Winter's coming on in July here in Colorado-What to do

[Benning Boy]

I like the luhkka. I can see advantages to it. However, I've also wondered about wearing a pelerine with a kilt in cold weather. It's a Germanic garment mainly, and is traditionally made of loden cloth.

Here are some pictures of fancier versions, mostly shown on women but you'll get the idea.

http://flickrhivemind.net/flickr_hvm...rine,regencape

The pelerine is longer than the Luhkka, with a level hem. It's hooded, often detachable with a regular collar underneath. It buttons up the front. There are two slots through the front for the hands to pass through, making it unnecessary to spread the cape wide and dump all the trapped warm air. There are often cargo pockets on the inside. Two fabric straps run downward from the shoulders, are criss-crossed across the chest and buttoned together in the back. This lets the pelerine be thrown off and hang from the shoulders when its warmth isn't needed. To my mind it's a very practical garment. Although, I'm sure the Lairds would have a heart attack even at the thought of mixing trachtenmode with traditional highland dress, but if you're odd enough to regularly wear the kilt, and even odder enough to wear one in very cold conditions, then it shouldn't seem so odd to wear a pelerine over a kilt. There is of course the Inverness cape, but it seems to me the earlier garment, the pelerine, a folk garment -- like the kilt -- rather than a fashion garment, designed for wear in cold and snow is the all-around better mantle. Rather than spend Big Euros on a genuine loden pelerine, it shouldn't be too hard to workout a pattern and make one on your own. It's on my list of things to do someday