I've managed to arrange some clothing affiliate links with Burgschneider here as so many people were asking about cloaks and hoods. Capes & Cloaks burgschneider.com/en-de/collections/capes?sca_ref=6367457.sWBD8RmUzF&sca_source=7-2-24 Hoods & Headwear: burgschneider.com/en-de/collections/headgear?sca_ref=6367457.sWBD8RmUzF&sca_source=7-2-24 burgschneider.com/modernhistory
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 ?
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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 think it would be great to have a broach to wear a cloak for taking an evening walk around the neighborhood. Would perhaps doubles as a blanket you drape over your couch. However as Jason mentions they are not the most practical for riding a horse and I can imagine they are even less practical for riding around in cars. There's also the issue of hanging your cloak up when you arrive at your destination now that we have modern heating for our buildings. Although perhaps coats aren't as warm as cloaks, for the modern age they are more practical for living in an age where you're constantly taking your outerwear off and on. Coats didn't simply replace cloaks, but Coats + heaters in your car + heaters in every building you go to all combined replaced cloaks.
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.
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'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. .😊
@@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
@@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.
@@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.
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.
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).
@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. :)
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!
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. :)
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
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.
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.
@@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!
@@vivianevans8323 from my personal experience, apart from my oilskin jacket, wool has been the better material to repel water. You can especially tell the difference when it comes to gloves to keep your hands warm in the colder seasons. The older pair of wool gloves my dad gave me are far better than the cotton that most companies prefer to sell. If you ask me, cotton especially is better left to be simpler clothing. It’s a shame that more people are turning away from wool. Some of the older ways are definitely a more efficient way of protecting us than the newer devices we have now
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.
@@seanbryan4833 Sometimes I wish I could have sleeves only, waiting to test Bracers. I don't remember my neck getting too cold, I rarely wear a scarf even at negative 30 Celsius. What I remember from biology, arms and legs get cold 1st, as body keeps vital organs safe.
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.
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.
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]
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.
This humble peasant traveled so frickin hard, he found himself a wormhole and traveled in time to our current time, and he's kind enough to give us a first hand account on what life in medieval times looked like. You gotta admire that!
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!
@@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
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!
The medieval cloak and hood combo looked wonderfully cozy and comfortable. I wish cloaks would come back into fashion too. I love the wonderful swish and dramatic flair a proper cloak has.
I'm a reenactor and I own a hood-and-mantle, and it's absolutely wonderful to keep me warm when it's "a little cold" (say, autumn weather as opposed to deep-winter weather), especially when paired with a wool tunic or dress. I really wish they were more in fashion in modern life, because I'd wear mine ALL THE TIME. The only impractical thing about the full medieval cloaks (without sleeves) is that it's hard to move your arms without letting in the cold. (One of the reasons I think people either flung the cloak over their shoulders or came up with the split-seams under the arms.)
It's really great to see a content creator who doesn't want to misinform his viewers. I've been a fan of your channel for a few years and I honestly appreciate your authenticity man. 100%
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
I suppose the broach could be replaced with a pebble and a bit of cordage. (Maybe you lost the broach or just couldn't afford one, or you traded it for something)
at my university we had a compulsory 2 week programme where we made fibulae, antique nails and knives at a local forge for our archeology masters degree. It was so much fun and really helped with understanding these items and the thoughts going into making and using them.
I saw a video a few months back where a man demonstrated how to use a heavy-duty straight pin (looked more like a nail) and heavy thread to secure a cloak. Make your gathers, insert the pin, then basically a figure-8 with the thread or twine.
They are the most common archaeological findings since the Bronze Age. It was a case of "if it is not broke, don't fix it", it works well, other options were less versatile and/or more expensive. I mean, the single most common item made of gold in "viking" burial sites is a decorated fibulae, even lower class people had those sometimes.
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.
