mantelle

Mantelle is the plural form of mantella, an Italian word for a small cloak or cape. In historical and fashion contexts, mantelle refers to short outer garments that drape over the shoulders and upper body, typically sleeveless and open in front or fastened at the throat. They have been made from a range of materials—from wool and linen to silk and velvet—and have served practical, decorative, and ceremonial purposes.

As an item of dress, the mantella appears in European costume histories as a versatile layer worn for warmth, modesty, or style. Variants and related garments include capes, cloaks, and ecclesiastical capes used by clergy and religious orders; some traditions developed distinct forms for liturgical or official use. In modern fashion, designers sometimes revive mantelle-like pieces as capes or capelets, adapting their silhouette for contemporary garments.

Etymology traces mantella to Italian, ultimately from Latin mantellum, meaning a cloak. The term mantelle is also encountered as a surname in some regions and may appear in catalogues or museums as the plural label for mantella garments. It should not be confused with similar-sounding scientific names such as Mantella, a genus of frogs endemic to Madagascar.