Functions of Costume Design:

Indicate gender and reflect age

Reflect a characters psychology
Establish social and economic status
Identify occupation or lifestyle
Establish or clarify character relationships
Establish the relative importance of characters
Establish time and place
 Functions of Costume Design, cont:
Reflect mood and atmosphere
Establish a particular style
Reflect a formalized convention
Alter and actors appearance
Enhance or impede movement
Underline development of the dramatic action
Create both variety and unity
 The Costume Designer is:
Fashion Designer
Visual Artist
Tailor
Seamstress
Social and Cultural Historian
Art Historian
Actor
 The design process varies, but generally includes:
Preliminary Designs
Sketches of each character
Final Designs
Color renderings
Working Drawings
Sketches from various angles
Fabric swatches
Color chart
Dressing Lists
 Costumes may be:
Borrowed
Must settle for what is available
May make only minimal alterations
Rented
Same conditions as for borrowed, as well as the costumes
may arrive just before dress rehearsals
Pulled from stock
Made
 Standard Procedures:
1. Measurements taken of all of the actors
2. Materials purchased
3. Patterns draped, flat patterned, and drafted
4. First fitting
5. Final fitting
6. Distressing, trim, and other finishing work
 Traditionally considered the actors responsibility

The Costume Designer conceives the makeup design

Professional actors generally apply their own makeup

based on the designs
 Functions of Makeup:

Characterizes

Aids expression

Restores color and form diminishes by stage lighting

Indicative of performance style

 The Makeup Plot:

Serves as a guide for applying makeup

Serves as a check on how makeup of each character

relates to others

A chart records basic information

Actors face may be sketched to show how to apply

the makeup correctly
 4 categories of Painted Makeup:

Age groups

Straight or character makeup

Racial or ethnic types

Special painted effects

 3-Dimensional Makeup:

Prosthetic appliances

Facial hair and wigs

 Makeup Materials:

Base

Liners

Face powder

3-dimensional pieces

Hair coloration
 Dress Parade:

Allows for evaluation of costume without the

distractions of performance

Dress Rehearsals

Allow for evaluation of costume in performance

conditions
 Design Assistants

Costume Studio Staff

Wardrobe Supervisor

Dressers