The striking, elaborate Elizabethan ruffs are the defining feature of the mens’ costumes in STC’s production of Mary Stuart.

Each of the seven ruffs featured in the show was painstakingly designed and created over the course of a few weeks by the STC costume department, under the direction of expert milliner, Rick McGill.

In this behindthescenes video, Rick explains how the Mary Stuart ruffs were created, from Elizabethan portrait inspiration all the way to final fittings.