Figure 1.--Au Bon Marche offered the school cape seen here. Note the school work he carries, an indication that this was a school style. Also notice that the model is shown wearing a beret.

Capes were reportedly worn by both both boys and girls. We believe that they were primarily a school uniform garment. We are not sure how popular they were. They seem to have been worn primarily at private Catholic schools that had uniforms, but our information is very limited. Some were styled specifically for boys or girls. Some could be worn by both. I'm not sure if there were different gender appropriate styles. The capes we have seen had separate but matching hoods. We note Au Bon Marché offered a hooded cape with a selection of school capes.

Au Bon Marche HK-1215: Hooded Cape

French boys still wore capes in the 1940s. I believe this was seen as a school style. Note the school work that he is carrying in the illustration. The ad copy read, " PELERINE capuchon fixe et ouvertures caoutchouc ciré, marron ou bleu 0m50 ... 30. 3 en plus par 0,05 Tissu caoutchouté genre lin , beige clair ou marine 0m50 49. 4. en plus par 0,05." This translates as, "CAPE with fixed hooded and polished rubbed opening, brown or blue 0,50 meter. 30 francs. 3 francs per 5cm more. Rubberized material alike lin, light beige or dark blue 0,50 meter 49 francs. 4 francs per 5cm more."

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Created: 5:59 PM 3/19/2005
Last updated:5:59 PM 3/19/2005