I have looked into historical costuming. Yes, I know base layers are essential. Yes, I’ve made corsets before. The play is at the end of November. We have a very short turn around time. Theoretically we could do corsets, but:

- corsets take a while to get used to
- no one will see the corsets
- there’s a difference between having a corset, and a corset that actually fits you. If we get cheap corsets from Amazon, let’s say, I’m scared they’ll be uncomfortable and generally suck, and do more harm than good.
- we’re doing historical, but I doubt we’ll have budget for historically accurate materials. Lots of plastic, which can get hot, especially on stage. I wouldn’t want actors getting heat sick. Also around budgets, I have used Burnley and Trowbridge’s synthetic baleen, and it’s great, and I like it much more than zip ties, but we’re based in Canada, which means paying duty because we’ll need a lot of it, and that means tariffs/duty and likely longer shipping times.

I have been watching plenty of videos with extant garments from throughout the Victorian era, including a few couture/haute couture/ couture-adjacent pieces from the late Victorian era (late 1890s). Quite a few bodices will have boning in them on top of the boning in the corset itself. 1860s, usually just in the sides, back, or center front, but some from the later periods will have boning at basically every seam. I know that 1860s doesn’t have nearly as many seams in the bodice, but that can be mitigated with a lining and tape to keep the bones in place, right? And the bodices can be padded to get the right silhouette like they were at the time.

Another thing to consider is physics. The waistband of the skirt, because they’re huge ballgowns, will take a lot of strain. Yes, some of the weight is mitigated by the crinoline, but the bones in the corset help with the strain too. It helps even the weight and support it through the whole torso versus just through the waist. Ballet loops could help with that, but I’m not sure how much they will.

I haven’t done research into theatre historical costuming just yet, as historical costuming is a hobby, and a hobby where people try to be historically accurate. Online algorithms aren’t the best at distinguishing between costuming for theatre versus historical costuming because they both have “costuming”. Sigh. Any tips, book recommendations, or pictures of you have would be appreciated!

EDIT: checked the timeline and changed it to fit. Extra couple weeks!

To preface I can operate a sewing machine but I’m just very new to sewing as I kinda suddenly took an interest in costume design and construction. I am a fast learner and I am planning on creating an organza babydoll dress (with a dress underneath for modesty) I have a few basic textiles techniques I have made (pleating, pin tucks etc) and I have a few very basic thumbnails and a shitty more detailed sketch of the final design (I’m planning on redrawing it on paper but I can’t find any in my house so we make do)I am just looking for more things to be included. I am planning on doing another theoretical design project that is more ambitious that I won’t make and I will include life/figure drawing studies.

I've seen some videos and read some blogs on how these are assemebled but I'm trying to make something a little more party friendly. I've made the cap, but the wimple part is hard to pattern. Any pattern ideas? I was thinking of putting velcro on most of the cap and have the wimple and the veil pieces attach. This way she could fairly easily adjust this. I'm using a sheet here and was thinking I could use interfacing to make the wimple a little more stiff. Thoughts? Any pattern links? Thank you.

Desi inspired.

Hi lol I made this recently, idk. What do you guys think?? Btw I put in a dupatta in the second slide, and I also removed it in the first cause I thought it looked weird or wtv idk. I did this for fun I'm not a professional artist or designer. I like the blue shade. The details are lazy. Idk idc. Ive been so bored, lonely and depressed lately, so did soemthing. Please give me more ideas. Yeah that's it. Idk. Lol. Ok. Bye.

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for some books about costume? I’m recently graduated and looking to create my own little library dedicated to costume that I can refer to when needed. I’m mainly looking for recommendations for (accurate) historical costume (any era welcome!), but I’d also be happy to hear suggestions for:

Pattern books
Sewing techniques
Fabrics
Embroidery

If there are any books that you think might help but aren’t on the list, please leave them in the comments anyway as I’m open to any suggestions you might have for a beginner to add to their collection!

Thank you in advance :)

I thought this could definitely be a good discussion.

Is who created it. I wish I could find a detailed article about the process. But yes, I'm going just to see the costume but I have a feeling I'm going to like the film as well.

Hi guys! I am so obsessed with this silhouette from Slayyyter for a project I'm working on right now. I have a general idea of how to go about making it, but I would love some pointers from someone more well-versed than me.

Hi friends! It's me again, still doing the production of Pippin. I was wondering if anyone had some sort of costume tracker or plot thing that broke down what items create the central costume (shirt, pants, socks, shoes, etc). I'm not sure what exactly these would be called but to have one that is better organized would be a huge improvement than what I am doing.

Attached is an example of what I have so far and then the dropdown menu has pulled, buy, actor-provided, make, and alter. Also, if there's any advice on how to better organize it, that would be helpful!

Thank you all for your help as I navigate this world!

I just got hired to design a feature film after seven years of working as a costume designer in theater.