I must admit that while I have not worked in one, I see the "disadvantages" of the Ruana cloak as benefits. When doing my rounds as a mail carrier, I usually keep the side zips of my jacket open even to freezing temperatures, so I can see having the open sides help prevent excess sweat/overheating when working or hiking. Also, although the arms are certainly restricted when the Ruana is belted, I see that as a reasonable compromise in order to actually have full use of the hands. With the Medieval cloaks (like the rain cape I use at work), one has to choose between covering the front of the body by clutching the ends of the cloak together or being able to use one's hands but losing coverage of the front of the body.
@@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.
I think the interesting part about the cloak of medieval higher ups was how the managed to make them impractical: Instead of a brooch or a small band like you showed, they would use a piece of chain connected on both ends. This meant you constantly needed a free hand to hold it away from your throat and therefore showed that you did not really do physical work.
If the cloak is cut to fit the shoulders, it will tend to hang there and not slip back. If the chain and brooches holding the cloak are heavy (gold for instance) it helps to keep the chain from choking you. There also can be points to secure the cloak to the shoulders of the doublet.
@@yetanother9127 no you defintively see them in many medieval drawings. Also, when it came to the high/late medieval material culture those Romantics were actually quite good.
@@cindyknudson2715 Depends on your definition. I personally take the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople as the end of the Middle Ages, putting Henry VIII in the Early Modern period.
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.
This is definitely something so small but so actually neat yet no one really talks about it! Jason always manages to hit the nail right on the head with his topics, its greatly appreciated! I do wonder if buttons would fix that coat cloak indeed
25+ years ago, my friends and I made a movie in high school. There were some capes made, and I loved wearing them! Super comfy! Kind of like these cloaks here, they were simple bed sheets with a string sewn through them near one end. The extra material could be placed over the head like a pseudo-hood. Good memories! 😊
Cue repurpose of a silly movie famous quote: "That's not a summer. This is a summer! " .... Sitting in Brisbane Australia our middle of winter temperatures today are a few degrees warmer than the UK today. Our Abbey medieval festival is on this weekend. Can't wait to take the kids to see the jousting, archery and falconry events!
@@EggnogTheNog Sounds like San Francisco. It's usually 55 windy and foggy until mid July. Then it stays nice until the end of October. Sept is our hottest month!
Very nice cloaks! The 'cold sensor' on humans is the back of our necks down to our shoulder blades, where long hair would cover. Some modern sweatshirts have a double layer patch that seems decorative but is there for a purpose (perhaps forgotten by the garment industry and treated as a fashion item). Modern 'hoodies', a functional throwback to the Middle Ages hood, when the hood is down covers that same area, just like the Middle Ages hood does (including the long tail when the hood is up). ... as youtube puts up random bits, I saw someone using a drop spindle to twist carded fibers into yarn, then weave into a blanket; super labor intensive and why you'd want to not cut up a blanket to make clothing but keep it whole and have a cloak.
Larger hoods make sense in very cold climates in a modern sense. Scarves and hats go on first and then the hood goes on top of it. The large hood really helps keep blowing snow and the wind out of your eyes.
I’ve had several cloaks, but the best one for me was a red wool, ankle length cloak that buttoned up the front and had slits in the side for your arms. It was meant to be worn with a hat. It was really warm and quite beautiful. Because of the openings, your arms had good movement for most things. I wish I still had it🤗❤️🐝
Great! Remember, you said somewhere that it would be cool if people wore cosplay every day - I'm happy to report that this trend is starting to develop among the youth. My daughter walked around Warsaw as an elf, a troubadour, Will the Ranger... her friends too. I don't think I'd sew myself a wool cape for winter (at my height I'd look like a wandering hill) but the hood looks very inviting 😄
Now imagining people looking like wandering hills in the Medieval era! 😄But I'd welcome the variety of more people walking around in costume. Growing up in the capital of Britain's fascist party -- that's literal, not a slur -- in the 20th century was incredibly oppressive! In my steampunk days, I had a friend who changed his name to Gremlin and he had a friend who wore pointy ears every day. ;)
Ooo, this was so helpful for picturing how cloaks function/are described in one of my new favorite book series, The Prydain Chronicles (basis for Disney’s The Black Cauldron)! The early medieval style fits perfectly with how the cloaks are used as blankets throughout the series, especially since they are woven in one piece. Lovely video, as always. I’ve always wondered about the separate hood in the Middle Ages, and now it makes so much sense. Thank you! P. S. New desire unlocked: long High Middle Ages style cloak for horse riding plus hood. The beauty and practicality! Would love a video especially for horse riding.
the Prydain series (and then Narnia) were my gateway books to high fantasy in the 1970s! for sci-fi, we had The Tripods trilogy by John Christopher, and Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.
