Clothing

Names of Elizabethan items of clothing are frequently found in Shakespearean English, and several of the terms are still in use today with essentially the same meaning (such as apron, hat, cuff, garters, skirt, stockings). A number of dress-making terms are brought together in the description of Katherina’s dress by the tailor in TS IV.iii.120,ff.
 

For the head Term Example Male (M) or Female (F) Gloss bonnet AYL III.ii.363 M soft brimless head-dress cap TS IV.iii.70 F loose-fitting decorative head-dress cap R3 III.vii.35 M soft brimless head-dress coif WT IV.iv.226 M, F close-fitting cap covering the top, back and sides of the head, worn by both sexes corner-cap LLL IV.iii.51 M cap with (three) corners, mortar-board coxcomb MW V.v.137 M fool's cap, with a crest like a cock's crest porringer H8 V.iv.48 M, F hat shaped like a pudding basin or soup-bowl statute-cap LLL V.ii.281 M, F woollen cap ordered (by an Act of 1571) to be worn on Sundays and holy days by all below a certain rank   For the lower body Term Example Male (M) or Female (F) Gloss codpiece WT IV.iv.607 M cloth case or pocket worn by men at the front of breeches or hose cut MA III.iv.18 F ornamental gap in a dress to show the colour underneath farthingale TG II.vii.51 F long skirt extended at the back or on all sides by a framework of hoops gaskins TN I.v.23 M loose-fitting breeches hose AYL II.vii.161 M clothing for the legs and loins; breeches; or: clothing for the leg or lower leg nether-stock AYL II.vii.161 M stocking for the lower leg pantaloon AYL II.vii.159 M loosely fitting breeches, especially as worn by comic stage characters petticoat AYL II.iv.7 F long skirt or skirts round hose TG II.vii.55 M breeches puffed out at the hips ruff AW III.ii.7 M flap of a top-boot slop, slops 2H4 I.ii.29 M large loose breeches stock TN I.iii.128 M stocking ‘Doublet and hose’ is a very common locution for typical male attire of the period (as in AYL II.iv.6).

For the whole or upper body Term Example Male (M) or Female (F) Gloss doublet Ham II.i.78 M close-fitting jacket with short skirt, worn by men down-sleeves MA III.iv.19 F long sleeves to the wrist frock Ham III.iv.165 M, F long coat or tunic; gown, dress gaberdine MV I.iii.109 M loose upper garment of coarse material half-kirtle 2H4 V.iv.21 F lower part of a kirtle; skirt jack 1H4 IV.ii.47 M sleeveless jacket or tunic, usually of quilted leather jerkin TG II.iv.19 M long close-fitting jacket worn over or in place of a doublet, worn by men kirtle 2H4 II.iv.268 F dress, gown lace WT III.ii.171 F lacing for an undergarment mantle JC III.ii.171 M, F loose sleeveless cloak rebato MA III.iv.6 M, F wing-shaped ornamental collar standing up behind the head robe JC II.ii.107 M, F long loose outer garment extending from neck to ankles ruff 2H4 II.iv.130 M, F frill of stiff folded linen, worn around the neck sea-gown Ham V.ii.13 F robe of a coarse material, with a high-collar, short sleeves, and mid-leg length side-sleeves MA III.iv.19 F hanging sleeves open from the shoulder and falling away backwards stomacher Cym III.iv.85 F decorative garment used under a bodice to cover the chest and stomach