Capes are awesome, full stop. Every dude can recognize its enigmatic flair, even if they don’t wear it themselves. Some have questioned this paradox, as a quick perusal of Reddit will show you. Whether it’s 2026, 2019, or 2016, hopefuls have been asking how to wear this accursed thing or how they can bring it back. Unfortunately, each inquiry has been met with negative feedback— it seems that menswear as a whole has simply moved on from this dramatic, elegant, and largely superfluous garment.
The garment, much like other pieces of classic menswear, does have a storied history. Roman soldiers were known to wear capes, which denoted rank and provided shelter from the elements. They later rose to prominence from the Medieval era onward, retaining their status associations, as excess fabric of any kind was indeed a luxury. Naturally, this relationship with elegance continued into the modern day, when capes (and cloaks) were worn by both men and women to the opera (an opulent Occasion), being more formal than the more practical overcoat. Of course, as the world moved on to accepting more casual fare in everyday wear, the cape rapidly fell out of favor, being a bit too “much” for modern sensibilities. Yes, it did see some use during its long history as a utilitarian piece (military gas capes, for example), but it was ultimately relegated to being considered hugely anachronistic and more for ceremonial use. The only time you really see it worn to full effect is in films or your local Ren Faire. In other words, capes just don’t have much of a place today for regular wear.
A handful of brave souls have indeed tried to make it work. There’s a whole subreddit dedicated to the Revolution, with earnest wearers adding their own entries to the cape’s storied tapestry. Most of them are a bit more LARP-inclined, trying to revive the cape’s more fantastical or whimsical connotations. Some designers have even tried to make it work, though most of the outfits inherently lean too “designery” and ultimately feel inaccessible or at least, not easy to wear. We recently saw Ralph Lauren do an opera cape, but it was obviously paired with black tie, a look that even for me, is still a use-case scenario. That being said, you do occasionally see capes pop up at Pitti. I find that some of them miss the mark, being too much of a contrast to “sprezzatura” and #menswear outfits, even though the entire point is to stand out. However, it’s clear that dudes just want to wear the cape; why else would people wear coats on their shoulders? They want the drama of the cape!
I certainly also have an affinity for the damn thing. I don’t think there’s a nerd out there who doesn’t feel some type of way about a cape, wishing that there was some way they could “pull it off” and wear it with confidence, even if it would attract stares (not a problem for me). Of course, I never thought I’d actually try it myself. Though my chosen mode of dress is inherently bold, it doesn’t really lend itself to being too out there; leveraging cues from vintage and contemporary menswear, whether it’s a full-cut suit or something jaunty like a Tyrolean hat or collar bar, is meant to be off-kilter but still familiar. A cape would be too far…or would it?
The fact remains that I have indeed gotten even bolder over the years, dipping, or rather plunging, into facets of vintage menswear that would be considered costume-y. I maintain that I’ve always been attracted to such pieces, simply lacking the confidence and access to wear them properly. Gaining levels in both has shown me that I can truly wear anything I like. My entire participation in this hobby is playing with my clothes, and at this point, I want them to express that facet of my mindset and approach. Hell, even if I’m in a suit and tie, I want to make sure that I look like I’m in it for fun rather than adhering to an outdated, rigid sense of Occasion. A big part of that is by wearing items that are decidedly in that vein; playing it safe or at least business-friendly, ain’t really my thing. And that brings me to the cape.
As cool as capes are, they can’t be forced. It needs to “make sense”, to be cohesive. A unique challenge in a world where menswear has decidedly moved away from them. Indeed, the only place where capes feel at home is in the fantastical, where a bit of LARP is the name of the game and the entire point is to celebrate going Full Send and being extra. It is true that my cape-less attire expresses that mindset, but in that way, adding a cape to my repertoire was the final piece I needed.
And yes, it’s all thanks to LARPing.