9:40 As a cloak-wearer, this issue with the hood is a really funny conundrum. A little waft of wind, or you start running, and *flap* off goes the hood. I made a short circular cloak that ends in the front just before the fingertips and i the back just to your knees. Not as warm, but excellent for walking in brambles or moving around a lot. Very little hampering of movement or snagging.
Cloaks became oddly popular at college back when I was living near one. It snows a lot there, and cloaks were big enough to cover backpacks, keeping them safer and dryer.
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!
I've only recently discovered your channel, and it's brilliant! The medieval food videos are fascinating. So are the rest! Thanks for your excellent content.
Ruannas are my favorite type of cloak. Mine is crocheted, so it's not wind proof, but it's great for curling up with in the winter when I'm reading or watching T.V. and its easier to walk around with than a blanket.
I have often wondered why we stopped using cloaks - they are such wonderfully practical garments if you spend any time in the outdoors. The best substitute I ever had was an old World War surplus greatcoat - I have indeed slept in that in a hedgerow more than once in a youth that included nights where you were too drunk to dare ride your motorbike home :O EDIT: The best advert for wearing a hood and cloak for winter walking that I have ever seen :D And we are definitely of like mind with regard to getting these garments back in use again.
When I bought my first full historically accurate Medieval outfit for novel research, I thought I'd either be too warm or too cold. To be honest, the stuff breathes really well. The layering is a thinner silhouette than a modern heavy jacket and sweater and very insulating. The only Medieval stuff I don't like are briaes and chausses. Giant underpants with straps and dude hose on sasquatch hairy legs are not fun!
Those standalone medieval hoods look like they’d be exceptionally useful when attending ice cold NFL games. You could make one in your team’s colors and probably get on TV. Thanks!
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
I wear both a separate skjöldehavn Viking Hood and a hooded raincloak, in a silicone treated cotton, a larp tentfabric, even exsperimented setting it up as an improvised tarp shelter
As a semester, the last cloak suggests that the wearer could tuck the lower part of the hood into the neck of the garment, and then fasten it with a brooch or pin. This would provide protection for the throat while maintaining the overall protection of the garment as a whole.
Lovely gallop through history on The Cloak, I do like the hooded poncho you demonstrated, extra special with talk on many types of cloaks from films and medieval period. Thank you for your wonderful series continuing.
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.
Best dude ever! Lives the mediaeval dream in modern life and makes RUclips videos about it. Can just see / hear your passion for the past (with a dab of fantasy thrown in for good measure!). G'day from Oz! 😁👍🇦🇺🇬🇧
I wear a short wool cape (no hood) indoors in the winter. Very flexible for how warm I want to be. Having a cuppa means sitting which makes me feel cold, even in a heated house. Maybe its my age, 75, A cape is the answer.
Oh my, cloaks! I'm a knitter and used to also sew a good deal. I had to make Elizabethan peasant costumes for myself and others, but we worked in Sunny California so no cloaks! I did design one that was similar to the squared off one you showed that had no hood, in a lovely soft forest green velour. I had forgotten about it until you were showing that cloak! Also have a "poncho" made from Alpaca in Uruguay, and it is divine! Very warm and wonderful. So when I was watching the Rings films, I spent alot of time comparing that garment to what the Hobbits were wearing and living in even at Mountain heights and other cold looking places! It was hard to feel warm enough! So thank you for this. No doubt I will be exploring your other topics!
