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Costume design is the fabrication of apparel for the overall appearance of a character or performer. This usually involves researching, designing and building the actual items from conception. Costumes may be for a theater or cinema performance but may not be limited to such. Costume design should not be confused with Costume coordination which merely involves altering existing clothing.

Four types of costumes are used in theatrical design, Historical, fantastic, dance, and modern.^[1]

Designs are first sketched out, and approved then either draped on a form or a pattern drafted. Along with the fabricated portion, the costume may require accessories such as footwear, hats and head dresses for the actors to wear, but it may also include designing masks, makeup, wigs, underwear or other unusual specialty items, such as the full body animal suits for the characters in the musical Cats (designed by John Napier, winner of the 1983 Tony Award for Best Costume Design). Costumes budgets will generally be as high a cost as other departments or theatrical needs such as set design.

History

In its earliest form, costumes consisted of theatrical prop masks from the time of the ancient greeks. Costume design evolved as the need for more elaborate and detailed characterizations were needed as the performances became more intricate and more complex characters began to emerge on stage. Defining each character separately allowing the audience the ability to follow a storyline with a conceptualised look defined prior to a performance was, and is needed as part of preproduction preparations.

Early performers were generally male, therefore costuming was needed for gender disguise so as to create the illusion of the opposite sex. Costuming also helps create other character building imagery such as age. The leading characters will have more detail and design to make them stand out and relate a sense of trust to the audience. Styles and technique has changed over the centuries but have maintained basic priciples of clothing design yet geared towards pushing the characters traits out in its appearance.

References

^ Grimball and Wells, Elizabeth B. and Rhea (1925). Costuming a Play: Inter-Theatre Arts Handbook. The Century Co. p. 6. ISBN '''000-00000'''. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)

External links

"The Stagecraft Wiki" A Wiki dedicated to technical theater arts. Part of Stagecraft.com
IDD: Costume & Theatrical International Costume & Theatrical Design Directory
Scenography - The Theatre Design Website Theatre Design / Scenography
University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections - Fashion Plates Costumes
Costumes of All Nations 104 plates of costumes
Williams College Theatre Department a database of costumes with VR movies and the original sketches
"Stagelink" Theatrical costume, makeup and wig resources
Theatre Costume and Set Design Archive at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection, University of Bristol
The 50 films that changed men's style
"British Society of Theatre Designers"

[1] Grimball and Wells, Elizabeth B. and Rhea (1925). Costuming a Play: Inter-Theatre Arts Handbook. The Century Co. p. 6. ISBN '''000-00000'''. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)

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 Early performers were generally male, therefore costuming was needed for gender disguise so as to create the illusion of the opposite sex. Costuming also helps create other character building imagery such as age. The leading characters will have more detail and design to make them stand out and relate a sense of trust to the audience. Styles and technique has changed over the centuries but have maintained basic priciples of clothing design yet geared towards pushing the characters traits out in its appearance.
-costume design is awesome
 == See also ==
 [[Costume Designer]]
-stephanie is so cool
 ==References==