Draping, flowing, fantastic, few garments evoke the wizard's sagacity and wisdom, their devotion to the arcane arts, their esoteric knowledge more immediately than a robe. A symbol of wise men and worthy women, sorcerers and priests from time immemorial, robes come in all shapes and sizes, in fabrics from linen to silk, in black and white and every color in between.
Wizard’s Robes (& Where to Find Them)
Tajik Paranja courtesy SO Rugs and Textiles
Traditionally, wizard's robes have been gaudy, flamboyant, and colorful; rich in pattern and embroidery, straining at the seams of propriety. You have your stars. Your floral prints. Your mesmerizing geometric designs.
Quilt Kimono courtesy Res Ipsa
Modern wizard's robes, of the aforementioned academia aesthetic, reject all that. They bear many of the hallmarks of modern, utilitarian fashion, and would pass at any boarding school or college in the country. They come in blacks and whites, browns and greys and beiges, with simple cuts that do, I must admit, make the wearer look rather smart, if less enigmatic than I would personally like.
If traditional styles are what you seek, but you don't know where to look, consider looking into Central Asian chapan, Japanese kimono, hanten and haori, Asian kaftan, Chinese hanfu, and Middle Eastern and North African thawb to get started.
For more wizard outfit ideas from Madame Humphrey, visit our dedicated page, updated regularly.