The Inverness cape is a form of weatherproof topcoat. It is notable for being sleeveless, the arms emerging from armholes beneath a cape.
It began as the Inverness coat, a topcoat with sleeves covered by a long cape, reaching the length of the sleeve. By the 1870s, the cape split in two and a small cape on each side was sewn into the side seams, not taken across the back. In the 1880s the sleeves were removed entirely and the armholes cut away beneath the cape to form the Inverness cape.
The fronts of the coat may be finished in either of two styles: in one, the more formal, the topcoat is finished with short lapels and the capes are set back behind them. In another style, there are no lapels. A simple fall collar with a tall stand is used, the capes buttoning across. These were also favoured for less formal wear, particularly by coachmen and cab drivers, who needed free movement of their arms.
Read more about Inverness Cape: Highland Dress, In Popular Culture
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