Talma is a men's or women's cape without sleeves. This element of the wardrobe was in vogue at the beginning of the 19th century. Talma got its name in honor of the French actor named Talma, whose contribution to the field of costume and make-up was highly appreciated by his contemporaries.
Women's Talma
Mention of this cape can be found in the texts of Russian classics. For example, the heroines of A. P. Chekhov threw a talma over their shoulders when attending balls. At that time it was considered bad form to appear in society in the same dress twice, and even on the same day. It was also not customary to leave the house in formal attire, so on the way to the balls, the ladies covered their outfits with a cape.
Fashionistas of the early 19th century threw a talma over their shoulders, most often sewn from light materials and with lace. This little cape was a great addition to the outfit, turning it into something new and saving the girl from having to carry a change of dress with her. A little later, the design of the talma began to allow a different execution, the cape could be warm, using fur and lining, with fringe and embroidery. So moving from the ballroom upcarriages in winter became more comfortable. The more beautiful the cape was, the richer the lady was.
Men's talma
Before this little cape became an element of women's wardrobe, men wore talmas. At the end of the 18th century, the men's talma was a short sleeveless cloak covering the chest and shoulders. It was worn by people of various professions that required a long stay on the street: postal messengers and watchmen, military personnel and cabbies. Therefore, a men's talma is rather practical clothing made of durable and coarse fabrics that can protect against bad weather and cold, and not an element of formal wear. Talma could be with or without a collar.
Talma in modern fashion
Modern fashion looks rarely use wraps, but still fashion magazines have not completely forgotten about this wardrobe item and do not recommend writing them off. On the pages of glossy publications, you can find images using a poncho, very reminiscent of a talma. A photo of this cape is presented below.
There are a lot of variations of capes: raincoats, mantles, mantillas, rotundas, shreds, salopes and others that have already gone out of fashion. The main difference between a talma and a cloak is its short length, usually it only reaches the waist. If the cape covers the entire body or reaches to the toes, most likely it is a cloak or mantle. Also, the talma does not include sleeves and slits for the arms - this is typical of a poncho.
