Elaborate Masque Costumes in Shakespeare's England

Elaborate theatrical performances in Shakespeare's lifetime presented before the reigning monarch were known as court masques.

These intricate and complex stories were presented in grand fashion, sparing no expense on costumes, props, and special effects. The most famous masque has to be that of Robert Dudley who hired actual performers from the Comedia del Arte in Italy to perform amazing feats of light, sound, and performance in an effort to propose marriage to the Queen of England.

While it makes sense that Dudley would go out of his way to be over the top in his endeavors, the other masques taking place in Shakespeare's lifetime were no less sensational.

From Ben Jonson to Inigo Jones and the decorated halls of Whitehall Palace, masques of any stripe were the creme del creme of performances. For this reason, their costumes were not only breathlessly expensive, but they often pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable to wear in public, and included fabric, accessories, design, and presentation that showcased art and story as primary. In many ways, court masque costume and clothing were the high fashion world of Shakespeare's England.

This week, our guest, Sarah Jane Downing, fashion historian and author of Fashion in Shakespeare's England, takes us back to the 16-17th century court masques under Elizabeth I and James I to take an up close look at the outfits, the scandals, and the expensive price tag that went along with costuming the most opulent nights of entertainment in all of early modern England.