This document provides costume guidance for Shakespeare's As You Like It. It describes costumes for major characters like Rosalind, Orlando, and Duke Senior that should reflect their personalities and social statuses during the Elizabethan era. It also provides descriptions for minor characters like Silvius and Phoebe to establish realistic costumes for ordinary shepherds and shepherdesses of that time period. The costumes highlight contrasts between characters exiled in the forest and those still in the court, as well as contrasts between country folk and those from the urban environment.

1. Written by: William Shakespeare

2. 
COSTUMES

3. Historical Period

 This play was written during Shakespeare’s time and
should take place during the Elizabethan era.
 The Elizabethan era is sometimes referred to as the
golden age, and is named Elizabethan era because Queen
Elizabeth I reigned during this time.
 This period was also known as the English Renaissance.
 William Shakespeare and many other authors changed
many aspects of theatre with their writing during this time.
 With costumes based from this era, the audience will get
the idea that the play took place during this time.

4. Style of Production

 Costumes are old-fashioned and look as if they were
from the 16th century
 Quite elegant for some characters, while others are
more worn out and more common to what normal
people dressed like in the Elizabethan era.
 During this time, many had money and were well
dressed but there were also many who barely had
enough to eat and were poorly dressed.
 This will be displayed among different characters
throughout the play

5. 
MAJOR
CHARACTERS

6. Rosalind

 Rosalind is the daughter of Duke Senior and is wealthy
 Being of High-class Rosalind should be well dressed in a
formal dress in the beginning of the play
 Being very strong-minded and very clever her outfits
should resemble her personality
 When Rosalind disguises herself as the young man
“Ganymede”, of course her entire outfit changes
 This outfit should resemble more of what a typical man in
this era should wear on an ordinary basis
 At the end when Rosalind gets married, she again should
get dressed in a different costume
 This time wearing a white elegant gown of that time

7. 

8. Orlando

 Being of high-class, Orlando should be dressed in a
rather elegant outfit
 Have to consider that he is young and attractive but
isn’t cared for by his brother Oliver
 His outfit might be a little not put together again
considering he is young, and not really looking for the
attention

9. 

10. Duke Senior

 Was exiled from his throne by his brother, Frederick.
 Being exiled into the forest his costume should not be
well put together and should be more worn out than
others because he has been exiled for some time when
the play begins
 He is fair-minded and although his costume is quite
worn-out, he stands confident of his being and is not
afraid to stand up for what he believes is right.

11. Should also be torn and worn
out to symbolize his exile in
the forest

Should be torn and
more messy with stains

12. Jaques

 A lord of Duke Senior who is also in exile with him.
 Acts as a stock character in the play, and has a
melancholy disposition
 He judges other characters
 Should be attired in a less elegant way also with
worn out clothing like Duke Senior since he is also
in exile with him.

13. 
Also torn at the edges, with
stains

14. Celia

 Is also of high class and should be dressed in an
elegant dress as Rosalind was, since she is the
daughter of Duke Frederick.
 When she is disguised as Aliena, her outfit changes
into one that a simple shepherdess would wear.
 A less elegant dress

15. 

16. Duke Frederick

 Duke Senior’s brother
 Very cruel and a horrible temper towards everyone
 His costume should show his power and strength
over other characters, reflecting his volatile
personality
 Should be very elegant and distinctive, showing his
selfish ways

17. 

18. Touchstone

 Is a clown of Duke Frederick’s court
 Joins Rosalind and Celia as they runaway to
Ardenne
 Costume should resemble Touchstone’s funny
personality and should be very out there.
 Should resemble that of a clown and be colorful as
well

19. 

20. Oliver

 Is Orlando’s older brother
 Very demanding and ruthless towards his brother
 Selfish and conceited
 Costume should be quite elegant
 Is also young and attractive, his costume should be
intact resembling his conceited ways

21. 

22. 
MINOR
CHARACTERS

23. Silvius & Phoebe

 Silvius is a young shepherd who is desperately in
love with Phoebe
 Phoebe is a young shepherdess who falls in love
with Ganymede, which we know is Rosalind in
disguise
 Rosalind being clever as usual, tricks Phoebe into
marrying Silvius
 Both Silvius and Phoebe should have regular looking
costumes, not elegant. Something an ordinary
shepherd and shepherdess would wear during that
time

24. 

25. Lord Amiens & Charles

 Lord Amiens is another Lord of Duke Senior who
joins him in exile
 He is very joyous and loves to sing
 His jolly personality should be reflected in his costume
 Charles is a wrestler so his costume should not be
well-fitted and should be pretty comfortable in order
for Charles ability to move easily while wrestling

26. 
Should also
be torn
and worn out

27. Adam & Corin

 Adam is the former servant of Sir Rowland de Bois
 He joins Orlando in his exile, because he cares for him
and does not stand the hardships his brother Oliver is
giving him
 Corin is a shepherd who counsels Silvius in love
 Costumes should be simple as they both act as
characters without much wealth

28. 

29. Audrey & William

 Audrey is a very logical goatherd who agrees to
marry Touchstone
 She is very enthusiastic about getting married and is
simpleminded when it comes to thinking about love or
everything in general
 Costume should be simple as her character portrays
and should not be elegant at all
 William is a young boy who is in love with Audrey
 Costume should just be of an ordinary young working
boy during that time

30. 

31. Contrasting Characters

 Country
 More simple minded characters who are soft spoken
 Costumes should be lighter and not as dark
 Open to new ideas from other characters
 Relaxed and free
 Urban/City
 These characters are more oppressed and follow rules
 Are less freely able to do what they want
 Costumes are duller and less bright reflecting their
governed ways