Hamlet 1.3 Background: Elizabethan Trends

Polonius advises Laertes to buy quality clothes without being overly fancy, reflecting a timeless concern about fashion trends. In Elizabethan times, as today, there was suspicion that designers introduced new trends to encourage more purchases, even when existing clothes were still wearable.

What advice does Polonius give to Laertes regarding clothing?

How do the clothing choices of individuals in Elizabethan times compare to today?

What suspicion did those footing the clothing bill have about designers?

What does the text imply about the relationship between fashion trends and consumer behavior?

What was the condition of the clothes that people were wearing, according to the text?