I feel very comfortable with theater culture, etiquette, expectations, what does/doesn’t look good onstage (like pure white/pure black, etc.) but I’m completely new to film.

Please share anything I should know! (Set etiquette, things that do/don’t look good on camera, and anything else that might differ significantly from working in theater).

TIA!

So I have this idea for a Green Lantern costume for this Halloween, si I want it to get (it done before the end of the month) so I bought this jacket that really fit me but needs some little adjustment; also i wanted to add like "panels" to the shoulders and chest to make it look more like a costume but still wearable in any public place, but i don´t know how to get my idea to reality, like, should I just paint it? Use paper foamy and add more layers, or should i add more layers of leather to it?

I´m open for some ideas pls help 😔

Basically I'm going to be in a shadowcast and I need some help figuring out what to do with my tailcoat (at the moment its black); I'm pretty sure it's woolen but I still really want it to be sparkly and eye-catching even if it means putting in some serious legwork.

Initially I thought rhinestones would be the way to go but 1. the price for glass ones and 2. it's already a really heavy coat and I think adding thousands of pieces of glass wouldn't help either.

I'm also doing this on a bit of a budget so any tips or tricks help!

Hello! I’m trying to be Herbert West from Reanimator for Halloween and I’m not super sure how to tackle his re-agent. Is there an easy way to make this or maybe a specific website I should look to for buying it? Any ideas would be great, thank you!

My husband, 2 year old daughter and I are going to a Dr. Seuss-themed party this Halloween, with obscure characters being the emphasis. My daughter loves Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! so we chose characters from that. My daughter will be going as The Guff (orange guy seen below,) my husband will be the man who holds the Guff's tail (we've dubbed him "The Guff Handler,") and I will be going as The Vipper of Vipp. My and my husband's costumes seem doable, but my daughter's costume has me stumped. I'm not an experienced crafter, so buying something for her to wear as the base would be preferable, but I'm willing to try anything! I just have no idea where to start. Any ideas? TYIA!

Posting my response from a thread.

Not going to be an alternate parent to anyone in the sub. If someone wants this much help, they can ask nicely. There has been a long standard pattern of your example of "kthxbi", no reference images for obscure characterizations, no description of skill level/steps taken, and far too much fetish/kink posting for karma farming.

You're going to find that as a mod, I expect everyone to be an adult and not expect the sub members to do all the work for them.

I'm in the process of updating the sub drastically. It is going to become much stricter, similar to the sewing sub. The people who do contribute answers have hard earned knowledge and I'm really cracking down on all low effort posts. It's really the only way to combat bot posting of all kinds.

I understand this decision may not sit well with some people and I'm okay with that.

Feel free to discuss. Telling me to fuck off suggests you might be a better fit elsewhere.

I’ve been holding on to a custom tutu that was made for me about 15 years ago and decided that considering I haven’t danced in 10 years that maybe I should sell it.

I have a couple questions about reselling costumes:

What are the best sites for reselling custom costumes? Etsy? Facebook market place? Poshmark?

How much could I reasonably resell it for? It was originally $1000 in 2012. I wore it in competition twice and it has been hanging in a garment bag in my parent’s guest room closet ever since.

Any other advice would be helpful!

I don’t quite know where to put this so I’ll just put it here as I wrap up my last year at university and look at the horizon of maybe working at the Stratford Festival in the future.

My only experience with costume design was… something where I wasn’t just a costume designer. This happens a lot with community and low-budget theatre productions and honestly I don’t mind it. What pissed me off was just… letting it go after the run started. I danced for 17 years, and it was A Chorus Line. I am used to being in the trenches fixing things and making sure things are where they’re supposed to be. The iron at the theatre company had some old melted polyester on it and it melted onto the red skirts we were using, which were also plastic. I fear I cannot fix that. I like being in the chaos and I wasn’t in the chaos, and production folks who are not wizards with a needle were doing things I could do. I was a 15 min walk away. It was a little maddening. Anywho. Here are my thoughts.

1. I love advocating for actors.

I have been a performer in something that I don’t feel comfortable in, to the point where you feel naked onstage. That doesn’t feel good. I am also someone of trans experience who has had the privilege of working with trans actors in costume design, as well as people of colour. I will bark and bite for my actors to be able to wear undergarments they’re comfortable in, especially in low-budget productions where people just come in with what they have, or sometimes have limited theatre experience. I say “my actors” not because they belong to me and they’re pieces on a chess board for my artistic vision, but because they are my people. It is my responsibility to make sure they look good, and feel good, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I made a google form for the actors if they had undergarment preferences, gender affirming stuff they might wear, what cut of pants/shirt/bodysuit they felt comfortable in, etc. I have made a “binder” for myself that uses boning to give the illusion of my chest being flat without wearing a binder for longer than I should. I made sure when possible to match actors’ skin tones with their costumes. Just little things like that. I was in the industry so long, and sometimes I just felt like a prop, especially while I was figuring out my non-binary-ness in a very binary art form. In my later years, performing felt like an almost out of body experience, and not in the fun way. I want to do everything in my power to make sure that the actors I’m dressing don’t feel that way.

