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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormrunner" data-source="post: 2524015" data-attributes="member: 13471">I have a Russian Army surplus officer's cape which, apart from the length and material, is much like the oilskin cloak described above - stormflapped arm slits and all.  It's waist-length, solid wool (and heavy - 6-7 pounds!), meant to be worn over the top of a greatcoat in especially bad weather.  I don't wear it often, due to the weight, but man is it warm.  Replace the cheap stamped-tin buttons with wood or bone ones and it wouldn't draw much comment in a Victorian or even medieval setting.My SCA experience with cloaks and capes leads me to believe that, unless it's a very light, fashion-only cape, a cloak or cape is not easily yanked off.  Anything that provides warmth or weather protection, be it wool, fur, oiled canvas, or whatever, is going to be heavy.  In order to support that weight, and keep the wearer from being constantly half-strangled, the garment needs to be either buttoned in front, or pinned to the underlying clothing, and the pin(s)/buttons must be fairly strong.  Removing one voluntarily would be at least a standard action (for a cape or light cloak with a single pin), and a full-round action or more for one that's buttoned up (like unbuttoning a dress shirt).</blockquote>