COSTUME DESIGN
There are 4 things to consider
when planning a costume.
 Color, shape, line, and texture are
all considered when designing
costumes.
2. Consider the line or silhouette
 Costume line, or silhouette, projects
the period of the fashion.
 Historically, there are three types of
silhouettes.
• Draped
• Fitted
• Combination of fitted and draped: The X
shape
Draped Line
 A rectangular piece of
material that falls in a
fold over the body and is
held or gathered at the
shoulder and sometimes
at the waist.
 Body outline is
obscured, attention is on
the drape of the fabric.
 Ex: chiton (Greece), toga
(Rome), sari (India)
Fitted Silhouette
 Material is cut and
sewn to emphasize the
body.
 This is a Y shape either
upright or inverted
(upside down Y)
 Ex: Shakespearian/
Elizabethan era men’s
clothes, matador (Spain),
sheath dresses in 50s and
60s (US)
X Shape
 Fitted bodice (top, bust
portion – shoulders to waist)
 Draped skirt
 Tight at the waist and
wider at the shoulders
and hips
 Ex: 80s shoulder pads with
full skirts, 50’s full skirts with
shoulder pads under blouse
Psychology of Lines
 Diagonal lines – add interest
• Imply action, excitement, adventure
 Horizontal lines – add width
• Suggest calmness and down-to-earth
qualities
 Vertical lines
– add height and stateliness
• Implies strength and dignity
3.Consider the choice of fabric.
A. Fabric helps to suggest
social status.
1. Luxurious texture suggests wealth
2. Rough textures suggest poverty
B. The weight of the fabric
is important too.
1. Regal robes require bulky material
2. Fairies’ from Midsummer Night’s Dream need light
weight material that will flow easily.
4. Consider decoration.
 Decoration includes trim and
accessories attached to the costume.
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Buttons
Lace
Hats
Shoes
Fans
Canes
Jewelry
Conceptual Considerations
 Don’t be too stereotypical
 Show the character’s evolution
 Stylization: Adapt reality to the concept
of the play
 Interpretation of the Time Period: Use
details, color and fabric
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-kpigny5GJg
Practical Considerations
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Needs of the actor
The theatre: Size and Shape
Budget
Work Force
Costume Resources:
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Renting
Buying
Borrowing
Renovating/Repurposing
Building
Presentation of the Costume
Design
 You have to understand the
human form and how to
represent it on paper! It is a
challenge to freeze a living,
breathing form into a 2-D
representation.
Costume Sketch
 Drawn in pencil, rough design
Costume Layout
 Shows designs for a
number of the
characters at once;
shows overall view of
the costume
designer’s concept
Costume Rendering
 Full color drawing of
one character on a
full size sheet of
paper; large and
clear with all
necessary info.