Blanket or Cloak: What's the DIFFERENCE?
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- The Modern Knight, looks at several of his medieval cloaks and compares them to types of cloak used in movies like Lord of the Rings.
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Thanks Jason ! Very often people show useful items on their videos, but we don't know where to get them!
But they are all larp "late middle age" hooded cloak, right ?
One correction. It wasn't Gandalf, it was Aragorn. lol
could a brooch be made out of a traditional fire strike, so that it would have dual purpose? What would the pros and cons be?
I'm not thinking necessarily as one's main fire striker, but so that the brooch could be used as a back up.
Much later in history, but later the important garment was a towel. Remember, a hoopy frood knows where his towel is.
Oh, I made my comment (less hoopy in nature) before I found this one.
42
Everybody should know where their towel is.
It's right next to my copy of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 😊
Mind editing that comment so it's not broken English?
In the hobbit when Bilbo is rushed out the door without his equipment at the beginning of chapter 2, Balin lends him his spare oudoor-wear saying "I have got a spare hood and cloak in my luggage." Clearly Tolkien saw them as separate items.
Didn't the dwarves hang their hoods on pegs as well?
@@loganfields159 Yes, the book dwarves all had brightly colored hoods but I don’t think their cloaks were spoken about in specifics but it’s been a couple years since I’ve read The Hobbit last.
@@cm275 Me too dude. I think I will read it this summer. That book was the beginning for me. Cheers
I noticed that too since I'm currently reading the Hobbit again. He actually calls the dwarves' hoods, "detachable party hoods" in the first chapter, indicating they were separate from the cloaks as well.
It isn't clear, it may have been that cloaks with detachable hoods.
I often wondered why folks wore a separate hood with a cloak. Now I know why. Thank you for showing us.
I have a mountain tarp (fjellduk) that can be worn as a cloak (also covering a backpack), as well as be used as a bivvy and to put up as a roof. Very practical.
Funny, I am wearing a cloak by chance, and this video pops up......thanks for posting. Drop in on our viking ship build if you are in Norway. Thanks again!
I'd love to do that, just far to busy with things to get away easily right now.
@@ModernKnight We won't be finished for a couple of years yet, make a plan ( long term), get in touch if you need a place to stay, best wishes Lucas
@@LucasRichardStephens is it something open to the public or is it more private? If it is public I would love to visit and if it’s private I’d love to look into it. Shipbuilding is one of my favourite crafts
@@ModernKnight and do not forget that there is a trip on those in Roskilde waiting for you.
@@ModernKnight you dont have a viking ship at hand? =D
I am a person who loves perpetual comfort so getting to wear my own blanket while being fashionable is totally my jam.
Until you get fleas.
Awesome video Jason and very good points as well! Totally in agreement about separate hoods being way more functional than attached hoods. Even when wearing my Ruana, I have a detached hood to double up on the shoulders and keep the neckline tighter. And definitely for keeping warm a full mid-high medieval cloak is more effective than a ruana. I agree with every point you made actually, from the limited arm mobility, to difficulty using it as a blanket. I'd say the ruana has a place for moderate weather, where maybe you want more warmth or protection without your regular clothes, but it's too warm for a full wool cloak. Plus you can always belt the Ruana like you showed, and wear a bigger cloak on top of it. Interestingly enough, in The Hobbit, Tolkien describes the dwarves as having hoods separate from their cloaks as well, so from pretty much every angle, detached hoods are the way to go! Cheers!
Thanks, nice to hear from you. Hope the move is going well!
@@ModernKnight Getting settled, thank you! I'm actually writing an email to you currently
The Hoodie is the modern Cloak in terms of functionality.
These clothing bits are my fav's. I'm a historical re-eanctor and usually wear georgian period cloths and in cold weather I wear a woolen boat cloak with a woolen mantle on the shoulders closed with simple hood and eyes on the front and it works really well, and when you throw back a fold to display a red cloak and sword-the crowd loves it
I used it in january this year in rain and snow and was fine, in warmer weather I wrap up in it and avoid a farbe sleeping bag
Recently I've been making my way through the Ranger's Apprentice book series, and I've found myself absolutely fascinated by their cloaks. The Rangers of Araluen all wear thin woollen cloaks, described as being mottled grey and green, with "some brown" in it. They act as a natural camouflage, and a trained Ranger can become virtually invisible in them. Of course, it's more fantasy than reality, but the idea fascinates me, and makes me wonder just how a similar color pattern could be achieved in real life, without using actual camo patterns..
