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Medieval & Renaissance Cape and Cloak Costumes for Adult Men
During the Dark Ages, and moving into the Medieval period, men were still wearing loose, rectangular-shaped cloaks held together at the neckline with brooches, metal clasps, or buttons. Animal skins were often worn like capes, or capelets, over the shoulders of the cloaks with the fur showing outward. The cloaks were usually made of wool, however, cloaks made of animal skins with the fur turned inward were also worn for warmth during the frigid winters.
Animal skins worn mostly by the peasants consisted of sheep, lamb, goat, kid, squirrel, deer, and wolf. While the furs worn by the nobility were ermine, sable, mink, weasel, beaver, bear, lynx, otter, and civet cat. The styles of these cloaks were dependent on the resources at hand, the country in which the man lived, along with the man’s social rank. Leather for boots and shoes came from a variety of animals that were available. Nothing was wasted.
Men’s Medieval Faux Fur Mantle Cloaks
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These types of Medieval cloaks aren’t as difficult to find in ready-made costumes as they use to be thanks to the film Game of Thrones and the character Jon Snow. Many of the cloaks are cheaply made, but I was able to find a few higher-quality cloaks to feature here. Several of the Medieval fur mantle cloaks are not a single piece, but complete costumes. I have included them as an example of the types of men’s outfits worn under these cloaks during the Dark Ages up to the Medieval and Renaissance eras.
Men’s Medieval Black Faux Fur Mantle Collar Cloak
Jon Snow Game of Thrones Cosplay Costume
This black Jon Snow costume is not just the black cloak with a faux fur mantle collar. It is a complete costume including the cloak, a faux leather tunic top, pants, a belt, a two-panel underskirt apron, gloves and black faux leather shoe covers.
When wearing the cloak and the vests for a Medieval or Renaissance costume accessory, I would also purchase a silver or pewter cloak clasp to wear with the cape for a more authentic look.
Men’s Medieval Faux Rabbit Fur Trim Long Brown Cloak Costume
Made of a light-weight black cotton/poly blend with a faux rabbit fur mantle collar. This is not just a Medieval cloak, it also includes a faux leather costume perfect to wear to any Renaissance festival, LARP, RPG, reenactment event, cosplay event, and theater production. Included along with the cloak is a tan long sleeve faux leather under tunic, a sleeveless, dark brown, studded overcoat apron, a pair of dark brown faux leather wrist guards, and gloves.
A less expensive alternative to the previous cloaks featured for the budget conscious who still want to wear a fur mantle cloak with a Medieval outfit. I’m not saying it’s a super cheap one-time-use cape, but it’s not a high-quality cape either. It’s a “middle-of-the-road” faux fur cape. The fabric is thin so it won’t be too hot for a summer festival costume.
This linen cloak with a faux fur collar is a mid-length Renaissance style cloak. This type of cloak would have only been worn by noblemen during this historical period. As I’m sure you are aware, linen fabric is light-weight. It will not keep you warm by any means during the fall or winter. Even though this cloak has a faux fur collar it is a cloak designed more for summer Renaissance Festivals.
Perfect for Renaissance Fairs, theater productions, Halloween, and even Cosplay events, this plush brown cape with a faux fur mantle will fit the bill. Any Medieval King will look like the real deal flinging this cloak over his leather warrior outfit. Cloak Only. The warrior king costume is not included. Click here to find an awesome brown and black leather warrior tunic to wear under the cloak.
Men’s Medieval Brown Faux Fur Mantle Shoulder Cape
If you are handy with a sewing machine, it is possible to make a fabulous Medieval cloak at home using a pattern, If you know a seamstress or tailor pay them to make one for you. Personally, I do know how to sew. When I can’t find what I want in the way of thrift shop clothing or purchase costumes, I have been known to make what I need myself. Fur can be purchased by pelts or as rugs. Synthetic faux fur can be purchased by the yard for shoulder mantles. Cloaks and capes are the easiest pieces to sew even for a beginner seamstress.
I found a couple of simple tutorials on YouTube and a pattern on another website that show you how to easily make a fur Medieval mantle cloak using a simple pattern. Super simple and super easy.
How to Make a DIY Medieval Game of Thrones Fur Cloak
Prior to the invention of the hooded cowl, before the 8th century, men wore scarf cowls draped around their heads and necks to avoid the elements. They were long, wide lengths of fabric woven from the materials they had available in their region. These materials were most often flax and wool. Cotton was not a commodity in Europe at the time, however, it was available in Egypt and in what we now call, Middle Eastern countries.
