolution for the very reasons outlined in The Incredibles by Edna as to why she doesn't design costumes with capes.

Definitely wouldn't want my cape to get caught in a car or train door.

Women can get away with it. My coworker has a beautiful full-length, wool winter cape she wears just for every-day. I bet men could, too, with a suit on a formal occasion.

Yep, I have shorter ones for more casual outfits and full length for dressy events. They never seem “costumey” when they go with the overall look. I’m a woman in a metro area though.

I bet men could, too, with a suit on a formal occasion.

I disagree. I think some men could pull this off, but it would mostly come across as cartoony in most circumstances. Even 3-piece suits are seen as too formal/old-fashioned by people.

Where I could see cloaks looking fashionable and natural is in milsurp/gorpcore inspired outfits. Something like This cloak is pretty damn interesting and would look just fine On this outfit Or this one

I'm in an urban center where you still see a fair amount of suits downtown during business hours. Honestly, capes or cloaks with the outfits you linked I would just assume were blankets and I'd expect to be asked for change...I mean, I see that already, every day. It's an "interesting" look alright.

Am I that out of touch with fashion lmao.

I have a wool plaid cape I got from a woman's estate sale but it isn't necessarily gendered, though as a man I haven't been brave enough to wear it outside of the house yet except to a Burns supper where I got a lot of compliments. My coworkers are used to seeing me wear it on video throughout winter

Edit: after some googling it may be a cloak and not a cape since it is full length. I wear it as a sweater replacement

Because we don't ride horses anymore.

This is the real answer. For many more questions too. One day in the distant future people will ask why don't we ---- anymore and the answer will be because we don't drive cars anymore.

How does a cape help when riding a horse?

You need to stay warm, but you can't have your legs blocked by something like a trench coat (unbuttoned cowboy duster excluded), since you need them free to mount and sit on a horse. A cape keeps you warm, but keeps your front lower body free to ride, and lays flat against the horses back when mounted. Since we ride in cars instead of on horses now, the design isn't very useful anymore. A long cape will get in the way when getting into a car, and when sitting down in a car seat. Jackets and coats are more practical now.

sitting in cars with a cape sucks.

Do you know from experience or is this speculation? I believe you, I'm just curious.

yep, ive had a full length cloak since childhood and wear it when im home or in the office but i rarely travel with it on.

i got it because of lord Nikon from Hackers.

But you’d take the cape off to drive though, like any big ass winter coat

Who says we don't? I wore one out tonight.

That looks like a hooded jacket...

https://dustrial.net/collections/deepfleece-cloaks

M8! You just payed $160 for a hoodie without a zipper!

Edit: it does look pretty sick though.

Those are all jackets, 100%. Doesn't matter what the seller calls them, those are clearly jackets because sleeves.

You seem like an absolutely charming and fun person to spend time around.

Very much so, thanks for noticing though: It's always lovely to hear.

Cool jacket by the way.

As an avid cloak lover, I can attest that the reasons others state about practicality are pretty much spot on. That said, my 3/4 round wool cloak with a cotton liner is the warmest and coziest winter garment I have ever owned. I have three of them, and a lighter blue velvet one for dressy occasions in spring/fall.

Getting into a car with a big cloak though is tougher than with a normal coat. Once you get the hang of it, it's not a problem, but it does take some practice! I do love my cloaks and I would love to see them make a comeback though!

Do you have a preferred make or place to obtain said cloaks? As someone who has always loved them

Wear whatever you want.

People mostly used to wear cloaks to keep the elements off of them.

Lots of mud and dirt from horseback riding back then--also rain.

We're indoors a lot more now. Most of us don't work outside and our transportation, mainly automobiles, are protected from the elements.

As the function became irrelevant, so did the clothing choice.

Yeah, the function for sure; along with overcoats and any outermost layer. Chivalry maintained men walked on the curb side bc horse shit and piss flowed freely in the gutters and the coat prevented splash. Same for commuter trains and subways. Nasty shit all over before electric.

