The cape is a sleeveless outer garment that falls freely from the shoulders, wrapping the body in a single sheet of cloth; the arms stay beneath the fabric or emerge through slits. It is one of humanity's oldest silhouettes — from antique cloaks to medieval mantles. The cape creates a dramatic, monumental outline, lending a look theatricality and mystery. In contemporary fashion it appears as a cape-coat, a pelerine or a wrap and is prized for impact and freedom of movement. Its challenge: the lack of sleeves limits function, so the cape is more about image and mood than purely practical warmth.
