In the spring of 2010, Shakespeare Players performed
King Lear, and I was recruited as costumes mistress. This involved working closely with the directors to develop a costuming strategy: style, colors for different noble houses in the play, how to highlight characters' personalities in the costume choices. We constructed a higher number of costumes for this production than usual, simply because we were working with a time period unusual for Shakespeare Players: ancient Britain. I dealt with measurements, developed the patterns, and then readjusted them when I realized that I had underestimated the amount of ease required in a tunic. I worked with the seamstresses to coordinate sewing of garments, sewed several myself, organized the costuming area backstage, and laundered costumes between performances. In short, it was a taxing job, but rewarding in the end. Although I couldn't make everything authentic and some costumes were pulled from other (later) time periods I was still pleased with the overall look of the costumes and how they contributed to the feel of the play.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaP3ON7HuFVG7i6Z23xccWv_7gNc8m2ISmEqD8PodEdqvlnf-1uXC-D3RFpc_SWMAhZaW8ae715dIBBtu08UU-AqLHpU6qxr9I3abqpgASZ_FM-7ImWrKNLneWJkASSHK13UX0FUXtFU/s320/31315_394650553570_613303570_3977857_6326837_n.jpg) |
The whole cast |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajmMrT9bKlruFcwPGtnt8eNaLUSGU4zKLz2tPKEkHcF7w_h4KietHNpIPl1Ij79R-InSkyAlUtjXGdEqXhXRAblEzq96HjTdBwnlV7yt-LBw1tyVXSC7_z6zJMbZOPqPJK4K8FiPXW4U/s320/31315_394650568570_613303570_3977860_883151_n.jpg) |
The House of Gloucester |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-4fFuBWIOf5ZgbMZmbnmbijyajLIlA1mV18CJrqqRwkjUFq5FCTqFZGVT6Y2vWasll6QzH9WSP86GXcGGbODs337FPBnIDqrx5hhDhpORrq2WrRt2Hty3cd93Pix45JQSoA2mCb4rUo/s320/31315_394650583570_613303570_3977863_6500940_n.jpg) |
Lear and his daughters |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWIonvvOtDJ8ksbQ2smYchRcwCIOnTDbMlo_rlQJ5iMmX-dkCnkuY3mQDI0YXlRtKnK7apucyLD4omU4cvZ0dzHuPXujH-ACPqNG34jdEYcrqsGqPFxCxfpG0XulbwQxF2DADnnymIxE/s320/31315_394650618570_613303570_3977869_7722590_n.jpg) |
The extended royal family: Cornwall (dark red), Albany (purple and gray), and France (blue) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavT6VTg1ZvfllL1dMkK23y6LbNH8NKxkkcKCnvlBKoTARbvStsHGhzy_-IjVBYb6M-KMpmCdp0rKf1agC3nH6KOGHXuS2CVtfKPu8aFe_pMqcIlAfrvuqHiR7A4nIRSBr6-5CItpTr04/s320/31315_394650643570_613303570_3977873_3058106_n.jpg) |
Lear with Kent and the Fool |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv6HaZMzx6DHp9DOjozcDfGTBuzS3_y8dwbRuCq1REXLEEVlyAfAUTcH8S3pr-y79ArhwzvPcQ_r-fsLYoDpU1_9R5xaKbEd2wF7eKAtErdM7hOWfmDzfw-XnPbLZeC9Ijs0xI2Vb-v8/s320/31315_394650748570_613303570_3977890_8379156_n.jpg) |
Lords and servants |