On the subject of robes

I'm suffering from work avoidance, so humour me.

A robe is a robe is a robe - or is it? This is the kind of question that rattles around one's head in the wee hours when one should be catching up on paper work or better still, asleep.

The Oxford English dictionary defines a robe as:

A loose-fitting outer garment of various types, often worn on formal or ceremonial occasions, as an indication of the wearer's rank, office or proffesion.

A bath robe or dressing gowns, for warmth and comfort.

Notice the term robe, as in one robe, one item of clothing worn by one person. So why in the wizarding world does one person wear robes? Example:

Dumbledore, when he arrived in Privet Drive, was wearing long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots (PS1)

Rita Skeeter wears acid green robes, against which her Quick-Quotes Quill blends perfectly (GF20) (source - The Lexicon)

I understand the term robes when referring to more than one robe:

during one summer sale (at Madame Malkins), they sold robes which were spangled, self-ironing, beautifying, slimming, fattening, lengthening, temperature-adjusting, and plain, with a free frog-skin belt with every purchase.

Authors also perceive the robe in different ways:

Harry grabbed his robes from the chair

Draco hitched Harry's robes up around his waist to reach his erect cock

Harry had nothing on under his robes


To me a robe is an outer garment, like a coat, but not as thick, knee or calf length and made of a variety of materials depending on the use or occasion. Trousers of some description would be worn underneath, again depending on use or occasion.

So, the big question is - how do you perceive the robe? Or is it a general term for clothing that you can't imagine?

Thoughts anyone?