You could weave the fabric of two different colours of thread, but then the pattern would be very regular. If you spun the yarn of different colours of wool you could get a more irregular mottled effect. But in both cases I’d think the pattern would be too small to be very effective. You can look at tweed to get a sense of the possibilities. Those books are absolutely lengendary and the reason why my reenactment cloak is dark green.
The fabric they used for the elven cloaks is a natural undyed wool from a particular breed of sheep, that shifts from grey, to green-ish or even brown depending on the light that hits it. All those colors in the movie are the same garments, so my guess is something like that.
You could also do warp and weft in different colored threads, which would give some of the same effect. It’s how shot silk is made.
That first hood looked cozy af.
9:15 If you were a peasant doing labor, you could pull that hood forward and the sides would block the wind as you were working.
Cloaks need to make a comeback as winter fashion!
I love this video! I agree that cloaks should have a comeback! Sad you didn't cover the late medieval style Cloak with buttons on then shoulder. I do late 15c reenactment in Queensland Australia and when it gets cold in the July evenings that's our go to when we want to get warm and stay as especially fashionable as we are with our lovely tailored doublets and hose
I completely agree about cloaks needing to make a comeback. I have one similar to your Lord of the Rings one that I wear to the Renaissance festival, and while it's not made from materials that would have been available historically, it's an essential clothing item. The climate is very hot, dry, and sunny where I live, so sunburns are a constant concern. My cloak does a brilliant job of protecting me from sunburns when I'm at the festival even on scorchingly hot days with next to no humidity. They're so practical!
I love all LotR but ive always thought that artists like The Hildebrandt Brothers and and Ted Nasmith probably depicted the bookish description of cloaks best; shorter and more practical. The length of the garment in the movies was spectacular for imagry but i thought it highly impractical for foot travel. I love your videos and you are always a joy on screen.
honestly a pros and cons of cloaks around horses video is exactly what i need before i straight up go ahead and get one 😂 if this is the solution to waterproof coats that just pour rainwater directly down your thighs then i'm an investor in the cloak comeback.
The Romans had waterproof cloaks. Some cloaks were made of fur skins.
@@rogerlafrance6355 wool is also at least water resistant which is only as far as most raincoats go anyway, i don't know if I could factor a full, ethically sourced fur cloak into my finances 😂
@@user-kt3zv1cm5j Fake fur for Viking reenactment!
@@user-kt3zv1cm5jshotgun and some tanning tutorials might be cheaper!
Also, you can fold the top part of a "blanket" over your shoulders, if it's long enough, to add an extra layer of wool on your shoulders, and use the folded part as a hood when needed. That's how the Castillian cape came to be.
Speaking of cloaks, I was able to pick up a bit of wool today (1.33 yards, light-medium grey). It's light weight enough where I plan on turning it into a short "sleeved" ruana cloak for chilly summer nights and a "travel" blanket when travelling.
amazing video :) I started being homeless about a year ago, and I have trained some 15 years for this possibility.
I have a llama-wool poncho, that I modified into a "woobie" with 4 buttons on the side/strings to tie front and back, and button loops. I modified the hood draw strings using a knot that can zinch on itself. I also use a two-prong hair stick to "pin" it since I haven't bought a circular pin.
Best thing ever, but its not thick enough (yarn) to be wind proof. it's light weight, breathable, and awesome. I also wear wool wennigas on my arms and legs.
Good luck on your adventures!
I’ve never been so entertained by a man talking about clothing 😂 Brilliant video thank you Jason, always fascinating watching you bring medieval times back to life. I’ve gotta get me a cloak now 😃
Just found this channel! Where has this recommendation been all this time?... what a back catalogue to get through! Good times! 😊🎉
Welcome aboard!
we gotta bring back some medieval classics
I've got one made in the style of the Bocksten man. It's wonderful in the winter. I've used it as a blanket. It's sewn in the shoulders, but I've often thought about opening up the "free" shoulder and adding a system for tying it instead. It would be much more practical.