Wealthy upper class men often wore elaborate decorative broaches as fasteners for the fabric while lower class peasants sometimes wore plain metal broaches.
The two scarf cowls draped on the men featured above are woven cotton measuring approximately 7.5′ X 4.27′. They have ample fabric to cover the head and drape around the neck and shoulders, as you can see.
The scarves are also available in black and blue and are a wonderful way to accessories a Medieval costume for reenactment costumes, LARP, RPG, Halloween, and festival costumes.
Adult Medieval Hooded Cowl Mantle Capes
The cowl was a common head-dress starting around the 8th century and continued to be worn for many centuries after. They were usually made from linen, wool or animal fur. They were originally only a very small, light-weight close fitting cap, but they gradually became extended in size into a hood which successively covered the ears, the neck, and lastly as a mantle over the shoulders.
Made of premium 100% cotton sweatshirt fabric, the hooded cowl featured above is a warm piece to add to a Medieval tunic costume. Even though the fabric isn’t an authentic fabric, it will sit nicely over the shoulders of a high neck tunic.
The hooded mantle cowls featured above are made of a soft light-weight polyester fabric perfect for summer Renaissance festivals, LARP, and Cosplay events.
This hooded cowl is not layers of wool cloth or animal fur, but it will work well as an addition to any Medieval or Renaissance Cape or cloak which does not have an attached hood. It does come with the cross but the cross can easily be removed. It is made of a cotton/poly blend and is available in 5 colors.
Most medieval cloaks did not come equipped with an attached hood. Attached hoods didn’t come along until the earlier part of the Renaissance period. Instead, capes and cloaks were worn with a separate hooded headpiece or a cowl. Originally, around the 9th century, the cowl hoods consisted of 2-layers of wool and a contrasting color cloth. The cowl hood draped completely over the shoulders and around the neck and throat to protect the head and face against the elements. For additional warmth during the winter, wool and leather hoods were often lined with animal fur.
Featured above are two cotton-blend Medieval hoods. These hooded half-capes should be worn over a long hoodless Medieval cape or cloak for a layered alternate style. They can also be worn over peasant shirts. However you choose to wear a cowl, they are a useful accessory to wear with reenactment costumes, LARP, RPG, and festival costumes.
They are also available in black and brown colors.
A really simple and inexpensive Medieval style hooded mantle cape with 2 faux leather buckles. The olive green fabric is almost like a thick flannel with a soft wooly feel. It is a great accessory for any Medieval costume including Hobbit and Elven costumes from Lord of the Rings.
Exclusive Design Medieval Single Shoulder
Mantle Hooded Cloak
This single mantle hooded cloak is a totally cool costume accessory! It’s a perfect accessory to enhance the look of a medieval highwaymen, huntsmen, archer, swordsmen, or pirate costume.
The top layer has dark brown leather shoulder protectors made from high-quality leather. The leather has been stressed to give it a wild, vintage effect and natural scratches have been left on the leather’s surface for that purpose. The stressing effect makes each piece a unique, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) piece. The leather mantle is a solid piece that contours over the shoulders. It laces in the front, covers the shoulders, and is shaped into a split on the back bottom in the shape of a “W”.
The removable hood is a thick, black, linen/cotton blend trimmed with black faux fur and lined, as is the black attached mantle. The asymmetrical knee-length mantle is attached to the left shoulder with a detachable black belt is on the right shoulder.
Keep in mind that the leather has been oiled to protect it and can rub off onto light-colored garments.
Men’s Historical Renaissance Cavalier
Black Shoulder Cape Replica
A replicated swordsmen’s black leather shoulder guard and black suede cape lined with blue satin. The shoulder guard is kept in place with metal fittings. Tie it all together easily with the wool ropes attached to suede straps. Visit my Musketeer Costume page for more cavalier costumes and accessories.
Men’s Medieval Long Black Woven Cape with Adjustable Leather Straps
During the Medieval era, men wore plain long capes such as this one featured above. They were worn long, as seen in the photo above, however, often they were worn like the Romans. The bottom corner of one side of the cape was pulled up and over the opposite shoulder It was then pinned closed with a decorative brooch. The fabric and colors used to make the capes were decided by the class of the man; whether a monarch, a noble or a peasant.
Long Manteau Black Velvet Fur Collar
Men’s Medieval Cape
An long elegant high-quality black cotton velvet Medieval cape. This cape comes with a faux fur collar that ties at the throat with decorative silver buttons on the cape mantle. It will help keep you warm in the chilly fall air and on cold winter night events. It is a great cape to wear with a Victorian costume too, especially for Halloween or in a Victorian era costume in a Christmas stage production.
