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[MEME] Bring back cloaks!
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2024
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Cloaks are not practical compared to a heavy coat: it doesn't keep you as warm because there are no zippers or buttons to fasten it all the way, and you can't use your arms or hand at all with a heavy cloak on because it doesn't have sleeves, and it doesn't have any pockets.
If you want to wear it for the sake of fashion, go for it, but prepared to be frustrated.
My cape-type-thing is thigh length & has little elbow height slits with flaps on them so i can reach out, up to my elbows. Also pockets.
It's awkward when i forgot I'm wearing it and try to sling something over my shoulder, but other than that rare occurrence it is excellent, daily fall wear for me.
9.8/10 seriously, my cape is great.
This comment is in every thread about cloaks/capes
I wear a cape sometimes. I had to trim it because it would drag on the ground and pick up leaves, and it sheds on my other clothes because of the fabric I made it from (so I only wear it with a specific outfit,) but other than that it poses no significant inconvenience. I'm not expecting a coat, I'm expecting an accessory.
Yeah while the idea of a wool cloak is still cool, whenever I start breaking down the possible use-cases, I realize it tends to just be a functionally inferior and much less convenient version of modern options by nearly every metric.
For example, for staying dry, even a basic plastic poncho is superior but a wool cloak will never beat the standard outershell gear lined with stuff like goretex. Likewise, its thermal utility is mostly determined by its ability to trap layers of air, and a wool cloak can’t match the functionality and versatility of modern insulation methods. Even in the area of durability, while heavy weaves can be incredibly rugged, it tends to be at the expense of weight, and after owning a few featherlight jackets and tents made with self-healing textiles, I can’t imagine a wool cloak would ultimately be able to compete in the long term.
I’d still embrace the fashion if it made a comeback, but with full acceptance of the fact that it represents form over function.
I just think about all the automatic doors, escalators, and other mechanical things that are ubiquitous with the modern world and worry a cloak would get snagged all the time. I mean FFS, I get my pants pockets caught on doorknobs all the time, and those aren't even flapping behind me.
Arm slits make a considerable difference to comfort and utility. Coats are superior, you are absolutely right there, but if you gotta cloak...