During the Roman occupation of Britain, a hooded woolen cloak called the Birrus Brittanicus is listed as an important British export, traded throughout the empire.I wonder if the manufacture of the Birrus continued into the Early Medieval. I hope so. In my Arthurian novel, set c. 500 CE, I have a scene in which Merlin, while on horseback, is having a bit of trouble adjusting the hood of his cloak. (So I’m particularly looking forward to your next video!) There is a good depiction of these hooded cloaks on the Genii Cuculatti relief at Housesteads Fort on Hadrian’s Wall. A photo of it can be viewed on The English Heritage website, “Housteads Roman Fort Collection Highlights.” There is also a short article about the Birrus Britannicus in a 6 Oct 2013 issue of The Guardian titled, “Weatherwatch: Wrapping up warm on Hadrian’s Wall.”
Love how you talk about day to day life, mostly likely 99.9% of the time life was fecking boring, and not about fighting knights and dragons etc. more likely about looking after farm animals and planting seeds, and avoiding ghosts in the forest. So simple but so despite to stay alive.
If i remember correctly either the first video of your i saw or the video that made me subscribe was you demonstrating the variety of uses for a medieval cloak.
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.
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
@@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?
I have a long poncho my mum made for me over 40 yrs ago. It has a hood, but it's a long tube, which fits close to my face when worn up, yet hangs like a cowl neck when pulled off my head. The only closed seam is the one on the hood, so its open under my arms. I overheat easily, so the design has always worked for me, but wouldn't be ideal for harsh, windy, winter days/nights. Love that thing, regardless.
I finally got around to joining up. Sorry for the delay. Looking forward to seeing more of your content. Keep it up man. 🙂 Hmmm, I'm going to pick up a couple of Wool Army Surplus Blankets and make myself and my Grandson Cloaks as well as hoods. My dear departed Grandma ensured that I was skilled in the use of a needle and thread. I think she was concerned that I'd end up as a Bachelor. Close but no cigar! LOL Thanks Gran! 🤣
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.
@@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 😂
another great and informative video. My wife and i both wear woolen hooded cloaks. Mid calf in length and cut in a semi circle. Only difference of course is the built in hood. You are quite correct, regarding the hood. Ours are also quite "full" and cause more issues than solve. Great for sitting around a campfire but NOT for walking or running.
I actually started using a cloak as a "raincoat" after I saw it in one of your videos a few years ago. One of the integrated hood persuasion. Except in the summer, because there I just embrace the rain. It's so much better than an umbrella - it covers my backpack and lower body too, and I have both hands free.
Twas right around that 05:00 mark that I decided to Subscribe. You have solved the: I don't like chill breezes down the back of my neck & my head is getting wet from the sNOw/rain. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I've managed to arrange some clothing affiliate links with Burgschneider here as so many people were asking about cloaks and hoods.
Capes & Cloaks
burgschneider.com/en-de/collections/capes?sca_ref=6367457.sWBD8RmUzF&sca_source=7-2-24
Hoods & Headwear:
burgschneider.com/en-de/collections/headgear?sca_ref=6367457.sWBD8RmUzF&sca_source=7-2-24
burgschneider.com/modernhistory
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.
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.
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.
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?
1000% agree on bringing cloaks back. Doing my part by wearing my wool cape most days haha
I think it would be great to have a broach to wear a cloak for taking an evening walk around the neighborhood. Would perhaps doubles as a blanket you drape over your couch. However as Jason mentions they are not the most practical for riding a horse and I can imagine they are even less practical for riding around in cars. There's also the issue of hanging your cloak up when you arrive at your destination now that we have modern heating for our buildings.
Although perhaps coats aren't as warm as cloaks, for the modern age they are more practical for living in an age where you're constantly taking your outerwear off and on. Coats didn't simply replace cloaks, but Coats + heaters in your car + heaters in every building you go to all combined replaced cloaks.
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'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?
I wonder if I would have even gotten into cycling if I didn't live in southern California 😂
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.
I often wondered why folks wore a separate hood with a cloak. Now I know why. Thank you for showing us.
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.
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'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!
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.
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 😁
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!
@@vivianevans8323 from my personal experience, apart from my oilskin jacket, wool has been the better material to repel water. You can especially tell the difference when it comes to gloves to keep your hands warm in the colder seasons. The older pair of wool gloves my dad gave me are far better than the cotton that most companies prefer to sell. If you ask me, cotton especially is better left to be simpler clothing. It’s a shame that more people are turning away from wool. Some of the older ways are definitely a more efficient way of protecting us than the newer devices we have now
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.
