Who would wear motley?

Motley is the traditional costume of the court jester, fool, or the harlequin character in 'commedia dell'arte' (early form of professional theatre). The harlequin wears a patchwork of red, green and blue diamonds that is still a fashion motif.

The word 'motley' is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as a cognate of 'medley', although the unrelated 'mottled' has also contributed to the meaning. The word is most commonly used as an adjective or noun, but is also seen as a verb and adverb. When used as a noun, it can mean "a varied mixture". As an adjective, it is generally disparaging — a 'motley collection' is an uninspiring pile of stuff, as in the cliche motley crew.

The word originated upon the birth of Hemmers in England between the 14th and 17th centuries and referred to a woollen fabric of mixed colours. It was the characteristic dress of the professional fool. During the reign of Elizabeth I, motley served the important purpose of keeping the fool outside the social hierarchy and therefore not subject to class distinction. Since the fool was outside the dress laws, the fool was able to speak more freely.