A lot of superstition like bad luck putting your hat on the bed came from this. It was dirty, bring it home and you got sick from it. Logical superstition.

I'll catch myself feeling superstitious, check myself with science, then realize it's gross and get my nasty ass outside hat off my bed.

Gotta take it off before you got to the bathroom or it touches the toilet

You're implying that you leave your coat on to use the toilet, is this the case?

Weird kids ruined it

I graduated high school a few years before Columbine, which was good because my friends and I all wore black trench coats in school all the time.

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Cars (and seatbelts) are the biggest reason I see. Cloaks:

  • get caught in the door,
  • take up a lot of space,
  • get tangled in seatbelts,
  • limit seatbelt effectiveness by padding the wearer with the excess cloth

They’re great for pedestrians but not so much for motorists, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

I wear a poncho occasionally and it's a pain for exactly these reasons.

Yeah, as one of the apparent neckbeards/weebs mentioned elsewhere in this thread I’m 100% speaking from experience there.

I’m thinking I may acquire a nice ruana for when I’m driving…

I use enough of my income on functional clothing that the idea of spending anything on something which does wat a coat does but worse and without pockets makes me physically ill. I'm just not the right type of autistic to want to walk around dressed like a highwayman and I don't own a brace of flintlock pistols.

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While they were already in decline, the trend of Capes an Cloaks really dropped sharply in the 1950's. With improving technology in the transportation sector and the rising prevalence of jet engines, the risk of getting sucked into an air intake or caught in some piece of machinery was just too great. Punctuated by a series of gruesome incidents , the new rule in fashion was set. No Capes.

I had a fairly nice cape for halloween this year (I was the devil from The Undead) and by the end of the evening I was convinced I was a cape guy now. They hold in so much heat but that's easily controlled by flapping the front a bit (by just swinging your arms more or less as you walk). With the right fabric, water just sheets off and generally misses your shoes in the process. And a broad collar makes for a great windbreak when turned up. It was great!

I haven't worn it since.

Not very practical anymore. Would get caught in all sorts of things in cars/trains/bikes/planes or whatever mode of transportation you use. The common person in general tends to mean towards practicality > aesthetics in the long term.

Function > form

We actually had a champion for a while. So far he hasn't really achieved the original goal, but that doesn't mean that the dream is dead.

Heck, if he doesn't do it, I will! We need capes back in fashion. Either subtle renaissance style fashionable shoulder capes or full blown cloaks that can double as blankets in a pinch.

"It is also better at keeping you warm"

Not even remotely accurate. I actually used to have a full size woollen cloak, and it is unbelievable how good they are at keeping out the elements. I have literally slept in the middle of a forest, in only jeans, a t-shirt, and that cloak, and I was toasty warm. I've sheltered through torrential downpours and snow storms in it. There is basically nothing as warm as a proper wool cloak.

I'm getting into sewing right now. A cape will be my first project. Imma wear the shit out of my cape. Luckily I live in a place where people don't really care about what you wear. I've seen capes in the wild before.

My wife sewed herself a very nice hooded cape/cloak years ago that she used to wear over her coat in winter to keep herself warmer. I'm not sure what happened to it, but it was a very long time ago.

Seinfeld has this covered:

I really enjoy capes or cloaks as an aesthetic element. Whilst I wish they were more commonplace, I also enjoy being able to have aspects of my fashion that are just a bit "weird"

I have a nice collection of them ranging from cheap Amazon capes to a custom Cloak and Dagger wool and velvet cloak that has lasted me almost a decade. I mostly use them for performing but have worn smaller cloaks and ruanas out before. They're particularly wonderful on those crisp, slightly chilly autumn nights in October.

Bram Stoker must have had somewhat of a hand in the decline in popularity of capes.

He's the reason I want one

The fact that you don't have one already makes me sad.

Vampires can't even afford cloaks in this economy.

