What's the difference between a cape a cloak?

Superman is easily recognizable by his red cape, a sleeveless garment that hangs from his shoulders and rustles in the wind when he flies.

The word cape comes from the Latin cappa meaning "covering for the head." Capes aren't just worn by superheroes. A poncho is a type of cape that you wear in the rain to stay dry. Speaking of water, a cape is also a stretch of land that extends into a body of water — like Cape Cod, which extends into the Atlantic Ocean.

A cloak is anything that conceals or hides something, like an over-sized, dark raincoat you wear when you don't want your friends to see you're going to the movies without them.

As a noun, a cloak is usually a loose piece of clothing that you wear over your other clothes, like a cape or a gown. It especially refers to an outer garment that you might wear while traveling in order to protect your outfit or to conceal your identity. As a verb, to cloak is to conceal or hide something. If you were a famous person who wanted to go out alone, you might cloak your identity with a cloak.

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A cape is a short cloak; a sleeveless garment like a cloak but usually shorter; a strip of material attached to a coat or other garment so as to fall freely, usually from the shoulders

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In fashion, the word “cape” usually refers to a shorter garment and “cloak” to a full-length version of the different types of garment, though the two terms are sometimes used synonymously for full-length coverings. A cape might just cover the shoulders and back (like a superhero) and a cloak be more like a wizard or Jedi's robe, ie covering the front as well.

Length Differences

One of the easiest ways to distinguish a cape from a cloak is by looking at the lengths. In general, capes are much shorter than cloaks. The length of a cape is usually anywhere from the top of the torso to the hips. Rarely will a cape fall past the thighs. On the other hand, the shortest cloak falls below the knees. Many cloaks are calf-length at minimum, and some are floor-length.

Style Differences

Besides the difference in length, cloaks and capes have aesthetic details that separate one from the other. Capes generally cover the back and are open and loose in the front. They usually fasten around the neck with a tiny hook or cords that tie together, but it is becoming more common to see capes with button or zipper closures down the front. Capes generally come in a more colorful, embellished selection of styles than cloaks, and because of this capes are usually worn as a fashion statement. Some capes even come with a belt looped through them, creating the look of a cinched waist and billowing sleeves. Cloaks cover your front and back. They are more streamlined, fitted and tailored than capes. Because of the tailoring, in the 1920s and '30s women sometimes wore cloaks as completed looks styled like a dress, adorned with belts, gloves and jewelry. This is rarely done today, but cloaks are still dressier than capes and are often worn to evening events over gowns.

Functional Differences

Historically, cloaks have served more of a functional purpose than capes. From the 1500s to 1800s, cloaks provided warmth but were also used to signify a person’s social rank or occupation. Today, cloaks are used to protect the wearer from the elements. You are more likely to find a hood on a cloak than a cape, though it’s still possible to find a cape with one and a cloak without one. Capes may have a collar for added warmth, but some don’t even have that. A cape’s main function is to cover the back of the wearer for warmth. Since a cape is much shorter than a cloak, slit openings for the arms are not always necessary because your arms can come through the bottom opening of the cape. A cloak usually has slit openings for the arms since its length requires it. Since the '50s, cloaks have lost popularity to coats. Capes also fell into the fashion bin at the same time, but they made a stylish comeback in the first decade of the 21st century.

Making It Your Own

If you would like to call one (or both) of these garments your own, search major department stores for a trendy cape; for cloaks, brick-and-mortar and online thrift or vintage stores usually have a nice selection.