👏👏👏
And he has no worry to keep his neck warm
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.
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
@@seanbryan4833 Sometimes I wish I could have sleeves only, waiting to test Bracers. I don't remember my neck getting too cold, I rarely wear a scarf even at negative 30 Celsius. What I remember from biology, arms and legs get cold 1st, as body keeps vital organs safe.
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.
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.
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.
This humble peasant traveled so frickin hard, he found himself a wormhole and traveled in time to our current time, and he's kind enough to give us a first hand account on what life in medieval times looked like. You gotta admire that!
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
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.
Love the shout out to Living Anachronism. That was cool. I’ve seen him do the same. Awesome community of people.
The medieval cloak and hood combo looked wonderfully cozy and comfortable. I wish cloaks would come back into fashion too. I love the wonderful swish and dramatic flair a proper cloak has.
I'm a reenactor and I own a hood-and-mantle, and it's absolutely wonderful to keep me warm when it's "a little cold" (say, autumn weather as opposed to deep-winter weather), especially when paired with a wool tunic or dress. I really wish they were more in fashion in modern life, because I'd wear mine ALL THE TIME. The only impractical thing about the full medieval cloaks (without sleeves) is that it's hard to move your arms without letting in the cold. (One of the reasons I think people either flung the cloak over their shoulders or came up with the split-seams under the arms.)
It's really great to see a content creator who doesn't want to misinform his viewers. I've been a fan of your channel for a few years and I honestly appreciate your authenticity man. 100%
Thanks for the support.
@ModernKnight You're welcome man. Looking forward to future videos bro.
Cloaks are intrinsically elegant and dramatic. ❤️😊
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!
Fibulae (those safety pin brooches) are for a reason one of the most common archaeological findings from that era.
I suppose the broach could be replaced with a pebble and a bit of cordage. (Maybe you lost the broach or just couldn't afford one, or you traded it for something)
at my university we had a compulsory 2 week programme where we made fibulae, antique nails and knives at a local forge for our archeology masters degree. It was so much fun and really helped with understanding these items and the thoughts going into making and using them.
I saw a video a few months back where a man demonstrated how to use a heavy-duty straight pin (looked more like a nail) and heavy thread to secure a cloak. Make your gathers, insert the pin, then basically a figure-8 with the thread or twine.
@@wolfsmaid6815that is so cool
They are the most common archaeological findings since the Bronze Age. It was a case of "if it is not broke, don't fix it", it works well, other options were less versatile and/or more expensive.
I mean, the single most common item made of gold in "viking" burial sites is a decorated fibulae, even lower class people had those sometimes.
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
I also wish cloaks would come back into fashion; I love them. 🥰
I must admit that while I have not worked in one, I see the "disadvantages" of the Ruana cloak as benefits. When doing my rounds as a mail carrier, I usually keep the side zips of my jacket open even to freezing temperatures, so I can see having the open sides help prevent excess sweat/overheating when working or hiking. Also, although the arms are certainly restricted when the Ruana is belted, I see that as a reasonable compromise in order to actually have full use of the hands. With the Medieval cloaks (like the rain cape I use at work), one has to choose between covering the front of the body by clutching the ends of the cloak together or being able to use one's hands but losing coverage of the front of the body.
I wore a semi circle cloak and hood combination for the first time at Avebury on the solstice this year. I was amazed how practical and it was
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
My mind's still blown from your demonstration of the medieval hat just being the hood worn backwards!
7:00 "Hi Kramer"
Living Anachronism Kramer got spot-lighted. :D
I have missed the uploads, glad they are back, 😀
I think the interesting part about the cloak of medieval higher ups was how the managed to make them impractical:
Instead of a brooch or a small band like you showed, they would use a piece of chain connected on both ends. This meant you constantly needed a free hand to hold it away from your throat and therefore showed that you did not really do physical work.
