Roles
The person who organizes the shop, makes purchases, schedules fittings, etc.
Costume Shop Manager
The collection of research images used to convey the mood, time period, and concept of the costumes.
Collage
The practice garment usually made from cotton muslin that is then fitted on an actor before making the real costume.
Mockup
The products used on an actors face to enhance their natural features in order to be seen by audience members under stage lights.
Stage Makeup
The tool used to remove stitches from costumes shaped like a hook.
Seam ripper
The person who reads and analyses the script, creates looks for each character in every scene of the production.
The Costume Designer
The drawings that show what each character is wearing in each act and scene of a production.
Costume renderings
A session attended by the actor, designer and technician where costumes are tried on and assessed.
Costume fitting
The item actors use to cover their natural hair in order to keep it as close to their scalp as possible.
Wig Cap
The tool used to gauge specific sizing for the costumer in order to create a true fit to an actor.
Tape Measure
The person who is responsible for creating patterns for each costume based on the costume renderings.
Cutter/Draper
A collection of sentences describing the mood, time period, color scheme, and narrative of the clothing of the production.
Costume design concept.
The adjustment of a costume on an actor that makes it fit correctly and is most comfortable for the actor.
Alteration
The item worn by an actor to give the illusion of a specific face shape, injury, or body modification to convey a character.
Prosthetic
The cutting tool specifically designed to be used ONLY on fabric.
Fabric Shears (scissors)
The person who sews the costume together.
Stitcher
Small pieces of fabric usually attached to a rendering that show what a costume will be made from.
Swatches
The creation of a costume template using an actors measurements and a drafted basic body block.
Flat Pattern
The template given to an actor that they use to create the characters features using makeup.
Make up Map
The tool used to cut between threads of fabric using a sharp point that connects items together using a single or double piece of thread.
Needle
The person who cuts the costume pattern out of fabric.
First Hand
The document that shows what each actor is wearing when through out the entire production. Used by the wardrobe crew and actors to facilitate costume changes.
Costume plot
The art of creating a costume pattern by placing fabric onto a dress form and pinning it in place to create the desired look of a costume.
Draping
The art of tying hair onto net to create an appliance to attach to an actor using adhesive.
Ventilating
The donut shaped sewing machine part that can be made of metal or plastic where thread is spooled onto and used to create stitches in fabric.
Bobbin