Elizabethan Costume Design Project
The Importance of Fabric and Color Choices
The best costume designers are therefore not simply designing clothing, but are instead
clothing characters, and in many cases helping the actors to bring those characters even
more richly and fully to life.
Fabric
The type of fabric that is used for particular costumes can tell a lot about the character and
the world of the play. Is it bulky or thin? Does it reflect or absorb light? How does it fall to the
floor? Fringe, lace, ruffles, feathers, and other types of trim also speak volumes.
Color
Color suggests mood. What color should a character wear if they are happy? Sad? Etc.?
Perhaps warm and bright colors suggest a happy mood and darker, more subdued colors
indicate a more serious mood. Color can also set groups apart onstage. Color can also
help signify a change a character is going through.
Meaning of Colors in the Elizabethan Era
The meaning behind colors in the Elizabethan era symbolized events which occurred in
history, many of which dated back, and related to, biblical meanings of colors. The meaning
of colors during the Elizabethan era therefore represented many aspects of their life.
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The meaning of colors related to status, position and rank
The meaning of colors related to class - upper classes and lower classes
The meaning of colors were so important that the violation of the Sumptuary Laws (the
laws dictating what colors you were allowed to wear) could lead to death!
The Christian and Biblical references gave a symbolic meaning of colors
The back side of this paper is a “cheat sheet” that tells you what different colors symbolized
during the Elizabethan era, and who was allowed to wear them.
Sources
http://performingarts.about.com/
http://www.geneseo.edu/
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/
Elizabethan Color Information
(X = allowed to wear)
Color
Meaning / Symbolism / History
Red
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Crimson (dark
red)
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Indigo / Royal
Blue (deep,
rich, dark blue)
Purple
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White
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Black
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Pink
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Blue
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Orange
Brown
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Gray
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Green
Yellow
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Gold
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The symbolic meaning of the color red was of fire and associated with power and
importance - a color which stood out
Crimson is the color of the Church.
The symbolic meaning of the color crimson was of fire and associated with power
and importance - a color which stood out.
Crimson also has a Biblical meaning symbolizing the presence of God and the
blood of martyrs. It represents atonement and humility
The symbolic meaning of the color indigo was power, importance and wealth
Indigo dye was very expensive and was therefore worn by the wealthy
Lower
Class
X
X
Royalty, Nobility
and members of
the Council
Royalty, Nobility
and members of
the Council
The Queen,
Queen's mother,
children, sisters,
aunts.
Purple is always associated with Royalty.
Only the most expensive dyes were used to produce the color purple, it therefore
became symbolic with wealth and power.
The pristine white color was difficult and expensive to produce and therefore
worn by the wealthy. Only those who could keep their clothes clean (they had
servants) would wear the pristine white color.
The symbolic meaning of the color white was purity and virtue.
The symbolic meaning of the color black was authority and power.
Black is also symbolic of death.
Black clothing also symbolized humility and plainness, and for this reason was
associated with monastic life (monks, nuns, etc.).
The symbolic meaning of the color pink was joy and happiness.
The color pink has always been closely associated with ladies and young girls;
However, the color pink was a favorite color for the hose worn by Medieval men.
The color blue is closely associated with the state of servitude (slavery) and was a
popular color of clothes worn by servants.
The symbolic meaning of the color orange was courage.
The symbolic meaning of the color brown was humility and poverty.
Worn by the lower classes and the clergy.
Brown clothing also symbolized humility and plainness, and for this reason was
associated with monastic life (monks, nuns, etc.).
The symbolic meaning of the color gray was mourning and repentance (regret).
Religious meaning: associated with fasting and prayer
Gray clothing also symbolized humility and plainness, and for this reason was
associated with monastic life (monks, nuns, etc.).
The symbolic meaning of the color green was renewal of life and nature.
The symbolic meaning of the color yellow was renewal and hope.
The colorfast dye was imported into Europe and was very expensive, so it was only
used to dye the clothes of the wealthy.
Yellow was also associated with envy, greed and treachery.
Gold is associated with Royalty and Nobles
The symbolic meaning of the color gold was for divinity, majesty and wealth.
Upper Class
X
The King, King's
mother, children,
brothers, uncles
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Duchesses,
Marquises, and
Countesses.
Dukes,
Marquises, and
Earls
Assignment Instructions
The style of costume has already been designed for you. Your job is to create a
character using color and fabric. Tell the audience who this character is
before they even speak, based on your color and fabric choices.
Requirements:
 Fully colored costume (“rendering”)
o Use colored pencil or crayon only (no markers)! This allows you more
control over shading, etc.
o Pencil is not a color
o Leaving something white is not coloring
o Your coloring must match your fabrics!
 A minimum of three fabric choices
o You can get fabric from anywhere! Old clothes, fabric stores (look
for fabric scraps), etc.
o Ribbon and other types of trim can count as one of the three fabric
choices.
o Your fabrics must match the colors on your drawing!
 A description of your character and why you chose the colors you did (fill
out the back of this sheet).
Grading:
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5pts - Rendering Design quality (professional quality work – detailed, neat,
in color, creative)
5pts - Fabric Choices match costume design rendering
4pts - Character Description
6pts - Reasoning behind color choices
Name: _________________________________________________ Period: ________
Elizabethan Costume Design
Character/Design Explanation
ABOUT MY CHARACTER
Answer these questions based on the character you created your design for. This is a made up
character. Tell me about him/her!
1. What is your character’s name?
2. What does your character do for a living?
3. What social class does your character belong in (low class, middle class, upper class)?
4. What type of personality does your character have?
ABOUT MY COLOR CHOICES
Fill out the chart below with the colors you chose for your design. You must have at least 3 different
colors. If you used more than 3, just explain the 3 primary colors (the ones used the most):
Color Used
1.
2.
3.
Reasons for Color Choice (look at the “cheat sheet” on colors in the
Elizabethan era!)