Clothes from classical times

A toga, as worn in Roman times

The toga was a garment worn by the by male citizens of Ancient Rome (625 BC to AD 476 ). Women wore stolas - a type of pleated dress.

The toga was usually worn over an undergarment made from linen. The toga was usually made of wool.

You could wear this type of costume in any classical tragedy.

Clothes from the Middle Ages

The typically plain clothes of ordinary people of the middle ages

The typically colourful costume of a king of the middle ages

The dress of a wealthy woman of the middle ages

The Middle Ages (350AD - 1450AD), sometimes called Mediaeval times, refers to the period of history in Europe from the 11th to the 13th centuries.

In this period most people wore undergarments made of linen, and outer garments of heavy wool, in natural colours. Only the wealthy could afford brighter colours such as red.

Tudor fashions

The early tudor costumes of actors playing Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

Later Tudor Costumes

The Tudor period (1485-1603) was a time in English history that remains strong in the popular imagination to this day. Two of the most famous Tudors, often recreated in drama today, are Queen Elizabeth I and her father Henry VIII.

The plain coloured clothes typical of poorer people in tudor times

Rather like today, the wealthy people of the period would wear clothes made from luxurious materials such as silk, and bright colours. The middle-classes would wear clothes of a similar style but usually made from cheaper materials, such as wool and linen. Poorer people would wear simple clothes made from wool - tunic and trousers for men, and a long dress (worn with an apron on top) for women.

Well-to-doTudor women wore hooped skirts with padded hips, which reached to the floor. Men wore padded breeches with stockings - not trousers. Fur was a popular trim among the wealthy.

One of the most recognised items of clothing from the late Tudor period is the ruff - a collar of lace worn around the neck. Some wealthy people wore enormous ruffs to show off their wealth.

Tudor case study: The Virgin Queen

These images show the clothes worn for the BBC production 'The Virgin Queen' about Queen Elizabeth I. Notice how the clothes from her early life are simpler than those she wore later on.

Elizabeth I and her ladies

Elizabeth I with two ladies in waiting

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Early 18th-century fashion

A wealthy couple in 18th century clothing

Wealthy women of the 18th century still wore corsets to help shape their clothes, and hooped dresses were still popular, but the dresses were more low-cut than previously.

Men in 18th century wigs and clothing

Wealthy men continued to wear three-quarter-length coats and breeches. Wigs, high-heeled shoes (worn by men and women) and elaborate embroidery were big trends of the early 18th century, but they disappeared towards the end of the period.

Late 18th-century - early 19th-century fashion

The following images are from the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. The book was first published in 1813.

Muslin day dresses

Wedding attire

High waist dresses

Regimental uniform

Wealthy women in evening gowns

Couple in daywear

In the later 18th century women adopted a more loosely fitting dress, known as the chemise, which was inspired by the fashions of ancient Greece and Rome. The dresses were often made of muslin, in plain colours, with a high waistline. This trend continued throughout the early 19th century.

For men, knee-length breeches were replaced by ankle-length trousers, and suits became more fashionable.

Clothing among the wealthy classes during this period became far less flamboyant in style and colour than they had been previously.

Mid-19th-century costume

Woman wearing dress with a large bustle

Man in daywear

Couple in formal evening attire

Bustle evening dress

For women, corsets and hooped skirts reappeared early in the 19th century. A new invention, called the crinoline, offered women an alternative to stiffened petticoats for holding out their skirts.

Suits continued popular with men, and fine tailoring became important for those in the higher classes.

Late-19th-century costume

Small hat, as worn in the late 19th century

Decorated hat, as worn in the late 19th century

Bonnet as worn in the early 19th-century

Top hat as worn in the 19th-century

In the 1860s, bowler hats became popular among men.

In the 1870s, the fashion for women's dresses was to be flatter than before at the front, and to be padded out at the back - the 'bustle' was invented to help create this effect.

