Capes/Cloaks

[Marc Chevalier]

FDR's Cape

This is exactly the sort of cape that Franklin Delano Roosevelt wore at the Yalta conference. He wore it there with a grey flannel D/B suit underneath it. Looked incredibly good. This particular one was made two years before the Yalta Conference.

I am shocked that it went for such a low price on eBay. Did anyone here win it?



The auction was here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Amazing-Vintage...421370658QQcategoryZ52385QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And here are photos of FDR at Yalta. (Thanks, Scotrace!) Note his cape:

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[jamespowers]

Holy Crimony! I'll take four at that price.

Regards,

J

 

[scotrace]

Heartbreaker

Oh no... that makes me ill. I would have bid to the death for that cape.

The pictures of FDR at Yalta have always held a big fascination for me because of that cape! He looks really great in it and I thought it took some courage to wear it. Few men could have pulled it off - he made it look dramatic. It adds to his legend, I think.

Probably, it was chosen to help disguise his wasting frame, as his health was failing rapidly.

Thanks once again Marc. Who would EVER think that such a thing would turn up? Not even on my radar. I would have eaten toast for six months to buy that cape.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It's probably the coolest thing that a U.S. president has ever worn. (Abe Lincoln's stovepipe hat was more distinctive than cool.)

 

[Matt Deckard]

Quite a hero mystique wouldn't you say?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Radical.

I never knew it was a standard item available to naval officers. I thought F.D.R. had it tailor made.
There must be a few more of these capes out there somewhere.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It was a standard item, which made FDR even cooler for adopting it. (Remember that during World War I, he was Secretary of the Navy.)

Sort of like Napoleon wearing a standard corporal's uniform throughout his life.

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[Marc Chevalier]

And yes, vintage ones pop up on eBay, but they usually go for much more money. This one went cheap, and its velvet collar is in unusually good condition.


A few years back, the J. Peterman catalog sold reproductions of it for more than $500.

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[Maj.Nick Danger]

Whoaa!

Should have sold for big bucks then! Army officers could also wear a cape with their evening dress uniforms if they wished.
I have never seen one of those offered for sale anywhere either.
People just overlook rare items at times, not realizing what they are. [huh]
But where was I when this was on the block?! :eusa_doh:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I have never seen one of those offered for sale anywhere either.

I've seen three of these in thrift stores -- at different times, of course. All three were badly moth-eaten, and the nap was worn off of the velvet collars.

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[Tony C]

FDR cape

to Marc, et al: That cape FDR wore at Yalta can still be purchased new from the maker: goes for about $399 I think; you can find it in a google search. I am looking for a US Navy cape, navy blue wool with peacoat buttons (etched anchor motif) on the front, knee length with bright red wool lining, slash pockets and hand-through slits, peacoat-type standup collar. I had one when I lived in SF, 1970, but cannot find one now. Any leads? Please advise! -Tony C

 

[Undertow]

Oh blast!

I can't believe I didn't see that. Are we all just blind?

Or was this some secret auction to throw us all off?

Because I could have sworn I'd recently checked vintage on the bay...

 

[Will]

to Marc, et al: That cape FDR wore at Yalta can still be purchased new from the maker: goes for about $399 I think; you can find it in a google search.

I don't find anything on Google. Can you add any more information?

 

[Dinerman]

Oh blast!

I can't believe I didn't see that. Are we all just blind?

Or was this some secret auction to throw us all off?

Because I could have sworn I'd recently checked vintage on the bay...

well- it was exactly a year ago that the first post of this thread was made.

 

[cookie]

FDR's cape

I cannot believe it! Tonight I just happened to catch a bio on a channel I never watch and there is the history of Winnie in WWII by his ex-bodyguard and there is FDR at Yalta with close ups of the cape! My wife commented on the fancy lanyard closure.

 

[TraderRic]

What's in a name?

It is still in the Navy uniform inventory as an optional item for officers. It's actually called a Boat Cloak and is only available in made to measure as are our Bridge Coats. I haven't made the investment yet. The bridge coat goes for $385, so I don't even want to think about the cloak.

 

[Novella]

FDR, *almost* as cool as Batman.

 

[Harp]

It is still in the Navy uniform inventory as an optional item for officers.

Officers with gold braid, visor scrambled eggs, and stars.

 

[Zeropositive]

Being the new guy here I love this classic cape while walking in Oxford UK I saw someone wearing a cape it looked very smart.

I am tempted to look for one to wear to work.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I had one just like that a few years ago. I sold mine on eBay too! I'll have to look around to see if I still have any pictures of it. I posted a picture of FDR on my listing to show how much it resembled his. Somebody snatched it up right away.

-dixon cannon