Fashion Design Review

Ever thought of becomeing a costume designer? – Here is an overview of what costume designers actually do.

Costume designers dress the actors and the extras in appropriate clothing for various productions, including plays, dance productions, operas, television shows, commercials, music videos and concerts. Wherever the clothing worn by the players needs to project a certain mood, era, or cultural influence, costume designers have a hand in the project.

Each production will require different kinds of attention. In theater, film, and television, the designer meets with the director, reads the script and develops a plan for each scene in the production. Once they have met with the art director, set designer, and lighting designer, the costume designer can then set about creating sketches of the way each outfit should look. Some are involved in creating futuristic clothing, while others recreate historical events. These outfits require a lot of research, and may need to be handmade. However, if the story or show is set in more recent times, the costume designer might have to do more hunting through second hand shops and flea markets than stitching up bodices. However, even selecting clothes for movies set in 1974 involves a lot of research. Not just any second-hand browsing will do. No matter what era they are exploring, costume designers need to pay attention to details, right down to the type of fabric used by pioneering women in Nebraska, what sort of hairpieces accentuated the Beehive and what would be appropriate underwear for Renaissance nobility.

Costume designers work closely with the production’s directors, producers, and actors. They know when they are creating looks for the production to stay within specific budgets, and must measure the performers before the outfits can be selected. They often work with assistants when developing a costume scheme for a production.

Costume designers usually specialize in one type of area. Some enjoy the drama of a life in theater, while others prefer working with television crews on commercials and other advertising initiatives. No matter where they apply their skills, however, all designers are able to strike a balance between creativity and practicality. They know how to recreate moods, eras and entire universes because of their innovative approach to fashion and design.