1920s fashion

Women's evening wear

Winter coats and cloche hats

Couples in formal evening wear

Working men

Suited middle class man

The most radical change in style for women's clothing happened throughout the 1920s. Hems rose, waistlines dropped, corsets disappeared and elaborate bead work became popular on dresses.

Middle-class men still wore suits, ties and waistcoats during the day, and the better-off would often change into a formal suit for dinner in the evening. Working men would wear suits on high days and holidays.

The 1940s war era

Man in woollen suit and woman in tweed suit

Woman in outdoor clothing

Business man

Woman in heavy overcoat

Family, with children wearing gas mask boxes

Simple shirt dress

Fashions of varying age groups

Clothing through the war era was practical, and affected by the rationing system. New clothes were often just re-fashioned from old clothes, and there were shortages of luxurious materials such as silk.

Women would often wear a simple knee-length dress or blouse and skirt. Mackintosh coats were popular outdoor items, and some women would wear a matching tailored suit jacket outdoors.

Men continued to wear jackets and ties as a matter of routine, although sometimes with casual trousers, not necessarily matching suit trousers. Jumpers, vests and polo-neck shirts were popular for less formal wear.

Clothing in the 1950s

Cliff richard wearing a 1950s teddy boy outfit

A full-skirted dress, with netting under the skirt, as worn in the 1950s

Clothing did not change a great deal through the 1950s, although there were two major trends. For women, a full skirt with netting became fashionable, while the Teddy Boy look became popular with young men.

The 70s pop group Showaddywaddy were famous for wearing Teddy Boy outfits

The look consisted of tight fitting jeans/trousers (sometimes called drainpipes), a long smart jacket and a thin tie. These young men often wore their hair in a quiff (in homage to Elvis Presley).

Clothing in the 1960s

The bright clothes of typical 1960s hippies

A woman in a mini-skirt

The 1960s saw the introduction of the mini-skirt - a very short thigh-length skirt. Patterns and bold colours became popular for fabric.

This period also saw the introduction of the hippy - often a young middle-class person in favour of colourful flowing clothes, peace and free love.

Clothing in the 1970s

Maxi-dress, as worn in the 1970s

Flares and platform shoes, as worn in the 1970s

In the 1970s men and women wore trousers (called flares) that were wide at the ankle, shirts with wide collars and platform shoes. Women often wore full-length skirts (maxi-skirts).

Military

Here are some military costumes from throughout the ages.

Roman soldiers

The costume of Roman soldiers

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Futuristic, sci-fi and fantasy

Costume sketch from Dr. Who series

Costume sketch from Dr. Who series

Characters from Dr. Who

Character from Dr. Who

Man in cloak and hood

Woodland fairy costumes

Futuristic and sci-fi costumes give you a lot of scope for design. You could create a costume which is highly unusual by today's standards, or just exaggerate a popular style of today's fashion.

Fantasy costumes tend to be based on period clothing - witches, for example, often wear the sort of clothes women might have worn in mediaeval times.

Clothes from different cultures

Costume of a geisha, close-up

Costume of a geisha, full-length

If your play is based in Japan, you might want a costume for a traditional geisha - a female Japanese entertainer. They wear white make-up on their face, with bright red lips. A geisha always wears a kimono (a traditional full-length robe).

Clothes as worn at a traditional indian wedding

Traditional Indian dress

The traditional dress for an Indian woman is a sari - a large piece of cloth that can be wrapped around the body in various styles. The most common style of wearing a sari is wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder. Most women wear a short-sleeved blouse underneath.

Traditional clothing for Indian men includes a knee-length (or longer) shirt (note women may also wear these). It's usually worn over loose trousers.

The colourful dress of African street perfomers

Dress of a traditional african woman

Traditional african dress, worn in a variety of ways

Traditional African costume varies widely across the continent, although there are some similarities. Tunics or kaftans (long shirts, usually to the floor) are popular clothing for men, worn with loose trousers. Women may wear toga-inspired garments, wrapped around their bodies. Bright coloured fabrics and beaded jewellery are popular.

African warriors sometimes wear fantastically decorated costumes, and paint their bodies.