If you want to make money in the Star Wars universe, go into the cloak trade.

You will never be poor.

Haven’t you ever seen the Incredibles? NO CAPES!

When I read this, I can't help but think of the "no capes" scene from The Incredibles.

In all seriousness, they were a uniquely Roman-area thing (moreso before its fall and people like the Gauls wanted less association with their Roman roots). You just don't associate them with the Chinese, Indians, Incans, etc. I'd wear a cape if they weren't more associated with men, would be cooler than sitting here in a quarter zip sweater over a blue plaid shirt and jeans, some normie I am.

In all seriousness, they were a uniquely Roman-area thing

Capes and cloaks were a thing as recently as a couple hundred years ago.

I mean Roman-area as in their part of the world, not as in the time period (Roman-era). Capes began with the Greeks and crossed over to the Romans and Byzantines but it would seem never picked up in non-European cultures, and became a lot less common when the two Romes dissolved into a sum of their member states. Joan of Arc didn't even wear a cape, a missed opportunity.

You can just say "Europe". Nobody calls it "Roman area". Plus it's clearer and more accurate. European fashion trends permeated beyond the historical borders of Rome in some parts of Europe, and yet didn't take off as much in historically Roman parts of the Middle East and North Africa.

I say "Roman area" because it was a Greek/Roman trend before anything else, it was a reference to that. It may have permeated but it never "picked up". It's like saying because there's that one Inuit person wearing an Aztec poncho, it must mean we can say ponchos were a widely encroaching phenomenon.

Ok, but cloaks were a thing in various parts of Europe a couple hundred years ago, so I'm not sure what your point is.

Ah yes, capes were popularized by that famous Roman General Georgious Washingtonius.

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_and_Lafayette_at_Valley_Forge.jpg#mw-jump-to-license

America was still culturally considered an extension of Europe at the time. After independence, capes waned.

"became a lot less common when the two Romes dissolved into a sum of their member states. "

What's your timeline because capes were popular into the 1800's in America which was 600 years after the fall of Constantinople.

1899 Statue of Ulysses Grant with a cape draped over his arm.

https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/ulysses-s-grant-statue

Another poster in this thread explained the real reasons. Weather determined it's utility which explains why no Roman capes in ancient Roman controlled Turkey/Israel/Egypt. Capes predate ancient Greece by thousands of years. https://www.iceman.it/en/clothing/ Modern textile manufacturing made it obsolete in northern wet countries.

There is a difference between saying something decreased, saying something is gone, and saying something is ubiquitous or not. Whenever I say they go against the grain in a certain setting, people keep pointing to famous examples of them, as if it's automatically a sign they don't go against the grain. The Greeks and Romans made it standard wear for every officer, which is partially opposed to people post-Rome who lived in the area of Rome and much more as opposed to a place which might have individuals wearing them but where this would be spontaneous and not reflect expectations. Nobody in China, India, even America is going to ask "where is your cape" to someone. Something showing up does not make it expected.

The Greeks and Romans made it standard wear for every officer,

A cape was standard wear for every soldier in the civil war.

"A typical Union soldier uniform during the Civil War consisted of:

light blue pants

blue overcoat with a cape

dark blue jacket

heavy shoes

woolen sock

a cap called a kepi

gray woolen shirt

knapsack"

https://www.civilwaracademy.com/civil-war-uniform#google_vignette

where is your cape” to someone.

No one does now because modern textiles made the cape unnecessary. Capes were standard wear for thousands of years before Greeks and Romans. https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/historical-themes/the-fur-trail/fur-in-prehistory/#:~:text=4%2D6%20sheepskins%20were%20used,distinctive%20holes%20from%20a%20seam.

Hence I said "officers".

Soldiers includes officers. I previously linked US Grant with his trademark cape. Having all soldiers with a cape is even more widespread than just officers despite your claim that it became less popular after Rome fell apart.

Google shows a cape was standard into WW1 and was also standard for WW1 nurses.

