This document discusses the symbolism and meanings associated with different colors that could be used for costuming characters in Romeo and Juliet. It provides information on what colors may have represented in Shakespeare's time and how they could develop characters. Blue represents trust and commitment, green is tranquil, yellow promotes energy and creativity, orange warmth and socialization, red draws attention and confidence, purple is uplifting, brown stability, white is pure, gray is practical, and black is powerful. It suggests assigning colors like red to bold characters and white to more angelic ones. It also asks which colors were expensive during that era and what social classes would wear them.

1. Costuming for Romeo and Juliet

2. Colors – considerations for modern costuming Intensities vary and can add meaning Bold colors may symbolize a bold or loud person. Light colors may have a more angelic or bland effect depending on how you use them. What do different colors symbolize or mean?

3. Colors: Modern Meanings Blue: trustworthy, dependable, committed – an all around “favorite color.” Calming and cooling. Green: tranquil and refreshing, relaxing, but can have negative connotations (hospitals, sickness, money). Yellow: optimism, energy, creativity, stimulates the brain

4. Colors Orange: warmth and energy, hunger, socialization Red: enthusiasm, draws attention, confidence, physical attraction Purple: uplifting, royalty, creativity Brown: stability, connected to the earth, solid, approachable

5. Colors White: purity, cleanliness, neutrality Gray: timeless, practical, depressing (popular in suits) Black: authoritative, powerful, slimming, death, sadness, evil

6. Fun Movie http://www.mariaclaudiacortes.com/colors/Colors.html

7. Reflection From what you have just learned, how would you use costume colors to help develop a character on stage? Which characters from Romeo and Juliet would you have in red, blue, white, etc.? Which colors were more expensive to make during Shakespeare’s time? What type of people would wear these colors?

8. Elizabethan Fashion Fashion depended a GREAT deal upon class. People of the upper classes dressed very differently than members of the lower classes

9. Hair Both men and women took great pride in their hair at this time and spent a great deal of time and money ensuring it “looked right” Women dyed hair blonde Wore tons of accessories

11. Upper Class Men’s Fashion Men wore tights, breeches, and over-the-top costumes as well.

12. Lower/Middle Class Men

13. Upper Class Women’s Fashion Women were covered com- pletely at the beginning of the era—high collars, ruffles, gold,

14. Lower Class Women

15. Works Cited Leed, Drea. "Color in Lowerclass Elizabethan Clothing." Elizabethan Costuming Page. 2008. Web. 07 Jan. 2010. <http://www.elizabethancostume.net/lowerclass/lcolors.html>. Smith, Kate. "Color: Meaning, Symbolism and Psychology." Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo. Web. 05 Jan. 2010. <http://www.squidoo.com/colorexpert>.