The Mysterious French Cape

Mystery on the Belle Époque Bahn.

Mystery isn’t what it used to be. Thanks to technology, there’s a staggering lack of it these days.

Over a hundred years ago, German sociologist Georg Simmel called the secret "one of man's greatest achievements." He had no idea what was coming.

So it's a real jolt to the system when you spot a bit of mystery out in the wild.

She boards my car on the Belle Époque Bahn at Château-d'Oex, west of Gstaad. Dark hair, dark eyes, tall. She's enveloped in this cape and, by default, wrapped in mystery. This is how the world (and the cape) works.

There are other ways to give off an air of mystery (a French passport is a good start) but none quite so easy to achieve as slipping into this cape. You'll see.

The Mysterious French Cape (No. J8512). Rather marvelous midweight hooded wool cape. Warm but not heavy, exceedingly comfortable, easy to wear. Convenient arm slit on each side with one button. Lined hood. Four buttons at center front. Imported.