I remember when I first saw James in his Ren Faire get-up back in 2023: a puffy poet shirt, a tunic-vest, brown breeches (and riding boots), and a raggedy grey cape. Right away, his ensemble looked quite a bit more extra than most non-staff/non-vendor attendees at the Faire, who were, at most, simply wearing an untucked shirt (button-up or Henley) and an external belt. No, James looked amazing. He wanted to go Full Send, dressing like a fantasy adventurer that clearly enjoyed clothes; a fun look that was interesting without being period accurate. Yes, adding that waistcoat would have been just fine, and the tucked pants-into-boots was also a good move, but if you ask me, it was the cape that set his attire over the edge into something considerably more extra and wondrous. That bit of dyed linen hanging wistfully from James’s torso simply made him look quite smart while simultaneously providing a sense of Whimsy. The damn thing really made all the difference.
Ever since he got it from Fell & Faire (the “Wanderer’s cape”, James has gotten plenty of wear out of his cape. It’s a standard for all of his Ren Faire-themed events (of which there have been a lot), but James has also made it work on Star Wars day, when he first wanted to dress like a Jedi (he has since made accurate prequel era robes), as well as at Nerf, where he wore it over cargo pants and a quilted vest to evoke a bit of a Rebel Alliance commando. The latter is what really intrigued me, as it was the first time I had really seen a cape being worn with something that wasn’t overly “medieval”, designer-y, or formal. And even though it was dramatic, the cape felt largely practical and ultimately cohesive with James’s military-esque outfit. It helped that the cape was a bit asymmetrical, had a raw hem, and had a subtle, dusty dye. The cape ultimately made his Rebel commando look much more interesting, not unlike the costuming in the Star Wars universe itself, which already has cool outfits that some characters amplify with a pendulous length of cloth. With James showing the garment’s potential versatility, at least for LARP-Occasions, I decided to get one myself.
Like James, I obtained my cape from Fell & Faire, opting for the “Assassin” model (in brown linen) due to its longer length. I fell in love with it immediately, with dozens of potential outfits already running through my mind. My goal with it wasn’t just to level up my LARP attire (2025 Ren Faire wasn’t bad, but it could have been better), but to go even more extra— without being too grand. A “proper” cape, or rather a formal one that is cut symmetrically (equal length all around), complete with collar snaps or a chain, felt too formal for the POV I wanted. I wanted drama without the fuss, and this was it.
It was quite effective in December of last year, when I debuted my new LARP-rig (I finally had breeches to go with my riding boots) to a live comedy D&D show. I felt completely badass, with the cape again adding a sense of grandeur and commitment that previous outfits just could never express. The cape was then worn to every event it could conceivably “make sense” for. This obviously included all the Ren Faire days, where again, the cape’s presence upped my attire’s Cool Factor. Ren Faire 2026 was the peak of it all, when I finally put the brown cape over an all-black ensemble that included a Bryceland’s frog-closure jacket. These were all great and certainly made me feel good (how could you not strut and twirl when wearing it?), but a part of me wished there were a way to wear my beloved cape with more “normal” clothes. Or at least attempt it, just to see what it would look like.
That’s where Nerf came in. I wore my cape to run around blasting foam, putting it over various vintage-themed outfits that, much like James, had a Star Warsian effect. The first was with a workshirt and beret, creating a bit of a Star Wars-does-WWII French Resistance (Ghorman Front?); the second use was more of a 30s pulp look, utilizing my beloved bib shirt. Both outfits would have been fine (already considered by other attendees to be extra) for playing Nerf with a “character” in mind (I never want to just wear athletic clothes), but I think you can agree that the cape just makes the look. It sets the vibes over the top, adding something extra, functioning similarly to the addition of a sportcoat and necktie to a button-up and pants. Though if we consider the extra-ness of the garment, and assume that you, dear reader, are already sartorially inclined, the cape is really much more like a beret, fedora, or jaunty scarf— just more extra in every conceivable way. I was sold. I had said a resounding “yes” to the cape.
