Dressing Historical Characters

Book excerpt: Dressing Historical Characters demystifies historical dress for designers embarking on the creative and collaborative process of production design and performance. Lauren Lowell offers a practical, accessible foundation in historical costume knowledge designed to enhance the creative storytelling process. From the bustling stages of theatre to the dynamic frames of film, understanding the basics of period costumes is key to crafting immersive narratives. Lowell equips students and professionals in theatre, dance, and film with the tools to engage in informed preliminary discussions about different historical periods and cultural attire, laying the groundwork for deeper research. The book features an invaluable full-color insert, illustrating the layered complexity of historical garments—from the underpinnings to the outerwear—providing clarity on how these pieces function and interact.