Role of a Costume Designer
– Designs costumes for film, stage productions, or television shows
– Collaborates with directors, scenic and lighting designers, and other creative personnel
– Works with hair stylists, wig masters, and makeup artists
– Enhances a character’s personality and creates visual design through garments and accessories
– Ensures costumes allow actors to move and execute the director’s vision
History of Costume Design
– In the late-19th century, costumes for shows were usually selected from rental houses
– Film costume designers like Edith Head and Adrian gained recognition in the 20th century
– Television costume designers such as Nolan Miller, Janie Bryant, and Patricia Field became prominent
– Professional costume designers can be freelance, residential, or academic
– Academic designers often hold professorships and may freelance
Unions in the United States and Canada
– International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is the sole union representing costume designers
– Costume Designers Guild, Local 892, and United Scenic Artists are two unions for costume designers
– Motion Picture Costumers Union, Local 705, represents various positions within the costume department
– Local 705 represents Costume Supervisors, Key Costumers, Costumers, Tailor/Seamstress, Ager/Dyer, Cutter/Fitters, Costume House Employees, and Commercial Costumers
Related Topics
– Costume design
– Filmmaking
– List of film formats
– List of motion picture-related topics
References and External Links
– Landis, Deborah Nadoolman. ‘Filmcraft: Costume Design: Costume Design.’ Elsevier Science.
– King, Kimball. ‘Western Drama through the Ages: A Student Reference Guide.’ Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2007.
– Meltzer, Marisa. ‘Get Me Wardrobe!’ The New York Times.
– Stitcher. The Free Dictionary.
– Costume Designers Guild, I.A.T.S.E. Local 892.
– Local 829 usa829.com
– Local 705 motionpicturecostumers.org
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to Costume designers. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costume_designer
A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film, stage production or television show. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters' outfits or costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour, etc. The costume designer works alongside the director, scenic, lighting designer, sound designer, and other creative personnel. The costume designer may also collaborate with a hair stylist, wig master, or makeup artist. In European theatre, the role is different, as the theatre designer usually designs both costume and scenic elements.
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Designers typically seek to enhance a character's personality, and to create an evolving plot of color, changing social status, or period through the visual design of garments and accessories.[citation needed] They may distort or enhance the body—within the boundaries of the director's vision. The designer must ensure that the designs let the actor move as the role requires. The actor must execute the director's blocking of the production without damaging the garments. Garments must be durable and washable, especially for plays with extended runs or films with near-real time pacing (meaning that most costumes will not change between scenes) but whose principal photography phase may stretch across several weeks. The designer must consult not only with the director, but the set and lighting designers to ensure that all elements of the overall production design work together. The designer must possess strong artistic capabilities and a thorough knowledge of pattern development, draping, drafting, textiles and fashion history. The designer must understand historical costuming, and the movement style and poise that period dress may require.
