Robes have long been a symbol of affluence, power and authority. Throughout history, consider any position of power in society and chances are, the person who held that position wore a robe (at least in public): kings, lawyers and judges, for example. Public ceremonies are simply bursting with robe-clad figures. Think of any religious or academic function you've attended; in all likelihood, robes were a big part of it. But somewhere along the line, robes made the jump from authority symbol to everyday attire for millions of men.

We're speaking of the now ubiquitous men's bath robe, of course. No longer a symbol of authority (unless perhaps a secret desire of all men to show that they are kings of their respective castles), the robe has made the transition from throne room to bath room.

The bath room is, quite literally, where the bath robe became popular. Communal bathhouses were once very common in parts of Europe and the bath robe was introduced to keep bathers warm and to provide them some degree of privacy. The post-bathing aspect of the bath robe meant that several qualities in material became very desirable: absorbency and warmth. Absorbency generally means a thick, plush material. Good hotels often supply their guests with thick, white, cotton bath robes and the finest offer Turkish cotton bath robes. These bath robes are so desirable, that they frequently appear at the top of the list of items most likely to be stolen by hotel guests.

In modern times, Men's Bath Robes split into two distinct camps. The traditional bath robe, worn after bathing or swimming, is still usually made of absorbent cotton in a thick terrycloth weave. A modern addition is the hood, which helps to keep the head warm while drying damp hair. The second type of bath robe is worn more for warmth or to simply cover up, so absorbency is not really a factor. This has made it possible to use a variety of fabrics and weaves, including silk (first popularized by the Chinese), microfibers and synthetic fleece materials. All of these materials are light and allow for more intricate detailing and styling than heavy cotton bath robes. Want to be green? Bath robes woven from bamboo fiber are now hitting the market.

Bath robes have become synonymous with relaxation. Whether worn while lounging around the house, reading a newspaper, after a shower or spending time in a sauna, wearing a bath robe means that work is probably not being done; the wearer is relaxing. Men's Bath Robes are the antithesis of the formal business suit in many ways ?comfortable, soft, as casual as one can get, quick to put on, easy to care for, and seldom worn outside of the home or a recreational facility. Like men's or Women's pajamas, a bath robe can be brightly colored, checkered, plaid or even printed with a pattern that reflects the wearer's interests ?with animals, golf clubs or cars, for example- a degree of expression that would probably not be acceptable in the workplace. With a bath robe there is no pressure to conform.

Even though the bath robe has brought the robe to the common man, there is one current figure that effectively bridges the use of the robe, old and new. While he may not be a king, no one will mistake the apparently permanently bath robe-clad Hugh Hefner for a pauper. And no one will mistake the symbolism inherent in his choice of attire, either.