Similar to the Manteau velvet cape except these Medieval mantle capes are not meant to keep you warm and they do not have fur collars. They do have antiqued silver bottons with black braided frog closures at the throat. They are fabulous cloaks to wear over a Renaissance costume to a summer fair, with a Vampire costume, a Sorcerer or Wizard costume.
Men’s Renaissance Capes and Capelets
Capelets are not full length capes. They are half capes falling mid-way on the body just below the hips or shorter. They are perfect with any Renaissance man’s outfit.
Renaissance Men’s Merchant Class Stonewashed Knee-Length Cotton Capes
A Rapier Cape, such as the example featured above, were meant for swordsmen and cavaliers during the Renaissance era. It was a cape also known to be worn by fashionable men of high-standing who flaunted it as a status symbol. This cape is a black heavy cotton/poly twill with a red satin lining.
Men’s Black Cotton Twill Rapier Capes Lined with Satin
During the Renaissance, the wealthy noblemen were quite extravagant in their dressing, and extremely fashion conscious. Wearing a short velvet capelet was considered very fashionable for men, even if he were not a swordsman or cavalier. They believed pretending they were swordsmen gave them more status in their fashion world. They considered themselves quite dapper and in high-fashion when seen out in public sporting a short velvet or brocade cavalier capelet.
Men’s Renaissance Forest Green Crushed
Panne Velvet Capelet
During the reign of Elizabeth I in 1574, she mandated that the use of the color purple in luxury fabrics was restricted for use solely by the monarchy. Only Queens, Kings, and their children could wear this color fabric.
The colors crimson and scarlet were reserved solely for use by the highest nobility which included dukes, marquises, earls, and of course the monarchy, although lower nobles such as viscounts, barons, and Knights of the Garter and their families could wear luxury fabric in other colors.
The only non-noble, middle- and lower-class persons allowed by law to wear clothing made of expensive luxury fabrics were those who were in service to the Queen through diplomatic positions; attendants in the privy chamber, such as the ladies-in-waiting, those men and women in service to the nobles; those employed in other court offices; or those whom were allowed the fabrics and other items of wealthy dress in their liveries.
For royalty only! If you’ll remember, due to the Sumptuary Laws during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, only royals and nobles could wear burgundy, red, and purple.
A soft high-quality stretchy velvet made in the U.S.A. The cloaks above and below are unlined making them a good choice for summer Renaissance Faires and Pirate Festivals. They are hooded and the front closes at the neck with long satin ties.
You won’t find a better value in a velvet cloak than these cloaks made by Artemisia Designs. They are very well made with quality fabrics in 29 different color cobinations for a very affordable cost. I am featuring just a few of the color combos here.
All of the cloaks are completely lined in satin, including the hood. The velvet is a poly-velvet and not an expensive cotton velvet, but they are still really nice velvet cloaks. I own a couple of them and find they work out great for costume wear.
These gray, ivory, and silver cloaks make fabulous additions to wizard costumes, such as Gandalf the Gray and Gandalf the White; to Elven King costumes such as Thranduil, or his son Legolas Greenleaf; for white knight costumes; Biblical costumes; or haunted, spirit costumes, to name a few.
Men’s Renaissance Long Velvet Satin Lined Hooded Cloaks by LuckyMjmy
Purchase the Renaissance velvet hooded cloaks featured above and below by the length you need and not by the size. (Be sure to look at the vendor sizing chart and not the Amazon sizing chart.) All of the sizes measure 70″ around the chest, and over 90″ around the circumference of the bottom hem. The key is to have someone measure you from the nape of the neck to the bottom of your shoe heel and order accordingly.
You may think you want the dramatic effect of having a longer cloak hem flowing out from behind you as you walk. Unless you are actually performing on stage, trust me, you don’t.
A longer, flowing hem will only drag in the dirt behind you at a Renaissance Festival catching on debris, turning into a filthy mess, while wearing holes into the hem’s fabric.
In a crowded environment, such as a club setting, or a Cosplay event it is not a possibility, but a probability, the hem will get stepped on by someone in the crowd. Often this will be lead to unfortunate mishaps and accidents. Especially when surrounded by people drinking and partying.
If you need cloaks for equine show costumes, then it is a good thing to order a cloak with a longer length. Longer lengths are perfect for draping over the backside of horses!
The gorgeous hooded velvet satin line cloaks featured above are available in another 28 color combinations!
Men’s Renaissance Long Taffeta and
Black Velvet Damask Cloaks
Men were much more extravagant in fashion than women, during the Renaissance, and taffetta velvet damask cloaks suchs as these would have been relished by the monarchy and nobles of that time.