Cloaks, as you say, really should come back into fashion. I'll wear mine either way.
Great Video!!! Very Educational. I myself have a "Shorts" series about different ways to do a blanket cloak
I'll check it out!
I think the death knell for cloaks as practical everyday garments was the widespread adoption of the automobile. Try wearing one while driving - especially a compact car. Even the seatbelt becomes a major challenge...
the cloak with a longer shirt and belt combo + tall boots just works so well. the aesthetic is unmatched
I love the look of cloaks but except for January it never get cold enough to ware one. Currently 110°.
I wish history was taught like this in school
This is awesome. I'd love to get into something similar to what you're doing, although currently sadly I can only afford to watch. Great videos though, and it does look like you're having a load of fun doing it
My main "coat" is actually a long, hooded, ruana-style cloak with buttons. It was handmade in Edinburgh. The Etsy shop I bought it from makes wool versions, but mine is fleece. I love it because I can wear layers under it if I need to be warmer, rather than wearing fewer layers with a heavy coat. It's just more versatile.
I have some experience with this from LARPing. I have a "cloak" that is essentially like your early medieval cloak - it's a wool blanket, more loosely woven (as I'm rarely dealing with truly cold temperatures). I have a separate hood, but it is much more in that modern/theatrical style - it is large and good for brooding in corners with pipes, but it tends to droop over my eyes, obscure peripheral vision and is an absolute nuisance in a strong wind.
Right now I'm buried under an early Medieval cloak on the sofa...
No mum I did not ruin my blanket, it’s my cloak
Great video (again) ! Have you thought about covering medieval footwear (shoes, boots etc.) ? I'd love to see a video about them.
What a brilliant channel! Only just discovered, thank you 😊
Welcome!
I wear a full length circular, brown wool cloak with a stylish but yes, definitely wind prone hood whenever weather permits. Doing my part to bring the cloak back into fashion. :)
2:14 superman cape! Currently making a Kinsale cloak (for men and women) (folkwear - based on an original historical pattern.) that has a large flat hood but it has a tie in the hood that makes the hood smaller whilst still retaining a fabric lip around the edge that allows you to see in the driving rain. Also I wash my wool in a lanolin shampoo (rarely) to retain its water resistant qualities. As we live in the modern world I will be adding a couple of strips of reflective material to help with visibility if walking along a road.
Buttons, classic little stones and a bit of string were all you needed for adjustment.
The item is on the back of the material and the tie is on the front.
You could broach the main part and when it was cold/windy just use a simple button and you are fine.
Cloaks look so great, I’d love to have one that fits, but sadly I can’t sew 😢. Most online shops don’t sell my size.
It's always great when you post a video and i get to learn new things.
Thank you for another interesting video. Looking forward to more!
I really wish we would bring back the cape/cloak into fashion. I love those things, even though i live in an area that it is hot most of the year, i would totally rock a cloak the 2 days of the year it gets cold. 😊
Absolitely love this channel
A while back you made a video about medieval food (what rich people ate and what "peasents" ate with a very lovely lady... Could you maybe make a video in a similar style about medieval beverages? Mead and beer seems to be a whole lot different back then ❤
good idea
Entirely agree on cloaks, we need more about today!
So interesting.
I have learned a lot in the video and also by reading the comments. Best community ever.
The Medieval hood seems so much more functional, I wonder why its not really used anymore for practical jobs?
9:18 "All of this catches the wind." Just like a lot of modern hoods. For this and several other reasons, I want a high medieval cloak and hood just for the sake of keeping warm. It would have been especially good years ago when my body's temperature regulation was even worse than it is now. I needed airflow low on my abdomen and warmth higher up; exactly the opposite of what you get with a zippered coat.
Today I learned that if you keep the neck warm the face stays warm. I truly did not know this!!! No doubt in part because I've lived in hot places more often than cold ones.
I would agree, cloaks need to make a comeback, they are dramatic, they can be simple, elaborate, light, heavy, all SORTS of possibilities. And they're always beautiful, even if they're essentially just a blanket!!
I'm assuming that such clothing was generally made of wool for more than one reason? I expect it was relatively inexpensive to weave (well for some people), and isn't wool a bit water-repellent? But in warmer weather, would some other fabric have been used? I feel like linen was MUCH too expensive to use in this manner, but I'm not sure.