But then I started to have a problem. I became intoxicated by the cape. LARP and Nerf days weren’t enough, or at least too far and in between (I even missed the last one due to a belated Mother’s Day luncheon). I wanted to have that Whimsical and dramatic air in my everyday attire. Yes, my standard fare is already quite bold and fun, and yes, I already had Safincore on the days I aimed for being dramatic and dark, but the cape is different. It’s inherently more fun, more absurd. And so the search began…and was quickly completed.
Even though my Fell & Fair cape has worked well so far (and I will continue to wear it), it didn’t feel right to wear with proper classic/vintage menswear outfits. The attached hood simply made it too casual, evoking too much of a “hoodie” feel that clashed with my shirt-and-tie combo, which would be barely visible beneath the cape’s poncho-esque chest area. The raw hem and worn-in appearance also didn’t help with the ragged effect, looking effective for a fantastical (or intergalactic) wanderer but not a dude in a full suit and tie. In a sense, I needed something a bit more “classic” and closer to the historical precedent for menswear in capes.
My brief search took me to a few different places. An initial destination was formal numbers, like velvet opera capes or the dress-capes that were part of old military garb or the Knights of Columbus. While these would certainly have worked with black tie or even Safincore, I thought it was a bit too prissy for the more “casual” browns and greys I typically wear; you know, the jaunty Semi-Sports attitude from 30s Apparel Arts. Naturally, I went next to Inverness capes, which, with their extra layers and arm holes, were the perfect blend of utility, drama, and vintage vibes. However, most of those I found were made of heavy wool or tweed, which makes sense given their Scottish origins. That would’ve been great if I lived somewhere colder!
Star Wars crossed my mind yet again, particularly through the rain capes worn by Imperial officers in Andor; such garments were fascinating, as they lent an air of utility to the Imps (who already looked dressier than the armored Stormtroopers) while heightening their dramatic and villainous attitude. I wasn’t about to buy a repro, as good as some makers do them (out of waterproof nylon, no less) as it would’ve been too odd to wear a true piece of cosplay with what are largely just regular clothes. However, the use of technical fabric was intriguing. Perhaps the way in would be something Barbour or trenchcoat adjacent, making a cape’s drama just a bit more grounded.
I then started looking at modern brands, in particular Engineered Garments and Lemaire. The former did indeed make a few cape-poncho-anoraks over the years, calling to mind the aforementioned Reddit threads I had seen on r/malefashionadvice back in its heyday. They made a cool one once: an asymmetric rain cape in black nylon; they also seemed to have made a waxed-cotton variation in collaboration with Barbour. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any such pieces on eBay or Grailed. As for the former, Lemaire actually offered a nylon poncho-cape during their first collab with Uniqlo. Apparently, someone on TikTok had found one on Depop, and it looked amazing, despite his outfit being a bit too normal, in my opinion, for the garment (a T-shirt and jeans). All that being said, I knew that I wanted a similar vibe. And so I went on eBay, looking for nylon or cotton cape/ponchos to no avail, until I found a listing from What Price Glory for what they called a “WWII khaki rain cape”. The damn thing looked like the EG x Barbour one, just the original, or rather, a reproduction.
I bought it. This cape (specifically, the “1917 Pattern British Army MK VII Rain Cape”) was now my third purchase ever from What Price Glory, the first being a pair of Gurkhas that set me on the big short path all those years ago.
After about a week, the cape showed up on my front door, complete with a rubbery smell that was likely exacerbated by being tightly packed and spending time in what was presumably a hot mailcar for the last leg of its journey.
The material was actually a surprise to me, as the WPG site only listed it as “100% cotton”; Alex in the Patreon Discord called out that these capes were indeed made of rubberized cotton, as these capes were meant to not just be a rainproof body covering but also be able to be turned into a make-shift shelter. I later found out that these capes were first made during the Great War and were used by British (and British-adjacent) forces through the 1950s. While the history wasn’t exactly important to me (I’m primarily concerned with aesthetics), this lore added a bit extra to the cape’s vibe. Of course, the cape Ethan picked would be old and have a milsurp connection!
