Costumes in commedia dell'arte

Each character in commedia dell'arte is distinctly different, and are defined by their movement, actions, masks, and costumes. These costumes show their social status and background.

Pantelone typically wore tight red pants and a matching shirt, a long black cape, black or red pointed shoes and a belt that had a purse attached. Pantelone also carried a knife and handkerchief, and wore glasses. His hat sits very close to his head, and does not have a brim- very much like a skullcap. He might also wear a codpiece with his pants to make it look like he has an erect phallus.

Il Dottore is dressed almost entirely in black- shoes, pants, shirt, robe, belt, and hat- broken only by a white handkerchief, white ruffeled collar, white cuffs on his sleeves, or maybe white socks. The pants come to his knees, as does the full cloak that almost stands out like a dress with a petticoat. His hat can either be small and look like a skullcap, or be larger and floppy with a wide brim.

Il Capitano did not have a consistent dress code, but he did have a consistent costume theme. He wore the current soldiers' outfit from a foreign country. Sometimes his clothes were slashed to show that he had been in battle. His hat is overdone and typically has large feathers sticking out of it. Ribbons and shines buttons often clutter his clothes. He always carries a sword, and in the seventeenth century the sword upgrades to a gun. Every Il Capitano costume also includes a coat or cloak, that he may fling off in a moment of rage or passion.

The Lovers wore whatever was the latest fashion. They wore a lot of makeup, but it was tastefully done to match the elaborate outfits. They do not ever wear masks.

Pulcinella always had white baggy pants and shirt, large buttons on the shirt, and a piece under his garments that made his belly appear very large. His clothes were held on by a rope belt, where a dagger and purse would hang. A humpback piece was sometimes used. He also wore a mask that depicted a large, sometimes broken nose. His hat was short and fluffy.

Harlequin has a varying costume throughout time. At first, in the mid sixteen century, his clothes are light colored and baggy with red,yellow, and green patches with no particular pattern. His facial hair suggests younger man for a few years but then a fuller beard is worn later. He had a black mask and a feathered white hat. About 100 years later this look morphes into white stripes and colored diamonds or trianglesinstead of patches. For the next 200 years, the suit gets tighter, triangles stay, and a black belt is added. He wears a hat with two points and his clothes gain lots of sparkles. By the twentieth century all the sparkles, collar ruffles, and large fancy hats are gone. Arlecchino wore a very small hat, the mask is sometimes swapped out for a facepainted diamond, and the costume pattern becomes entirely made up of diamonds with a small bow or collar.

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