It makes great sense to me that the hood goes OVER the cloak for another reason - wet! If it's raining, at least, the hood would shed water much better, and you'd not get water going down the back of your neck (or not as often). And presumably that goes for snow too, though I've little to no experience with snow. I've owned a cloak similar to the third one you showed us, and YES it can be so very impractical if you need to move about a lot! The length of mine was longer than yours and I did in fact trip over my own hem a couple times. (We were playing at adventurers in the woods, haha, great fun but most certainly not historical OR practical!)
My mother owned a cloak similar to the last one, but nothing like so fancy. For one thing I'm pretty sure it was velour or some other polyester, but also it had an attached hood, no ties, and didn't come with any sort of cloak-brooch or pin. But it was a lovely color, storm cloud gray, and Mother looked excellent and dramatic in it as a costume piece. But just as you mentioned, the moment there was any hint of breeze - the hood went flying back! But that ended up being quite helpful, as we're in the American Southeast and it's ridiculously hot here even in the depths of January.
I would very much enjoy more of this kind of discussion! Especially the practicalities of horseback travel and cloak use. Thinking on the way that second cloak looked, I imagine the horse appreciates the cloak too, haha - it seems like it would drape across the hindquarters a bit, and grant some small protection from the weather.
Looks like the "balaklava" type headwear is very similar to that medieval hood piece. Mostly used in military and sports these days.
excellent fashion advice -
Well now this is making me rethink half my novel lol
I do wonder... I see a lot of "Celtic ruana" stuff on Pinterest, omitting the hood but basically making a big rectangle of fabric with a slit down the middle, which can be wrapped as a cloak in several ways and even as a dress over a shift of sorts. I wonder if that might be more historical/possibly the inspiration for the one you showed? I'm not even certain where to start looking to find out.
when my home educated daughter was wondering about any historical artifact she would write a letter to the British Museum and always got a helpfull reply
It should be no surprise that the real medieval ones keep you warm better than the costume/fantasy ones. I did however learn there was a difference today.
Two different purposes. One is to keep the tush warm; the other is to look cool.
If you think about it the only difference between a cloak with a hood and a hoodie is the sleeves and band of material at the bottom that keeps it looking like a shirt. I think cloaks would look great in casual outdoor settings in modern day, especially with all the materials that we have access to that the folks back in the day did not.
I had found it interesting that the Spanish word for cloak is "El Manto" and the Spanish word for blanket is "La Manta".
Now I do want cloaks to make a comeback, after seeing this.
For winter I do have a dufflecoat, wich is also wool and very nice.
wouldn't t it be great if people wore stuff like this again? Such class
Great video! A lot of new information about cloak for me
Cloaks need a come back
I had thot the cloak went over the mantle?! But that may be Hollywood influenced from the old Robin Hood days. Robin had a leather mantle w wool hood, at least as far as I remember. I caught Kramers vid on the Ruwana cloak and like it and actually just bought a wool blanket that I may turn into one. Am looking for some deer horn for buttons to join the front and possibly the sides. I think that the way to close it is back first so the wind doesn't catch it if you're walking into the wind. I'm stuck a little, because I like the blanket 'style' too and it's more conducive to a bedroll and can be used with a mantle as well. The LOTR cloak would be much better with the elven magic intact!
either works especially when windy.
I think it's a right proper shame we fased out cloaks and encompassing blanket-pieces in favour of the nowadays mismatched individual clothing pieces that are often full of gaps, or with questionable designs.
In my experience with LARPing, even the "worst" cotton or wool cloaks with hood gaps are far better at not only keep you warm, but still allowing you to regulate your temperature - and keep you dry and out of wind. Moreover, because they don't cling tight to your body overall, are less susceptible to sweat and other bodily dirt attaching to them.
I love cloaks, too, and I do wish they didn’t cause one to be stared at, when they’re worn in public. I have several heavy ruanahs that came from Scotland and they are beautiful and warm. Mine are cut a bit different from yours and are a better shelter from wind. When it’s been particularly cold I’ve worn 2 at once, one over the other. And I’ve been the most comfortable person at outdoor sporting events, with the addition of a stocking cap, gloves and boots. These are absolutely wonderful things to wear but as I said, people do stare! I’ve often wanted a Gandalf walking staff, suitability carved, of course! 😂 Wouldn’t that be cool? Love your videos and look forward to seeing you on horseback next time. Maybe on the newest beautiful horse?
