Costuming 1: Introduction

Play: As You Like It, by William Shakespeare
Setting: 1920's
Director: Keith (my brother)
Costumer: Me

It amazed me how well this play fit in the 20's. From the power play between the Dukes, to the class system, to the "wrestling/boxing match," things kept coming up that fit perfectly. We had Al Capone as a model for Duke Frederick and Charlie Chaplin as a model for Touchstone. I also used Jack Dempsey, Rudolph Valentino, and Louise Brooks for inspiration. Movies such as Chariots of Fire and Enchanted April also proved helpful.

I started with the "City" people - Frederick, his lords and ladies, Rosalind, Celia, Oliver, and Touchstone. My director's idea was to use the power-play of the 1920's gangsters to explain the setting, so I researched Al Capone and his influence on society to build the costumes. In my research I spent at least an hour drooling over the suits and dresses on Boardwalk Empires Facebook page.

Rosalind and Celia were to be flappers, but not too flighty. I imagined Rosalind to be a bit more "sporty" and Celia more "sparkly." I tried to bring out roses in Rosalind's costume wherever possible. We had one of the characters "Lord" actually be Duke Frederick's wife. I imagined her to be a combination of "The Master's" Wife from Dr. Who and Caroline from Enchanted April. And as soon as I saw pictures of Charlie Chaplin, I knew what I wanted Touchstone's costume to be.

Then moving to the country, I researched farmers of the 1920's. Overalls and jeans were not uncommon, but neither was making hay while wearing dark vests and pants. Keith wanted Duke Senior to be a Gentleman Farmer and create a difference between his rank and Silvius'.

I pictured Rosalind and Celia to dress up as they thought farmers looked, not like they really would have dressed. Corin and Audry were combined into one character and Silvius and Phebe were part of the Duke's entourage. Jacques was a traveler, so I wanted him to convey the idea of being well-to-do, but also travel worn.

I am very happy with the way everything turned out, but there were a few pieces that I was especially proud of, so in following posts I will show pictures and explain what they are and how they came to be.