I saw a bearded man wearing really unusual (klan?) robes in the middle of the day,

[Ilsa]

in a busy section of town the other day. They were black and white robes, made with broad diagonal, opposing stripes. The robe was fitted at the waist, and there appeared to be either silk rope braids and/or chains adoring the robe at the waist. The back skirt of the robe was split in the center, creating two tails. Each tail had a large red cross embroidered on it.

Looked like Klan apparel to me. I couldn't think of any other reason to wear a costume before lunch this week. He didn’t have a hat or hood. Whatever he stands for, he isn't afraid to wear it out in public, midday, in a busy intersection. If he is with the klan, then they are more emboldened than ever.

[rgbecker]

1. Others probably know, but what part of the country are you in?

[Ilsa]

3. My family and I

recently moved to the southeast from Texas. It's pretty red in Georgia, but where we are now, it's "intelligent" red, whereas where we were in Texas, it was ignorant red. Hardly any democrats here, and everyone runs as a republican, so I bet some are RINOs. This area is upper middle class, lots of immigrants, great schools, good funding, etc.

But I've also seen some stupid confederate flags out in the country and on some old pickups. I have no doubt that the oldtimers here have some ugly antebellum ideas.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I couldn't find anything that looked like that in Google images.

Maybe it was some kind of robe or vestment for a Catholic (or other) priest.

[Ilsa]

4. I think it was too loud and busy for a priest, and the company he was in looked

Counter-culture, not religious. I wanted to take a picture, but the light turned green and I had to move on.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Maybe Wiccan? Or just eccentric?

The KKKers prefer not to be out in public without their hoods.

[Ilsa]

6. Definitely not Wiccan, or anything I've seen.

Kkk may be changing in the public approach. Being openly racist seems to be the popular thing now.

[jberryhill]

7. Why not ask him?

Dominican monk mistaken for KKK member at Indiana University

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/04/08/dominican-monk-mistaken-kkk-member-indiana-university/82793104/

With the rope around the wast and the black and white, it sounds like a monk's get up of some kind.





or you could have a medieval re-enactor of some kind:

[Ilsa]

8. I was driving, over one lane, no place to turn or stop

with one way roads. I wanted to take a pic, but the light turned green and traffic was heavy. I had to drive on.

None of those robes are close, in coloration or pattern and fitting. The robe was fitted at the waist almost like a dress, with tails, though. There was no stole or wrap or bolero.

[pinboy3niner]

9. No Bolero? Well, that unravels my theory.

[jberryhill]

10. What did the crosses look like?

Did they look more like + signs, or more like a T.

Not Klan:



Klan:



Konfused Klan:

[Ilsa]

11. Definitely crosses, not equal length.

Very thin embroidery pattern for width of each bar in the crosses.