The tippet was originally a form of outdoor dress and it may have been fur-lined. Much of its history has been tied to academic use. Tippets have historically been made of silk fabric. The tippet is generally between 6″ to 10.5″ wide. The softer the fabric, the wider the tippet may be. The ends are usually finished with a plain simple hem. However, in the 19th century, the ends were finished with a zig-zag or pinked end.