It wasn't just military. Capes were regular fashion in the 19th century. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_cape

but it would seem never picked up in non-European cultures

Capes were common among many Native American tribes.

Capes were also common in China. https://www.newhanfu.com/2334.html

Yes, but I was talking about actual, run of the mill officers. People here are quick to side with the technicalities, the cape shown in the first link just now is never what I would have any reason to think of. And again, I'm not talking about the "occasional" examples. Nobody is going to conjure that image when thinking of Chinese culture. "Well there was that one thing" is not speaking stereotypically.

Yes, but I was talking about actual, run of the mill officers.

I already explained twice that it was actual run of the mill officers that had capes. And regular soldiers too. Given your claim that capes were only for officers in Rome, capes were much more common in the late 19th century than during the height of Rome.

Everyone wore capes. Every soldier. Every nurse. Regular people going out the city. I linked it once and I'll link it again. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_cape https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_coat https://www.loc.gov/resource/anrc.18372/ https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/6349-british-and-canadian-wwi-rain-cape/ https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/capes-of-europe.html?blackwhite=1&sortBy=relevant

That you personally don't imagine Chinese wearing capes, doesn't mean it wasn't typical dress. https://thehanfustory.com/collections/capes-cloaks

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I think you're just wearing that look wrong:

You can make almost anything look great, but it's a skill.

It helps if you look great without wearing anything though. Models can get away with a lot more than most regular people.

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I think once my kids learned how to make blanket caps a lot of things ended up broken in a very short timeframe and I banned capes.

LOL! I'm actually in the market for a cloak. Been prowling the 2nd hand stores

Practicality of stuff like jackets aside, I feel like they'd be dangerous to wear because they'd get caught up in all sorts of stuff. They'd also get dirty pretty quickly.

Because we live in hell now and a cape would cook us.

Depends on the fabric and color. Look at arab countries, people there use tunics and loose clothing that cover most of their bodies and are mostly fine in +40°C

My trench coat is kind of like a cape. It's really impractical on my motorcycle.

It's just not in nowadays. But I'm sure the day will come when it's back in style, just like any other fashion choice.

First we'd need to ask what could a cloak or cape provide for the modern man that jackets and coats don't already do while giving the wearer free movement of their arms?

The cape's association with wealth and nobility is also hurt by the fact that the upperclasses these days are more interested in appropriating the style of lower class people (I.e. pre-distressed jeans) to try and appear as more down to earth.

The pre-distressed jeans are such an irritating trend to me. I'd rather see apparel get more durable, rather than making it so that it's nearly worn out already. For a while there was a trend of making selvedge-edge jeans with 14oz raw denim that you had to spend a month or more breaking in; I'd like to see that trend come back, since those jeans lasted for years of daily use (just, don't machine wash them!), and you got wear patterns specific to the individual that owns them.

The pre-distressed image: I want my clothes to look like I work without personally doing any work.

Full length coats are to cloaks as snuggies are to blankets. They cover the same area, but can sit tighter with easier use of arms.

University students in Portugal do when wearing traditional attire.

As others said, it's not as practical as modern clothing and so regular people don't really think about it. They just buy what is available. With cloaks, you probably have to sew it yourself, or order it custom.

That said, I do agrer it would be cool if they made a comeback. Cloaks are cool - but not easy to pull off. You can't just put on jeans and t-shirt and have a cloak over it and look good.

But I say be the change you want in the world and inspire others! I myself probably couldn't pull cloaks off, but would love to at least see more around!

As a dude with limited fashion sense suits look funny to me, like pajamas with a night cap or short pants with stockings or powdered wigs just feels very archaic and out dated. I could see cloaks coming back at some point just as knee length hooded sweaters or hooded overcoats without fasteners. Capes look too much like wearing a blanket around depending on the material I think to catch on anytime soon.

Capes look too much like wearing a blanket around depending on the material I think to catch on anytime soon.

