Prospero's Costume < Ariel's Costume Miranda's Costume >
Color Choice
The color purple seen on the bottom of Prospero’s coat is meant to illustrate magic seeping in. When the costume designer, Lynda Cameron-Bayer, started fashioning this coat, she was inspired by this element of contrasting the whimsical and the natural. She created the color scheme for the rest of the play based off of this idea.
Storybook Element
The inside of Prospero’s coat is parchment that has been written on. Cameron-Bayer wanted the lining of his coat to resemble the pages of his book, as if Ariel had created them that way so that he could always have the pages close to his heart. The audience can only catch a glimpse of the coat lining every once in a while, however it is a significant element of Prospero’s costume.
Costume Change
When Prospero changes his coat near the end of the play, the intention is for him to blend into the island. Prospero’s magic is vital to his character until he renounces his magic. His costume change is intended to reflect this significant change within Prospero himself.