Having more information on becoming a theatrical costume designer is essential. If you love fashion and the magical world of the stage. Of course, you can also decline this passion for cinema and television. Indeed, it is desirable to gain experience in these fields – but we must speak clearly: theater always has its charm. And that’s why there are always many people looking for information on how first to become a costume designer assistant, and ultimately responsible for the clothes to use on stage. Why is this profession so coveted? Is there a lot of demand in the industry? To start a righteous path toward this ancient and fascinating activity, you need to know.
Who is the theatrical costume designer, definition
The theatrical costume designer is the person who deals with the designs and the choice of stage clothes in a show. Consequently, he is a professional figure who defines the colors, the fabrics, and the cut of the clothing worn by both the protagonists and the extras. His goal is to represent the various personalities best, coinciding with the historical period and working together with the direction and the screenplay. Do you want to deepen these topics? Read on for more information.
What are the specific skills?
This figure must be able to blend two fundamental skills: technical skills of the tailoring sector and historical knowledge of the theatrical period to be faced. From here, other specific capabilities branch out. For example, the study of the theater and its dynamics and the study of everything related to the management of a team because usually, the theatrical costume designer must also guide the tailors towards the realization of the costumes.
How much does a costume designer earn
It isn’t easy to give a clear reference to the salary of a costume designer. Still, there is also a point to add: we can bring together different specializations (costume designers for theater, cinema, television, or other events) in a single category. It is an estimate, and it must be remembered that it is a job in which experience allows you to make a difference. How much does a costume designer earn fact? At around 10/20 years of activity, 42,084 USD per year can be reached. As you can see from this graph, there is still some chance of increasing the salary in the following years.
How to become a theatrical costume designer
This is the essential point: you have to learn how to become a theatrical costume designer, but there is always great confusion . Because there is no specific training course. Certainly, however, it can be useful to have a base linked to the art or high school. Then continue to university with courses dedicated to fashion. To deepen the history of this matter and that of different historical periods. Do you want to define these topics?
Which degree should you follow?
The degree course in fashion sciences certainly does the thing for a future costume designer. Whether it is theatrical or cinematographic, it makes no difference. Of course, even specialization in the humanities can help, but those who want to work with directors, make-up artists, and screenwriters must certainly have a clear foundation in the world of fashion.
How to specialize as a costume designer?
It is not enough to be competent concerning the theory and know the various clothing items. The theatrical costume designer must also have good competence in the history of fashion, fabrics, accessories, and hairstyles. For this reason, it is essential, after graduating in fashion sciences, to attend a refresher and specialization workshop like the various tailoring and fashion design courses. It all also depends on how your passion is oriented. A theater costume designer must also work on the choice of hats, gloves, and accessories to the director’s needs and those who perfect choreography, scenography, make-up, and hairdressing.
You need to know the theater.
The theatrical costume designer must have the pulse of the situation immediately and chew the theater immediately. There is a need for concrete experience. One of the best solutions is to follow the world of the stage already during the university years. There are many theater companies for young people and students. And it is better to start from the bottom, perhaps as an actor or actress. To specialize and maybe even start some experience in transversal sectors such as cinema or TV.
The costume designer’s job isn’t just about fashion. Even when we talk about work in a theater (whether small or large), we must consider the necessary budget to find the fabrics of the tailor’s shop. And maybe figure out when it’s time to rent instead of making clothes from scratch. In the latter case, one must also know how to choose the fabric and fabrics to re-enter the costs and recreate the historical representation in the best possible way.
Do you want to work as a theatrical costume designer?
We have listed one of the steps: let’s talk about training, that is, studying the basics necessary to show up for an interview or casting and have a better chance of having the place of your dreams. It starts from the bottom as a costume designer. But every extra day spent behind the scenes, between dressing rooms and tailors, allows you to take a step towards your goal. This is why it is always important to have a clear idea of the theatrical costume designer course program that you must follow in these cases.