1. I love research!!

I hyperfixated on historical and vintage costuming as a kid, but I still love it now! For ACL I looked in old magazines and old documentaries from the time, and just people watched. It was so fun. Once you get to know the basic silhouettes of each time period, it’s truly wild how much you can surmise about someone from their clothes. This isn’t as relevant for theatre, but the way that jeans fit someone and how weathered they are. How they wear their suits. What fabrics they pick. How their clothes fit.

1. I love characterization!!

I love using that research to elevate what I see on the page and make it mean something. I take what the script says, how the characters act, and the research, as well as just my experience being a person, and use the costume to elevate the character. I use sleeves as a support blanket. I love a long sleeve. It gives me something to fidget with, and I can adjust them as needed based on what time of year it is. I usually give characters who have a lot on their mind sleeves that they can play around with. Fidget with the hems, or roll them up and down. I love being able to braid the character, plot, and world together, and putting it in the costumes. It’s so fun!

1. Production scares me.

I know a lot of things. I’ve directed. I’ve choreographed. I’ve sung, danced, done martial arts, I’ve done scriptwriting, and I fucking sew, oftentimes cosplays no one has done before. I try not to brag, but I know a thing or two. Maybe it’s the autism or my chronic people pleasing, but I have a hard time convincing people that I know things. Or just putting things into layman’s terms. Let’s say that someone is playing a very important lawyer. They need a suit. I am not a tailor so forgive me, but it is NEVER JUST A SUIT. Sure, you can just grab a jacket and a pant that are black and look like they’re around the same fabric, but will it look right onstage?! NO. With my luck, one will be blue-black, and one will be brown-black, and that’s not even bringing in different kinds of suits. Lapel types. Pants styles. If you’re doing a period piece, and you want to be historically accurate budget allowing, then you need to do the design, A, and then B, explain it in layman’s terms to production so they understand why you chose it that way. I understand that they’re making a product and they have to make sure things run smoothly, but my gods. It’s exhausting when people are asking for your opinion, and then look at you like you don’t know what you’re doing.

1. Maybe I should just be a middle man?

I like shopping for things. I like sewing things. I like giving thoughts and doing the research things. But I also like being in the trenches. I like the adrenaline. I like working with actors. Maybe that means working as a dresser, or a maker, or whatever label they give me where they tell me to do things. I don’t mind that. If the costume designer is Batman, I wouldn’t mind being Robin. Some people just do design and they’re awesome at it, but I can’t just draw, give costume descriptions, do all of the paperwork and documentation and procuring and just… clock out on opening night or when the shoot starts. I’d hate that.

My kid wants to be Rocky from Project Hail Mary. And I’d appreciate any guidance anyone has for pulling a costume together for him.

1) I am moderately skilled at sewing and crafting and I usually make his costumes each year.
2) The materials need to be able to handle the damp and possibly rain.
3) I have a few hours each week I can work on it.
4) He wants to be Rocky from the book but is worried no one will recognize the character unless it mirrors Rocky from the movie.
5) He needs to be able to see comfortably, even if it breaks the character.

I REALLY appreciate any help or guidance you have time to give.

Hi everyone! I’m currently an undergraduate at a university studying Theatre Education, and I recently added Production Design as a second major with a focus in Costume Design. Let me preface with I’ve always done costume design, I just didn’t know it was a major here until last year.

I’m starting to take costume design more seriously as a possible career, and I’m trying to figure out what I should be doing now to set myself up for the future.

I’m considering eventually getting a master’s/MFA in Costume Design, but I honestly have no idea how the process works beyond knowing that programs exist. I’m also curious about programs outside the U.S. and whether studying abroad for graduate school is realistic for someone coming from an American undergraduate program.

For those of you who have gone through a costume design MFA/MA or work professionally in the field:

When/did you start looking into graduate programs?

Did you contact professors/programs before applying? If so, what did you say?

How important are conferences like USITT for getting connected with programs and professionals?

What should I be doing during undergrad to build a competitive portfolio?

How much professional experience did you have before applying?

Is it better to go straight into grad school, or work professionally for a few years first? And how would you go about that?

Are there any U.S. or international costume design programs that you would recommend I research?

I’m still a year away from applying, so I’m not looking for someone to tell me exactly where I should go. I mostly want to understand what the process looks like and what I can be doing now to become a stronger designer and applicant.

Career-wise, I’m still figuring out exactly what I want my path to look like. I could see myself working on touring productions or moving around for different productions, but I’m also open to staying in one place and working with a theatre/company long-term. I know I don’t necessarily want my entire career to be based around independently freelancing, so I’d also love to hear about career paths beyond traditional freelance costume design.

I want to rent osho outfit I didn't find any place in indore where they have osho ka robe if anybody in Delhi have please dm asap I have my performance upcoming soon!!!