What does Portia wear in the merchant of Venice?

Answer 1

The only requirement as to costume for Portia is when she is impersonating the lawyer Balthazar. At this point in the play she must wear clothes which a male lawyer might wear, consistent with the design and setting which the director has chosen for the production. This might consist of a business suit or a set of robes, maybe with a birretta (if you want to look Italian) or a perruque (if you want to look English). All the rest of the time she wears female clothing appropriate to the design and setting and to the fact that she is a wealthy person.