What Does Being a Costume Designer Involve?

A costume designer is responsible for creating and coming up with the costumes for characters. Costume designers can work on movies or in television. They also may work on live performance events, such as a stage play or a dance concert.

Skills Needed

A costume designer must have a good eye for design. She has be able to do research in order to properly costume a historical piece as well as a performance that takes place in contemporary times. While many designers do not also make the costumes, a costume designer should know how to sew in case she needs to alter a garment to better fit an actor.

Working With the Director

Costume designers typically get involved with the film or theater production before it begins filming or goes into rehearsals. A costumer must have a good sense of what the director wants the project to look like. The director has the final say over whether the costumes he designs get used in the movie or play. During the production or rehearsal process, the director may suggest changes to the costumes.

Logistics

A costume designer needs to figure out how many costumes she needs to create and for how many characters. She may sit down and go through the screenplay or play before production starts and map out what costumes are required for each scene.

References

• Skill Set: Costume Designer
• Clothes on Film: Ellen Mirojnick Explains the Role of Costume Designer
• AACT: Costume Designer