If the cloak is cut to fit the shoulders, it will tend to hang there and not slip back. If the chain and brooches holding the cloak are heavy (gold for instance) it helps to keep the chain from choking you. There also can be points to secure the cloak to the shoulders of the doublet.
I'm fairly sure that little chain is a post-Medieval invention; you more often see them on Victorian opera cloaks than anything Medieval.
@@yetanother9127 no you defintively see them in many medieval drawings.
Also, when it came to the high/late medieval material culture those Romantics were actually quite good.
@yetanother9127. What period is King Henry the VIII?
@@cindyknudson2715 Depends on your definition. I personally take the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople as the end of the Middle Ages, putting Henry VIII in the Early Modern period.
Cloak is nice on a horse because it traps and channels some of the heat coming off the horse onto the rider.
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.🐴
Ah, I just made bread. I assumed it was flour with no logical reason. Of course it is Warlord!
This is definitely something so small but so actually neat yet no one really talks about it! Jason always manages to hit the nail right on the head with his topics, its greatly appreciated! I do wonder if buttons would fix that coat cloak indeed
I have a frog (fastener, not the critter) that works quite nicely to close my cloak at the throat without choking me.
25+ years ago, my friends and I made a movie in high school. There were some capes made, and I loved wearing them! Super comfy! Kind of like these cloaks here, they were simple bed sheets with a string sewn through them near one end. The extra material could be placed over the head like a pseudo-hood. Good memories! 😊
Cloaks in the middle of the summer. I admire your dedication Sir!
Well, you could encounter an evil mage with a frost or blizzard spell any time of the year, so...
@@Poisonedblade An excellent point.
Cue repurpose of a silly movie famous quote: "That's not a summer. This is a summer! " .... Sitting in Brisbane Australia our middle of winter temperatures today are a few degrees warmer than the UK today.
Our Abbey medieval festival is on this weekend. Can't wait to take the kids to see the jousting, archery and falconry events!
At this point in a British Summer, the temperature might not even reach 18C/70F.
@@EggnogTheNog Sounds like San Francisco. It's usually 55 windy and foggy until mid July. Then it stays nice until the end of October. Sept is our hottest month!
Very nice cloaks! The 'cold sensor' on humans is the back of our necks down to our shoulder blades, where long hair would cover. Some modern sweatshirts have a double layer patch that seems decorative but is there for a purpose (perhaps forgotten by the garment industry and treated as a fashion item). Modern 'hoodies', a functional throwback to the Middle Ages hood, when the hood is down covers that same area, just like the Middle Ages hood does (including the long tail when the hood is up). ... as youtube puts up random bits, I saw someone using a drop spindle to twist carded fibers into yarn, then weave into a blanket; super labor intensive and why you'd want to not cut up a blanket to make clothing but keep it whole and have a cloak.
Larger hoods make sense in very cold climates in a modern sense. Scarves and hats go on first and then the hood goes on top of it. The large hood really helps keep blowing snow and the wind out of your eyes.
I’ve had several cloaks, but the best one for me was a red wool, ankle length cloak that buttoned up the front and had slits in the side for your arms. It was meant to be worn with a hat. It was really warm and quite beautiful. Because of the openings, your arms had good movement for most things. I wish I still had it🤗❤️🐝
highly underrated channel
Great! Remember, you said somewhere that it would be cool if people wore cosplay every day - I'm happy to report that this trend is starting to develop among the youth. My daughter walked around Warsaw as an elf, a troubadour, Will the Ranger... her friends too. I don't think I'd sew myself a wool cape for winter (at my height I'd look like a wandering hill) but the hood looks very inviting 😄
Now imagining people looking like wandering hills in the Medieval era! 😄But I'd welcome the variety of more people walking around in costume. Growing up in the capital of Britain's fascist party -- that's literal, not a slur -- in the 20th century was incredibly oppressive! In my steampunk days, I had a friend who changed his name to Gremlin and he had a friend who wore pointy ears every day. ;)
Ooo, this was so helpful for picturing how cloaks function/are described in one of my new favorite book series, The Prydain Chronicles (basis for Disney’s The Black Cauldron)! The early medieval style fits perfectly with how the cloaks are used as blankets throughout the series, especially since they are woven in one piece.