Love this channel. Also, the new upcoming game looks awesome. I can wait to get it.
I think any re-enactor would agree with you that cloaks and hoods are amazing and wish they would come back into fashion. I guess the main issue is protection from rain rather than cold…when they get wet they are much heavier and more cumbersome than a mackintosh
I think cloaks should come back too! I have a fabulous weather-proofed grey wool one that I wear to take the dog out on chilly mornings. Bear in mind, I live in a city, so I am sure some people look at me askance, but I don't care. It's just so practical, comforting, and a little fun when it flairs out. Mine, as an aesthetically designed modern one, does have the too big of a hood issue. Good to know that it's not just me 😅
Would these have been expensive purchases? How often would people get a new one - obviously depdent on class? What colours would rhey have been? Would tye colours wash out?
I love your videos!
Cloaks have been around since prehistoric times, so they have been eminently functional for our survival. Actually, I prefer a cloak to a coat most of the time. Ones made of wool give off heat when wet, also a plus.
I like the inverness cape. It's pretty modern, unfortunately but one with a cowl would be great. Some kind of fantasy cloak/Cape.
A lot of modern clothing misses the point of a lot of functionality. For instance many coats and jackets from the 19th and 20th century had lapels that could be buttoned up and they would actually cover the neck when you folded the lapels up. Now a lot of coats made with a similar style either have lapels that don't fold up or don't have a button so they don't stay up. Similarly suit jackets had what is now called surgeon cuffs, they had buttons on the sleeves that allowed you to unbutton them and roll them up along with your shirt sleeves in case you had to get your hands dirty but couldn't or didn't want to take the jacket off. Now a lot of suit jackets have the buttons sewn on but they aren't functional buttons.
I would imagine the poncho design you might find in the lower latitudes where the cloak design would be the upper latitudes. I mean, you said it yourself. The cloak design is for warmth. The poncho design would primarily be for rain and maybe sun protection, hence poncho.
That second cloak would be good for keeping the rain off you, but not making you overheat as much. Does England have semi-warm rainy days like us in Oregon do?
Yes, please do cloaks on a horse. That would be great. Thank you. I loved this video. 😊
I had thought the Ruana was an extremely popular Irish cloak during ancient times, no? The name is a modern convention, as with most terms we use, but the idea of a rectangle with a slit in it is so fundamental it's hard to believe other cultures didnt do it too, especially for the poor.
I've most certainly taken an interest in wearing cloaks as of recent because its cold where I am, and I would pretty much wear one all the time. But if I had to choose, it'll have to be ones with hoods on them. Wearing hoodies is pretty much the "modern" equivalent to medieval apparels with cloaks, since you're pulling over a thick woolen or often cotton and polyester material. But even today's wearable hoodies, the materials aren't as thick and dense as these cloaks, while you will stay warm for the most part, you'll still feel the cold through it, because it's not trapping the heat from you body efficiently to keep you warm.
Love how in medieval clothing, practicality comes first, but aesthetics aren’t sacrificed, and instead are even somewhat more noticeable.
Same, I normally wear things that are comfortable but still aesthetically nice or cool like Japanese street wear as one example. The many pockets are useful and it looks really stylish while being so comfy.
I wonder how practical it would be to have an open ("movie style") hood, with a button on one side and slit on the other to close the hood if you wanted to. Because sliding on a historical hood (with a closed neck) looks uncomfortable in this video.
@@Red_Devil_2011I'm sure I've seen Medieval pictures where there are a couple of buttons on the neck beneath the face.
Some of it may have been the available materials and tools. Add in various combinations of time and place, social rank, finances, purpose of the clothing (such as work, court or celebrations, or travel), and esthetics. And that less can be more at times.
I prefer medieval clothing over modern fashion any day.
Any time I see a new Jason Kingsley video, I click! Endlessly fascinating to watch.
A video about medieval footwear would be very cool to see!
Great suggestion!
@@ModernKnightan update on your mule would be good too
Let me second that request!
I'll third that suggestion especially if it includes how it varied according to regions (within reason of course).
