Even within a uniform, just a slight alteration can make a difference in the effect whilst being difficult to define just what exactly what it is that does it.

When I was doing costumes for one Shakespear play - the one where a girl is shipwrecked and dresses to look like her brother, there was a problem because the two playing the roles of brother and sister were a very alike brother and sister - and the girlyest one was the man.

It was necessary to put the man into sturdy heeled boots, make the jacket longer and looser at the waist and put a quilted lining in the back and over the shoulders to beef him up, then narrow the waist and shoulders for the girl, make a softer rounded collar, daintify with lace edgings as otherwise it was difficult to tell the two apart - particularly at the dress rehersal when she'd had a cold and spoke gruffly.

Uniform - if cleverly done, can still show differences, it is just a matter of getting it right.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: