Theatre costume

In order to understand the clothes the Elizabethans wore, you must understand why they wore them. To do this, you need to know how their society worked. The Elizabethan social world was based on a concept known as "The Great Chain Of Being." This was the idea that everyone had their own, God-ordained position in society. The top of the chain was God, directly below God was the Queen and everyone else was below her, …

…fastened to the jerkin with ties. They were worn in cool weather. Cloaks were made of wool. They were probably not full length, but more likely mid calf or knee length. Full length cloaks worn in wet, muddy weather are not practical. So amidst all the technical jargon, Elizabethen dess was complicated and often delicate. Modern reenactments rearely mimic the 16th century accurately. But, it is a form of costuming that has always been fascinating.