Lovely video, as always. I’ve always wondered about the separate hood in the Middle Ages, and now it makes so much sense. Thank you!
P. S. New desire unlocked: long High Middle Ages style cloak for horse riding plus hood. The beauty and practicality! Would love a video especially for horse riding.
the Prydain series (and then Narnia) were my gateway books to high fantasy in the 1970s!
for sci-fi, we had The Tripods trilogy by John Christopher, and Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.
I love these simple, practical analyses.
9:40 As a cloak-wearer, this issue with the hood is a really funny conundrum. A little waft of wind, or you start running, and *flap* off goes the hood.
I made a short circular cloak that ends in the front just before the fingertips and i the back just to your knees. Not as warm, but excellent for walking in brambles or moving around a lot. Very little hampering of movement or snagging.
Cloaks became oddly popular at college back when I was living near one. It snows a lot there, and cloaks were big enough to cover backpacks, keeping them safer and dryer.
I love the practicality as you can conceal weapons. Use it as blanket.
It also looks lovely, I wish they would come back in style!
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
I've only recently discovered your channel, and it's brilliant! The medieval food videos are fascinating. So are the rest! Thanks for your excellent content.
Ruannas are my favorite type of cloak. Mine is crocheted, so it's not wind proof, but it's great for curling up with in the winter when I'm reading or watching T.V. and its easier to walk around with than a blanket.
I have often wondered why we stopped using cloaks - they are such wonderfully practical garments if you spend any time in the outdoors. The best substitute I ever had was an old World War surplus greatcoat - I have indeed slept in that in a hedgerow more than once in a youth that included nights where you were too drunk to dare ride your motorbike home :O
EDIT: The best advert for wearing a hood and cloak for winter walking that I have ever seen :D And we are definitely of like mind with regard to getting these garments back in use again.
2:17 in my opinion as an artist and a character designer, this is the coolest one!
When I bought my first full historically accurate Medieval outfit for novel research, I thought I'd either be too warm or too cold.
To be honest, the stuff breathes really well. The layering is a thinner silhouette than a modern heavy jacket and sweater and very insulating. The only Medieval stuff I don't like are briaes and chausses. Giant underpants with straps and dude hose on sasquatch hairy legs are not fun!
Those standalone medieval hoods look like they’d be exceptionally useful when attending ice cold NFL games. You could make one in your team’s colors and probably get on TV. Thanks!
I'm certain there are patterns available. Plenty of styles for your level of sewing skill.
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
I wear both a separate skjöldehavn Viking Hood and a hooded raincloak, in a silicone treated cotton, a larp tentfabric, even exsperimented setting it up as an improvised tarp shelter
Experimented
Fantastic, history made easy to understand for what would have been every day wear.... thanks for sharing with us 👍
7:03 Was not expecting a Living Anachronism shout out, nicely done.👍
Thanks for wearing winter clothing in the summer and sweating your heart out on our behalf, Jason!
🤣👍
As a semester, the last cloak suggests that the wearer could tuck the lower part of the hood into the neck of the garment, and then fasten it with a brooch or pin.
This would provide protection for the throat while maintaining the overall protection of the garment as a whole.
Anyone enjoying this channel I truly hope has tried the game Kingdom Come : Deliverance. Great channel. Great game
I randomly started shopping for cloaks and naturally came across this video, loved every minute of it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Finally, someone besides me knows that gigantic hoods are pointless for practicality
Nice work on the sound on this one. Given all the material being swooshed around quality was still great.
Never thought I'll see a medieval Superman.
Found this absolutely fascinating!
I now want an authentic one!
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.
Lovely gallop through history on The Cloak, I do like the hooded poncho you demonstrated, extra special with talk on many types of cloaks from films and medieval period. Thank you for your wonderful series continuing.
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.