@@ModernKnight Yes please! I've always been curious what it was like to run or do sports in historical shoes, since nowadays we have lots of different marketed rubber/plastic soles intended to help. And I have no idea how anyone walked around on those lifted wooden clonker things.
As a mexican I sometimes wear a rustic poncho I got from my grandpa when it's cold or raining. I whole heartedly agree that traditional pieces of clothing like these should make a big comeback.
My mom's from Colombia. I go round in a ruana during the cold months.
Proper ones that do their job, not fashionable (if attractive) decorations.
Yes! To all the above comments, yes! I also go around in a ruana when it's cold, and I thoroughly agree that clothes should serve a practical purpose rather than being just for show.
I got my hands on a wool poncho from Peru. It was wonderful protection from the wind, rain and snow here in Sweden 😊
@@shinylilfishI have about half a dozen of them. And a collection of penannular brooches to wear with them.
I must say. The red cloth is contrasting beautifully with the green around you making the shot very visually pleasing. I'll now resume the video and keep watching. Nice upload Jason
John Dudley, the Duke of Nothumberland and father of Guilford Dudley and Robert Dudley famously wore a bright red cloak. (It didn't save him in the end).
Thanks Raf, I'm enjoying your channel too. My goodness your hair is long now. Mine just stops at the length it is now, just past my shoulders.
@ModernKnight I had similar issues with my hair not growing past my shoulders. Obviously the problem we have is excess breakage in the ends.
Depending on how much effort long hair is worth to you, I can recommend sleeping on a silk pillow, wearing a protective hairstyle at night, using hair oil in your mids and ends and brushing carefully with a soft brush.
Hope this helps, my hair is now down to my waist. :)
@@metatronyt And at that size, if you fold it correctly at the length, you can create a cowl to cover your head from rain and sun.
That's why superheroes wear red capes
I work in an office but I do wonder if I can start a corporate cloak trend.
I wear my capes, cloaks and ruanas in the office. People compliment me on them but, sadly, nobody else has started wearing them.
If you work in corporate, they should already have daggers. I can't see them saying no based on their mentality .
@@alexblack8634- There's a market: corporate daggers. If they're going to play games that would make the Borgias blush, they should have the weaponry. Everything from the anonymous, generic, stabby thing for the up-and-comer to a customized, bejeweled, showpiece.
@@meacadwell they might if they were available in a shop I expect.
Go for it! I've worn my cloaks to grocery stores, to school, even to work (once; I work on a farm, and my cloaks are very nice, so I don't like to wear them on the farm when it's muddy out). Absolutely start wearing it to the office, especially if yours has a particularly chilly AC.
A wizard wears precisely as many blankets as he means to. 🪄
"What's the Elvish word for cloak?"
@@MajorT0m one seem to be "collo", but I'm no expert.
I'm a cycle instructor . I cycle to whatever venue, up to 20 miles, spend at least 3 hours going at trainee's pace, then cycle home. I wear a hood ...sometimes shoulders only.. over my cycle waterproofs. Otherwise the 'waterproof' jacket will start to leak on the shoulders and upper arm. The hood protects my chest from wind blast without overheating my back. I often get comments 'that looks like mediaeval clothing' ..well, if something was in fashion for over a thousand years. .😊
If something _works_ for a thousand years....
@@julietfischer5056 that why I made my self for late in year or winter walking a mediaeval hood out of an old barber jacket and it has been outstanding to keep my warm and dry
Did you make that hood yourself, or is that something one can actually buy somewhere?
Second one for me, very practical, warm and can be used for sleeping in and the hood looked very cosy. Plus the dramatic swooshing…can’t have enough swooshing!
Gotta have that swoosh!
Perfect for entering a classroom full of wizards
The swoosh is a must.
If one is feeling indulgent, add a swish.
But only if you can pull it off. Swooshing takes practice.
I loved this medieval-plus-modern cloak fashion show. For me, the medieval hood plus that fabulous long half-circle cloak was the winning combination. Yes, wool keeps one warm - but wool also can absorb a lot of water, thus keeping one'd nether garments dry when walking through the rain. This being England, rain is not precisely a rare occurrence, is it ...!