Men’s Renaissance Long Brown Taffeta and Black Velvet Damask Cloak
Sumptuary Laws were used to control behaviour and to distinguish the different classes of people. These laws were maintained as early as the Roman Empire. During the Renaissance era, King Henry VIII of England passed the first English Sumptuary Laws. Under the reign of his daughter, Elizabeth I, the laws were strengthened and maintained.
By Law, Purple and Red Were Worn Only By Royals and Nobles.
Sumptuary Laws mandated only royals and their family could wear purple. Dukes, marquises, and earls could only wear purple doublets, jerkins, cloaks lined in purple, gowns, and hosiery. Red, scarlet, and crimson could only be worn by upper-class nobles holding the ranks of dukes, marquises, and earls.
Men’s Renaissance Long Black Taffeta and Black Velvet Damask Cloak
Gold and silver cloth, embroidery, satin, damask, silk, velvet, taffeta fabrics, and certain types of fur could only be worn by nobles making at least a £100 annually.
Men’s Renaissance Long Fabric Cloaks
Men’s long hooded cloaks made out of a variety of fabrics from wool to cotton canvas. They are the cloaks made for the common man in the Medieval and Renaissance historical periods.
A Pagan ritual style cloak perfect for Renaissance Faire costumes has an attached hood and button closures at the throat. The cloak is available in 3 different reversible color combinations: Black and Red, Hunter Green and Gold, and Navy Blue and Turquoise. (See Below)
A light-weight summer cloak perfect for a summer Renaissance Festival, cosplay, Role Playing Games or LARP events. Made in the USA from a slinky black Ottoman fabric, the design is a full circle with ample yards of fabric to fit large men up to a 56″ chest. The cloak closes at the throat with long satin ribbon ties. I would cut the ties and use a decorative metal cloak clasp instead, depending on what Renaissance charcter I am playing. For a winter event, I would go with a wool or velvet cloak instead of this one.
Cotton is a breathable fabric used to make these Medieval Renaissance cloaks. Cotton may shrink if washed and dried in a machine and will need ironing if left in a drier too long.
Surprisingly, for a cotton made product, these cloaks have a very affordable price. They are a well made costume cloaks for the budget-minded and a much better quality than the cheap-o polyester cloaks that can typically be found in party stores.
Very reasonably priced for a handmade cloak! It is made in America from a super durable fabric too. Bull denim is so tough because it’s heavier than levi denim and dyed on both sides. The cloak is available in 3 colors; black, olive green (shown) and brown. Additionally, it can be ordered in 3 lengths.
Cloaks made of light-weight outerwear fabric designed for summer Cosplay, LARP, RPG, or Renaissance costume events. They are also perfect cloaks fo all season theater events.
The hooded cloaks have black velvet tabbed closures accented with decorative Renaissance-style antiqued silver-tone buttons.
You may also get these cloaks in forest green, olive green, red, and royal blue colors. Any one of these cloaks will look awesome draped over the shoulders of your costume. Wear them for Renaissance, Victorian, or Fantasy costumes.
Men’s Medieval Renaissance Stone Cotton Hooded Mantle Capes
A Renaissance scholar’s robe is like a cross between a Medieval surcote and a cloak. They were actually called houppelandes in France and became popular with acadamia across Europe in the early 14th-century. The style was taken from an earlier man’s garment called a herigaut. The edgings of the sleeve openings, the front panels, and the hems of the houppelande were usually dagged. The dagged edges were usually cut into decorative patterns or trimmed with expensive braiding and embroidery. The men’s houppelande was usually worn loose or belted at the waist.
Men’s Medieval Templar Crusader Cloaks
Only a couple of Medeval Templar cloaks are being featured for all of you interested in Templar costumes. I don’t have a Knights Crusader Templar page built yet but plan to next year. In the meantime, there are a few Templar costumes featured on my Assassin’s Creed costume page.
I hope you have lots and lots of fun at your next costume event wearing one of these high-quality Renaissance costume cloaks. The capelets, capes, or cloaks featured here are amazing costume accessories designed to take your costume from ordinary to epic.
Keep in mind, there are only three really important things to remember when searching for the right Renaissance Cloak….. Keep Calm, Have Fun, and Keep It Frosty!
Before you leave, be sure to check out all of our wonderful Men’s Renaissance Separates Costumes
located on our Men’s Renaissance Costume Separates Archives Page.
And if you need Renaissance Accessories for any of your Men’s Renaissance costumes visit our Men’s Accessories Archive page too.
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