This is the exact reason I think they will catch on. I see people out in public in pajamas from time to time, "athleisure" is really popular right now. Fashion is trending towards more casual overall and I could definitely see capes (and especially cloaks) coming back around.

Isnt Antonio Banderas trying to bring capes/cloaks back after he went to fashion school?

I wear a capelet in winter and it doesn't work well with my backpack. I suppose I could design a front wearing pack to carry my laptop.

That would be an interesting combination with my southern California uniform of flip flops board shorts and a tee

Short answer: because why would you?

There's one other thing that ended its use: it was used to concejal weapons. Some countries banned them just like wide brim hats (to see the face)

Capes are still part of women’s fashion. Though they are usually shorter and don’t go below the knee.
https://lacorine.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Classic-Wool-Cape\_Chili-Red\_05\_2017.jpg

https://www.optimized-rlmedia.io/is/image/PoloGSI/s7-1485138\_alternate1

I think the modern equivalent for a cloak is a long trenchcoat/raincoat. if you wear it open it sort of looks like a cloak. Also you could wear a poncho which can sorta look like a cape but isn’t too out of the ordinary for men to wear. https://weatherwool.com/cdn/shop/products/ponchoBlack\_MG\_0177-webcopy\_720x.jpg?v=1620656484

I'd love to wear more capes and cloaks but unfortunately I, like the vast majority of people, am not Alan Cumming and will never be as cool as him.

Mostly because my cape is improvised and I need something to hold it in place, which usually means my pauldron, but I only wear that on special occasions. It also sheds a lot of lint.

Most people can probably afford pants, shirts, underwear, socks, and shoes then that's it.

I think this picture pretty much answers the question for you.

Because of judgemental folk like you? Most likely.

It’s sadly true. There are certain styles which simply don’t survive in the presence of judgment.

I scrolled through every comment and not one has questioned the sanity of the OP and other commenters.

I don't wear a cloak/cape because it's 2024 and I value my job and the relationships I have.

I also don't because the utility just isn't there. A coat with sleeves that stops mid thigh is good for 90% of situations, and a longer version for rain or heavy snow. I cannot imagine a situation where a cloak would somehow trump a jacket, and I mean both in form and function. And form does have some import, not saying you need to go out and wear the latest styles, I'm pretty standard as they come, T-shirt and jeans, but at first glance, if I see someone in a cloak, it's just an odd first impression.

To answer the question, it'll come back in fashion when some rich/famous people decide it's back in fashion, I guess.

I don't understand the weird remarks about sanity and commenters in your first part and it entirely sets the tone of the rest of the comment.

If you're in a relationship where you can't wear a cloak then it's a bad one, it's a clothing piece and you should be able to express yourself and your job should not be able to fire you either.

It's entirely on you if a cloak is an odd impression, there's tons of people that think they're cool and such. Cloaks can have practical use cases.

You frankly come off as an asshole and it's unnecessary and sad.

But think about who cool and mysterious you'd look with a cape!

"That guy surely fucks" they'll say as you walk by. "What a handsome and mysterious fellow" they'll happily exclaim. If only you had the will, the enormous cajones to pull it off. Oh your life would change my friend, your life would change

I don't wear a cloak/cape because it's 2024 and I value my job and the relationships I have.

They're fine with you being a rude jackass, why would they care what you wear?

I'm nice to all of them, because they're dressed normally.

I don't get it. OP asked a question and I gave my thoughts. I don't think my thoughts are far off base. Folks may not like them and that's fine.

If I saw someone show up dressed as in the picture OP shared, I would immediately think this person lacked maturity. If anyone thinks that somehow looks suave or debonair, they are mistaken. If my friend showed up dressed like that, I would ask what he was doing. I would still be friends with him though, because it's just an article of clothing. But I think if you're trying to make good first impressions and you show up dressed similar to the picture in the OP, you may not get the reactions you're looking for.

But by all means, go for it. It really doesn't matter.