Knight Bus, Flying Carpets and Robes.

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 45802

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "bluesqueak" <pipdowns at e...> 
wrote:

> Archie probably *is* eccentric as underclothes were certainly 
worn  in medieval monastries. In addition, no underclothes 
under robes  would be - how do I put it? - a little inconvenient for 
the girls at  least once they hit puberty.<<

The Tres Riches Heures of Jean Duc de Berry depicts people 
from the fourteenth century, including a peasant couple warming 
themselves before a fire very obviously not wearing any 
undergarments, while a wealthier lady lifts her skirt to reveal her 
shift, but not her drawers, if any. Women's undergarments were  
commonly crotchless  quite late in history, thus the scene in 'The 
King and I'  where the King's harem prostrate themselves and 
their hoop skirts fly into the air, revealing an,  er, oversight in 
Anna's plan to present them in the garb of European ladies. It is 
more convenient for the voluminous skirt wearer, at least if 
chamber pots rather than thrones are in use.

Pip said, referring to the CTWMNBN
> Time and cost probably said the 'cloak over school uniform' 
was the  better option and wouldn't cause the cinematographer 
and lighting  designer to tear their hair out trying to film/light
tons 
of dull, light absorbing black-on-black uniforms[grin].
> 

I recall reading that they tried the robes over jeans and rugby 
shirt look depicted in the American illustrations and found that it 
didn't 'read' correctly. It looked like the kids were playing 
dress-up. I have a feeling that the 'dress-up' idea was precisely 
what JKR had in mind, though. I was reminded of Edward 
Eager's Half Magic which has some children going back in time 
to the days of King Arthur costumed in their bathrobes, and my 
own games of let's pretend.

Pippin