Theatre Costume Design

Careers After FIDM

Costume Designer for Theatre

Make a play for the theatre.  Manage all visual aspects of the costumes for a live theatre production, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and wigs/hair.  Oversee the Design Team and fittings with actors.

Shopper

Shop for the stage.  Identify sources for and acquire selections of fabric, trims, clothing, and accessories for a theatre production.  Often work for costume shops or Costume Designers.  Must develop a knowlefdge of resources and be highly organized to arrange for timely arrival of all items.

Head of Wardrobe

Oversee the costume portion of a performance.  Work with the Costume Designer to plot out where and when costume changes take place, supervise a staff of dressers, and make emergency costume repairs.

Draper / Cutter

Make the cut.  Create patterns from the Costume Designer's sketches and period pattern books.  Cut the garments in muslin and oversee the fittings, changes, and alterations with the Costume Designer.  Supervise the construction of costumes.  This job requires sewing skills, along with knowledge of fabrics, draping, flat pattern making, and period construction techniques.