Shakespearean Fashion: Describing Clothing in Elizabethan Terms

If you’ve ever watched a Shakespeare play and marvelled at the elaborate costumes, you might wonder how people actually talked about fashion back then. The Elizabethan era had its own rich vocabulary for clothing, full of terms that sound archaic today but were once everyday words. Whether you’re a theatre enthusiast, a history buff, or just love the sound of Shakespearean English, this guide will help you describe attire like a true Elizabethan.

Basic Garments: The Foundation of Elizabethan Dress

Elizabethan fashion was layered and intricate, with each piece serving both function and status. Here are the essentials:

• Doublet: A fitted jacket for men, often padded and elaborately embroidered.
• Kirtle: A woman’s underskirt or gown, usually made of wool or linen.
• Hose: Tight-fitting leggings for men, sometimes split into upper and nether stocks (thigh-high and knee-length).
• Farthingale: A hoop skirt worn by women to give dresses their iconic bell shape.

Materials and Embellishments

Fabric and decoration were key indicators of wealth. Common materials included:

• Taffeta: A crisp, shiny silk, often used for gowns and doublets.
• Velvet: A luxurious fabric reserved for the nobility.
• Cloth of gold: Fabric woven with gold thread, worn only by the richest.

Embellishments like pearling (sewing pearls onto fabric) and slashing (cutting decorative slits in outer garments to reveal contrasting fabric underneath) were popular.

Shakespearean Phrases for Fashion

Shakespeare’s plays are full of references to clothing, often used metaphorically. Here are a few gems:

• "The apparel oft proclaims the man" (Hamlet) – Clothes reveal one’s status and character.
• "Dress’d in a little brief authority" (Measure for Measure) – Power is as fleeting as fashion.
• "Why, what a candy deal of courtesy This fawning greyhound then did proffer me!" (Henry IV, Part 1) – A jab at insincere flattery, comparing it to cheap sweets and flashy attire.

Modern Comparisons

Many Elizabethan terms have modern equivalents, though the styles have evolved:

Next time you see a period drama, you’ll have the vocabulary to critique the costumes like a Tudor noble.