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AtlanteanTroll
2012-05-29, 05:06 PM
So, I'm assuming some people ITP are familiar with something like this because of Renaissance fairs or LARPS or something. I'm suppose to be working on ... Something ... That takes place in Elizabethan-ish times, and I'm totally stuck on something.

What on Earth is this thing called?

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lMmkqgL4EQI/0.jpg

This thing being the "shoulder cape" worn by Percy (the man on the left). I'm in desperate need for a reference, and my google-fu has failed me completely.
GrlumpTheElder
2012-05-29, 05:37 PM
As far as I'm aware, it's technically just a cloak, no fancy name. The fashion at that time was to wear it at over one shoulder. There were different styles:

The Dutch cloak; full sleeves and the shorter length.
The French cloak; which was opposite the Dutch Cloak and worn anywherer from the ankles to the knee. Following the style of French court, this cloak was decoratively lined and worn over the left shoulder; it also sometimes included a shoulder cape to the elbows.
The Spanish cloak or cape was worn to the hip length and was known for its stiff and decorated hood
(shamelessly copied from Wikipedia)

In my opinion it looks more like a French style cloak than any of the others.

Hope this helps.
Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll
2012-05-29, 05:41 PM
Just a cape, I think. It looks vaguely similar to a Fly Plaid?

http://www.pipeline-bagpipes.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/bigflyplaid.gif

Which is the bit of Scottish formal attire worn over the shoulder there.



But that particular piece of clothing doesn't have any name I can find other than "cape"
Aedilred
2012-05-30, 06:02 AM
I don't think it has a particular name other than a cloak or cape; it's just worn from one shoulder rather than across both. It's not entirely dissimilar to a pelisse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelisse) or a dolman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolman) but those didn't appear until much later.

It's not a mandilion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandilion) either, but that is at least contemporary - you might want to check that out if you want something a bit weird.
Dark Elf Bard
2012-05-31, 07:04 PM
Really? I thought it was a mandilion.
Aedilred
2012-05-31, 08:17 PM
It doesn't have sleeves, which I think is an important feature of the mandilion (it is a jacket, after all). It doesn't have a chest, either - it looks just like a cloak worn over one shoulder. I might be wrong, though.
AtlanteanTroll
2012-05-31, 08:56 PM
Yeah, I think Grlump and Aedilred are correct. (Thanks to all those who responded.) I'm still sort of confused as to how a cloak worn that way wouldn't be falling of one's shoulder all the time...
Nai_Calus
2012-05-31, 09:56 PM
Are you looking for reference images? Googling for 'fencing cape' should give you some leads. That's what I've usually seen that sort of short collared cape referred to as, anyway.
Brother Oni
2012-06-01, 02:04 AM
I'm still sort of confused as to how a cloak worn that way wouldn't be falling of one's shoulder all the time...

If you notice across Percy's chest, there's a cord which runs from the cloak to under his opposite arm. If that's snug enough, or if the cloak is heavy enough either by weight of the fabric, or has weights sewn into the hem at the bottom, it should stay on most of the time (they're are courtiers, they're not really expected to do much manual work).
Palthera
2012-06-01, 05:51 AM
If you notice across Percy's chest, there's a cord which runs from the cloak to under his opposite arm. If that's snug enough, or if the cloak is heavy enough either by weight of the fabric, or has weights sewn into the hem at the bottom, it should stay on most of the time (they're are courtiers, they're not really expected to do much manual work).

My partner has one for his last character at larp and yes, you just tie it under the other arm and it stays put. Although a safety pin on the underside can help invisibly...
AtlanteanTroll
2012-06-04, 10:10 AM
If you notice across Percy's chest, there's a cord which runs from the cloak to under his opposite arm. If that's snug enough, or if the cloak is heavy enough either by weight of the fabric, or has weights sewn into the hem at the bottom, it should stay on most of the time (they're are courtiers, they're not really expected to do much manual work).

Aaaah. No, somehow I missed that. I now feel like a bit of a fool. But oh well. Anyway the thing staying on is sort of a plot point in the thing I'm working on, so thank you all. :smallsmile: