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In Shakespeare's day, clothes were markers of social position. A person's occupation could be recognized by the clothes he wore. (This is still true to a certain extent, where clergy, scientists and, in most countries, lawyers wear clothes that announce to everyone what occupation they follow) In addition, the richness of one's clothes proclaimed how rich and important one was. The phenomenon of people dressing above their station (and therefore beyond their means) to try to appear to be of a higher social rank became a problem, to the extent that laws called Sumptuary laws were passed limiting what people of certain classes could wear.

Except for the extremely wealthy, most people could only afford a very limited wardrobe, so you were likely to see them in the same clothes most of the time.

For these reasons, it was possible to disguise yourself by changing your clothes as Edgar does in King Lear. Because people looked as much to clothes as to facial features to identify people, they would not see the noble son of the Duke of Gloucester in a ragged beggar.

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Q: Why were costumes important in Shakespeare's time?
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