I agree - everyone should have a cloak - i got one, and it works wonderfully well to keep one warm when the heating has conked out during a cold winter weekend when nobody is around to fix things, but that's what a wooden blanket is for, innit!
cloaks made of unwashed wool had some degree of water repellent properties due to the natural oils the fabric contained but they could also be quite smelly.
Wool with lanolin can repel a bit of water. Wool also insulates even when wet, though it does indeed get heavy.
@@okancanarslan3730 Spun and woven wool fabrics are generally too loose -- no matter how tightly the weaver tried to weave -- for good garments. One of the final processes was felting or fulling: The cloth was beaten (often underfoot and usually in stale urine) such that the fibers split and meshed with one another for a thicker, almost impermeable end result. The value of the separate hood/mantle garment worn over the large cloak (5:00) is that, a relatively small garment, it could be treated with an oil or wax for almost total waterproofing. Notice how the mantle part extends slightly beyond the cloak itself, serving as a watershed to direct run-off away from the underlying garment.
@@pricklypear7516 My ruana cloak is made of boiled wool--(woven and then partially felted, I guess? Not totally sure how the process works)--but it hasn't let me get wet yet!
That's why wizards have long beards - to protect their necks against cold weather.
that actually works ;-) ^^ especially in combination with a hood. I usually let my beard grow longer in winter, specifically to seal the neck of my jacket. I hate getting a cold throat.
No, they have so they can brush they're table
Oh how have missed your posts! Well done as usual! You wear the blanket very well indeed. I do see the horse hair on the cloak...nice touch! More realism.
lol, you noticed the hair!
@@ModernKnight Well yeah...I've owned lots of horses.🐴
Anyone else: I want to show you some cloaks.
Me: Zzzzzz...
Modern History TV: I want to show you some cloaks.
Me: By all means... :)
Another couple of cool things about cloaks:
1. If you're getting warm enough to sweat, I bet you don't even have to take it all the way off to cool down. And sweating is definitely something you want to avoid in cold conditions.
2. I saw a video on a different channel talking about how at least some cloaks (possibly post-Middle Ages, I'm not sure) had little "pockets" along the bottom hem that you would put something small and heavy into to weigh the cloak down against the wind. Because of that, though, cloaks could actually be wielded as weapons, and hence "cloak and dagger" fighting was a real thing. The clock could be used to deflect attacks or even injure an opponent.
in the 1974 Three Musketeers, you can see them use cloaks in their off-hands as part of their highly entertaining, brawling style of combat 😁
Cloak is nice on a horse because it traps and channels some of the heat coming off the horse onto the rider.
I have missed the uploads, glad they are back, 😀
Love how light hearted but educational your videos are, and you always do videos that really make you stop and think about how the little things have changed over the years, please don’t ever stop making videos man keep it up
You are welcome!
I made a wool felt cloak, short enough to walk in but long enough to not be terrible for riding. It was so warm that i made a Native American Capote which was almost as warm. I kept it in my pickup truck in winter in case of a break down on the back roads.
Love the shout out to Living Anachronism. That was cool. I’ve seen him do the same. Awesome community of people.
The big obstacle in the way of cloaks coming back into fashion: sleeves.
Coats with sleeves may not be quite as warm as a cloak, but if you need to, say, chop wood, or carry groceries, or pick up two-year-old grand kids, or anything else that requires you to use your arms, you have to open the cloak and expose your chest and abdomen to whatever cold or weather you're wearing the cloak to protect you from.'
In cases where you don't need arms, cloaks work. For example, I've seen high fashion cloaks for ladies and gentlemen arriving at red-carpet "events" wearing cloaks over their $5,000 gowns or their custom tailored suits (rather than a trench coat) because the cloak is easier to put on and remove without mussing the rest of the outfit.
There are cloak styles with slits for the arms. Some have fasteners along the front. (Shazam/Captain Marvel's cape is plainly based on that, with the frog closures down the two front edges.)
That is one of the benefits of the ruana-style cloak Kramer from Living Anachronism talks about in his video on the subject that Jason referenced here, at least when worn a particular way. One can essentially throw one of the front panels of that cloak (whichever is covering your dominant arm) over the opposite shoulder, freeing up that arm for use while still providing some warm covering for the upper chest area
(Incidentally, I love how many RUclipsrs are doing pieces on medieval cloaks and referencing and supporting one another's work, it's a delightful community they've made here!)