Best dude ever! Lives the mediaeval dream in modern life and makes RUclips videos about it. Can just see / hear your passion for the past (with a dab of fantasy thrown in for good measure!). G'day from Oz! 😁👍🇦🇺🇬🇧
I wear a short wool cape (no hood) indoors in the winter. Very flexible for how warm I want to be. Having a cuppa means sitting which makes me feel cold, even in a heated house. Maybe its my age, 75, A cape is the answer.
Oh my, cloaks! I'm a knitter and used to also sew a good deal. I had to make Elizabethan peasant costumes for myself and others, but we worked in Sunny California so no cloaks! I did design one that was similar to the squared off one you showed that had no hood, in a lovely soft forest green velour. I had forgotten about it until you were showing that cloak! Also have a "poncho" made from Alpaca in Uruguay, and it is divine! Very warm and wonderful. So when I was watching the Rings films, I spent alot of time comparing that garment to what the Hobbits were wearing and living in even at Mountain heights and other cold looking places! It was hard to feel warm enough! So thank you for this. No doubt I will be exploring your other topics!
As a fantasy illustrator, I find this incredibly useful. Thank you ever so much.
Our pleasure
During the Roman occupation of Britain, a hooded woolen cloak called the Birrus Brittanicus is listed as an important British export, traded throughout the empire.I wonder if the manufacture of the Birrus continued into the Early Medieval. I hope so. In my Arthurian novel, set c. 500 CE, I have a scene in which Merlin, while on horseback, is having a bit of trouble adjusting the hood of his cloak. (So I’m particularly looking forward to your next video!)
There is a good depiction of these hooded cloaks on the Genii Cuculatti relief at Housesteads Fort on Hadrian’s Wall. A photo of it can be viewed on The English Heritage website, “Housteads Roman Fort Collection Highlights.” There is also a short article about the Birrus Britannicus in a 6 Oct 2013 issue of The Guardian titled, “Weatherwatch: Wrapping up warm on Hadrian’s Wall.”
Love how you talk about day to day life, mostly likely 99.9% of the time life was fecking boring, and not about fighting knights and dragons etc. more likely about looking after farm animals and planting seeds, and avoiding ghosts in the forest.
So simple but so despite to stay alive.
If i remember correctly either the first video of your i saw or the video that made me subscribe was you demonstrating the variety of uses for a medieval cloak.
I'm watching this video wrapped in my electric throw blanket. I shall henceforth refer to it as my "electric cloak".
😂😂
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.
Great video, my second favourite after the one about the medieval hoods
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 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 have a long poncho my mum made for me over 40 yrs ago. It has a hood, but it's a long tube, which fits close to my face when worn up, yet hangs like a cowl neck when pulled off my head. The only closed seam is the one on the hood, so its open under my arms. I overheat easily, so the design has always worked for me, but wouldn't be ideal for harsh, windy, winter days/nights. Love that thing, regardless.
In The Lord of the Rings, the fellowship were already fairly far south, and past the harshest part of winter, when they received their cloaks.
I finally got around to joining up. Sorry for the delay. Looking forward to seeing more of your content. Keep it up man. 🙂 Hmmm, I'm going to pick up a couple of Wool Army Surplus Blankets and make myself and my Grandson Cloaks as well as hoods. My dear departed Grandma ensured that I was skilled in the use of a needle and thread. I think she was concerned that I'd end up as a Bachelor. Close but no cigar! LOL Thanks Gran! 🤣
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!
another great and informative video. My wife and i both wear woolen hooded cloaks. Mid calf in length and cut in a semi circle. Only difference of course is the built in hood. You are quite correct, regarding the hood. Ours are also quite "full" and cause more issues than solve. Great for sitting around a campfire but NOT for walking or running.
That first hood looked cozy af.
I actually started using a cloak as a "raincoat" after I saw it in one of your videos a few years ago. One of the integrated hood persuasion. Except in the summer, because there I just embrace the rain. It's so much better than an umbrella - it covers my backpack and lower body too, and I have both hands free.
@ 2:09 - - - Medieval "Superman"!
Twas right around that 05:00 mark that I decided to Subscribe. You have solved the: I don't like chill breezes down the back of my neck & my head is getting wet from the sNOw/rain. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I would definitely like to hear a take on mbringing back modern cloaks