# What were the robes in Defending Your Life?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-robes-in-defending-your-life/459251>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 8, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-robes-in-defending-your-life/459251 "2008-08-08T01:55:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-robes-in-defending-your-life/459251/1 "2008-08-08T01:55:32Z")

</div>

Worn by Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep, I believe they were called toupas or something like that. I’ve wondered from time to time if they are available to buy and couldn’t find any just like them on the net. Anyone remember them and know where they might be found?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-robes-in-defending-your-life/459251/2 "2008-08-08T02:33:11Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=cosmosdan]  
Worn by Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep, I believe they were called toupas or something like that. I’ve wondered from time to time if they are available to buy and couldn’t find any just like them on the net. Anyone remember them and know where they might be found?  
[/QUOTE]

Mabe they are [thawbs/thobes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thawb)? It’s a traditional long sleeved ankle length, over the head, robe commonly worn in the Middlke East.

[Classic men’s thobes](http://www.lotetree.co.uk/ameer-extra-thawb-only-1595-16-c.asp) for sale.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-robes-in-defending-your-life/459251/3 "2008-08-08T14:50:03Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=devilsknew]  
Mabe they are [thawbs/thobes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thawb)? It’s a traditional long sleeved ankle length, over the head, robe commonly worn in the Middlke East.

[Classic men’s thobes](http://www.lotetree.co.uk/ameer-extra-thawb-only-1595-16-c.asp) for sale.  
[/QUOTE]

Cool thanks. It’s not those but those look good and affordable.

Well, maybe it was those with a sash [Link](http://www.filmsondisc.com/images/defending_your_life.jpg)

and [this](http://hollywoodmoviecostumes.com/images/dfl1.jpg) is listed as a robe from that movie. Called a Tuba which I thought was a big horn. Go figure.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-the-robes-in-defending-your-life/459251/4 "2008-08-08T18:20:55Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=cosmosdan]  
and [this](http://hollywoodmoviecostumes.com/images/dfl1.jpg) is listed as a robe from that movie. Called a Tuba which I thought was a big horn. Go figure.  
[/QUOTE]  
I think they mean “jubah” (or “jubbah”).