Much like my Assassin cloak, the Rain Cape is cut symmetrically, looking a bit like an upside-down triangle when worn. With an actual “front”, it does look more like a poncho, but it actually has a full button-through front, which means that it can either be entirely closed up or fastened just at the top, if you need more room to stick your hands through. The interesting thing is the collar, which is half point collar and half sport collar, the latter’s oblong throat latch drooping carelessly unless you decide to fasten it to the other side (creating a funnel neck to keep out the rain). Other than a few brass grommets (used to tie it to another cape in order to craft a shelter), there are no other details; the EG x Barbour version adds an interior pocket, a foldable hood, and arm straps (to help keep it on your body if you opt to keep the cape open).
The only “problem” was the khaki color. I found it a bit too militaristic and bland; I know that this was a functional garment and part of a uniform, but I wanted my cape to have a bit of flair, or at least be more workable with my regular attire. And so, as I’ve been dyeing a few things lately (namely a fishing vest, chino shorts, and new pairs of breeches), I decided to turn the cape navy. Olive would still be too drab (and I had my olive kimono parka), and black would be too villainous or techwear-y. Again, Alex reminded me that the material was rubberized in order to make it weatherproof (by 1910s standards). There was a chance the dye wouldn’t take, but I decided to do it anyway, heating my water as hot as possible and mixing black into my navy dye to ensure a dark result. After a morning of stirring, the cape ended up with a dusty greenish-greyish-blue, which I loved. It looked old and contemporary all at the same time, expressing an Engineered Garments/Lemaire meets a vaguely Star Warsian quality that I was after. It was inherently Whimsical yet subdued, retaining a practical and edgy attitude that was still fun.
This dyed rain cape was now the most interesting garment I owned— and I was intrigued to start wearing it.
Thankfully, Los Angeles weather, at least at the time of writing, has still been cool and muggy (especially once the sun goes down), which meant I’ve had plenty of opportunities to actually use it as part of an outfit—and to think about how I’ve made it work.
While it does function as a breezy weather-proof layer, good for “warmer” rain or windy days, I wouldn’t exactly consider the rain cape to be a coat replacement. To me, a coat serves as an extension of a suit jacket or sportcoat, being literally similar in design but just longer and bigger. There’s also the fact that coats are indeed quite normal; they can certainly be dramatic, but they’re still quite “trad”. Barbour jackets, parkas, and even kimono coats are in the same boat, as they are essentially coats with only minimal changes to the details (material, collar, pocket placement).
The cape is its own thing. Unlike a coat, which can be tailored to emphasize a figure (broad shoulder, nipped waist), a cape is shapeless, creating an oblong silhouette during motion or a steadfast-but-drooping silhouette at rest. It has an aura without being too presumptuous; the rain cape’s voluminous, slouchy body contrasts with the defined shoulders of most outerwear. While it can protect against the elements, a cape is not closed up, unlike the traditional belted trench coat; in that way, the rain cape has a bit of nonchalance baked right in. It’s like a raglan balmacaan but not. This makes it come off a bit dressier than a Barbour or a parka. It’s still not exactly formal, likely due to the rubberized cotton and faded color, which makes for a very interesting expression. And so, I find the rain cape to be a coat alternative, something I consider or play with when the weather is right— and when I want my layering to be a bit more fun and less straightforward. In that way, the cape functions like a fedora/beret or scarf; a little (or rather big) style move to make your outfit a bit more Whimsical and personality-forward.
To no one’s surprise, the cape was quite easily slotted into my outerwear rotation. By fastening only the second button, I create a “V”- shaped space that allows my shirt and neckwear choice to shine through, which, along with the button-front, creates a “coat adjacent” look that feels familiar, despite the abnormality of excess cloth draping all around my body. However, I do take care to style it intentionally.