Some later cloaks were made with slits so you could stick you arms out, and I expect somewhere along the line someone said. "My body is warm but my arms are cold. What if we added tubes of material to cover your arms..." and the coat was invented.
Shepherds in the Indian mountains wear cloaks
Agreeed, especially in America in New England and The Great Lakes regions, where there is a saying "if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes." being able to envelope yourself in a cloak and hood or flip it on your back would be sooooo helpful, they always say "dress in layers" here, but with that functionality of a cloak, you wouldn't always have too.
also, while i know the medieval hood is more practical for the winter, the drawback that would hold me back is the bit that sticks up above your head looks goofy [some would also dislike the curved hood point], but if you could take that away with the cut it could be great, [unless that point above your head helps regulate or temperature in a good way]
@@Micolash_is_behind_you- Take a look at medieval and Renaissance art. They had numerous styles of hoods from the practical to the decorative.
We have that saying in Utah, too. It probably exists everywhere, honestly. :)
@@Micolash_is_behind_youthe easiest way to make it not look goofy is by getting a hood that is white.
An interesting note on modern cloaks used as military formal-wear. (See some South American/North African militaries or mid-20th century Germans) Is that they are not an evolution of the medieval cloaks shown but of overcoats. It was of course inconceivable for a gentleman to attend a formal event without an overcoat, but in Spain it was far too hot. So the military men took to wearing them over the shoulders . Soon they added a chain and clasp to hold it in place, eventually re-evolving into the cloak.
I do not have a medieval cloak, but I have a greatcoat. And I can confirm, it's a button up blanket with sleeves.
For many years, long ago when I was homeless, an army surplus greatcoat was very effective for keeping relatively warm during cold winter nights.
How do you even get military surplus stuff? I keep hearing people recommending it, but I've no idea where to look for it!
@@eliabeck689 In my State, as far as I know, military surplus can no longer be found.
Judging from episodes of “The Simpsons”, for example, and films such as “Falling Down”, cheap army surplus is readily available in the U.S.
Many years ago, military surplus, inluding uniforms, bayonets, machetes, and all sorts of webbing and other equipment, from Australia, West Germany and Britain, could be found at Allgoods in Launceston, Tasmania. Even ration packs were available. No more, alas. The shop even had Beefeater uniforms in the early ’80s but, to my regret, I was too poor to obtain one.
Depending on where you live you might have luck looking up an army disposal, or alternatively if you are like me an online one would be your best bet.
@@eliabeck689military surplus stores
I'm a little surprised Jason didn't mention that, unlike other types of cloth, wool keeps you warm even when it's wet, so it was ideal for a medieval traveler to wear even when riding or walking in the rain.
My wool cloak is the best winter garment I've ever had. If I wear long sleeves or a basic hoodie underneath it, I have enough to stay perfectly cozy (assuming the wind isn't too crazy)--hood, sleeves, wool outer layer to stay warm and dry. :)
I may up my game for this coming winter, here in the Colorado mountains. I see a wool cloak and hood with mantle in my future.
In another video, he mentions that when riding a horse, the cloak draped over the horse traps its body heat and keeps the rider warm, as well as the horse
@@FarmerRiddick Don't forget to wear some fake pointy ears, Mr. Baggins.
@@perniciouspete4986 😅 I would be a 6'3"ft/ 1.9M "hobbit"!
Ogre on my mountain, perhaps... with pointy ears and a donkey.
I love the way a long cloak looks on a horse. Bring back cloaks rather than skinny jeans 😆
Horses do look silly in skinny jeans!
@@j_taylor 🤣🤣 I meant when riding a horse but I did word that wrong.
Tbf, horses look good in just about anything so they could probably pull off skinny jeans. The real question is where would the waist be on them?
What about skinny hose? :D
Why is that exclusive? You can wear both!
I hate skinny jeans so much. Give me practical, sturdy, straight-cut jeans and a cloak any day! :)
I've started wearing woollen cloak in winter and I was surprised how comfortable it was, in many ways much more then modern clothing with modern materials. I started wearing it regularly. Soon after my whole family got one as well, as they were impressed by it's qualities. Doing our job bringing medieval fashion back!