The poncho-esque appearance does indeed express a “Barbour-meets-Inverness” vibe, meaning it works best with tie-wearing outfits that are jaunty rather than simply formal or even too “dressed up”. I found this out right away, as the cape felt off with brocade ties and pinstripe suits, which were best served by regular coats and trenches. And despite the cape’s “casual” air, it didn’t really jive with a neck scarf and louche fisherman sandals or slippers; I guess that meant that the cape wasn’t a kimono-coat/Safine core replacement either. It goes without saying that the cape has no place in workwear and westernwear-themed fits. No, it looked great with truly regular Ethan fare: checked jackets (and brown suits) worn with striped shirts and foulard tie. Just things that are a teeny bit 30s European, all on the sportier end of the sartorial spectrum. I would rather not look like I’m an attendee at an Eyes Wide Shut type of party.
I’d even say that cape looks better when my outfits lean even further into that jaunty vibe. Yes, it looked fine with my bluchers and tassel loafers (or even desert boots or commando sole derbies), but pairing the cape with riding boots was a different ballgame. I already wear these boots with “regular” attire to give the outfit a bit more pizzazz and as a nod to my LARP inclinations. Adding the cape just amplifies that connection, making it feel as if I am indeed a fantastical adventurer who just happens to be in familiar attire (instead of tunics and puffy shirts) that still has a quirky quality. In fact, you might even say that the cape makes sense for someone in riding boots, serving as a fanciful introduction (or foreshadow) to the end-cap of an outfit.
[At the time of writing, I have not worn my rain cape in a black tie ensemble, but I think it would definitely work, even if it’s not in the same formality level as a proper opera cloak.]
As dandy and Whimsical as I’ve gotten (or rather, embraced) over the years, I really wasn’t expecting to actually start wearing a cape. But you know what? It just makes sense! For the guy who regularly wears berets/fedoras, collar bars, and tall boots— or has a pastime LARP-ing and dressing “up” for Nerf wars— the cape feels like it’s been a long time coming. And in the short time I’ve owned it, the cape has already become an iconic component of my Style. Not only does it look good (at least to me), but it also feels good when I wear it.
You just can’t help but carry yourself with a dramatic flair and strut around when wearing a cape. Add in the fact that you’re in riding boots (or some kind of leather shoe) and a natty jacket and tie, and you can feel like you’re floating through the world. After all, I already had this attitude with my Fell & Fair cape during all my LARP-adjacent activities; being able to carry that feeling into my regular attire (weather permitting) through the rain cape has been nothing short of invigorating. It feels so cool to wear a cape while sitting at an outdoor bar, drinking and smoking with my friends. And while I can certainly wear fantasy-adjacent outfits on a normal day (my outfit to Fan Fest is one such example), sometimes I just want to give a nod to that side of me, in a more overt way than a band collar shirt (and certainly more than wearing themed socks).To be clear, I don’t need to wear the cape with every outfit (as I said earlier, it doesn’t always work), but simply owning it and having it in the rotation has only reinforced my entire POV on menswear: all the clothing you own should be fun and express who you are!
I can’t say you’ll have the same experience, and I certainly encourage you to find your own type of garment that gives you the same effect, but one thing is for certain—nothing beats the cape. Maybe you’ll just have to actually try it for yourself!
Owning a cape may just be the most Ethan on this blog, outside of you know, the dressing up for random Occasions thing. I’ve said similar things for a while now, but this really takes the cake. The important thing to note is that my base expression hasn’t changed much: it’s still quite sartorial and period-inspired, and will always be on the dressy side (with a few tangents into Sexy/Going Out and rugged/western casual). It’s nice to know that I still have some room for experimentation, a way for me to hone my POV even further. That being said, a cape really is the pinnacle of menswear, especially in regards to “Ethan Style”. I really don’t know what could possibly come next.
Well, other than finding a true warm-weather, non-rubberized cape. Perhaps my upcoming trip to Japan will yield something promising— or I’ll have to learn how to make one out of linen or indigo cotton. Quite intriguing!
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Always a pleasure,
Ethan
Big thank you to our top-tier Patrons (the SaDCast Fanatics), Philip, Shane, Henrik, and Mason.
a little bit of rest 