Web Sites
·
The Costume Society
The Costume Society promotes the
study and preservation of historic dress. There is opportunity for membership
in the society. A U.S. student can pay $25 for a year long membership or get a
six month membership at half the rate. However, one does not have to be a
member to have access to their blog. The blog covers a broad range of topics
including costume history and news. The entries begin in November 2013 and go
up to the present. They are presented in a brief digestible format, and in many
cases they are accompanied by pictures to illustrate the topics. This resource
is great on its own, or as a starting point to inspire further research and
learn about new things in the industry.
The Costume Society. (2016). Retrieved November 17, 2016,
from http://costumesociety.org.uk/
·
Costume Designers Guild
The
Costume Designers Guild is a part of the International Alliance of Theatrical
and Stage Employees. However, one does not have to be a member of the guild to
access many of the resources on their website. Their videos offer insight from
professional costumers. They have news articles for keeping up to date on new
developments in the world of costuming. The
Costume Designer magazine’s current issue is viewable, as well as back
issues dating to 2005. Additionally, they post pay rates for comparison. There
are links available to other sites relating to the industry and information on
the Universal Costume Research Library. Also helpful, are the member galleries
that contain images of the work of different designers in the guild.
Costume Designers
Guild. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from
http://costumedesignersguild.com/
·
Fashion-Era
This website provides information
on over two centuries of history in women’s fashion. The dates covered range
from 1800 to 2013. Each time period gives information relating to fashion in
the era as well as pictures to illustrate the history. Some periods have more
extensive information than others. In addition to the historical information,
the website provides a variety of silhouette templates and fashion drawing tips.
There are specialized topics such as body adornment, which gives a more general
overview of fashion components. It even includes such information as the proper
way to care for pearls. The Crafts in Fashion section includes some practical
information for construction such as tips for sewing velvet and illustrations
of smocking stitches. This website also provides links to other resources that
may be of use.
Thomas, P., &
Thomas, G. (2001). Fashion-era. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from
http://www.fashion-era.com/
·
Costume, Wigs and Make-Up at the National
Theatre
This video gives an inside view of the
costume shop at the National Theatre.
It’s a great visual for seeing the basic layout of a shop. It is also useful in getting an overview of the
different kinds of positions available.
Coates, J. (2015,
June 2). Costume, Wigs and Makeup at the National Theatre. Retrieved
November 19, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLROmAKAUyo
·
A Day in the Life of a Dresser
This
video introduces the viewer to the world of a dresser. Most aspiting costumers
will have to spend some time as a dresser, and this is not a well known
position in the theatre. This video will give a basic understanding of a dresser’s role.
A Day in the Life
of a Dresser. (2016, March 4). Retrieved November 19, 2016, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=widLgDuK-nk
·
A Tonic to the Imagination: Costume Designs for
Stage and Screen by B. J. Simmons & Co., 1889-1959
This
is a web exhibition by the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at
Austin. It is a collection of 228 designs for 60 different productions costumed
by Simmons’ workshops. The whole archive of course includes much more. However,
this exhibition gives access for those who cannot travel to the physical
archive. One can browse the designs by the type of production they were
produced for or by going through the index of designers. The exhibition also
includes two complete portfolios so that one can get a sense of the process and
progress of the individual costumer. This source can serve both as an insight
into the history of costuming and as an inspiration/model for the individual
designer.
A Tonic to the
Imagination: Costume Designs for Stage and Screen by B. J. Simmons & Co.,
1889-1959. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/web/bjsimmons/index.html#1
·
Motley Collection of Theatre and Costume Design
This
is a collection of the designs of three prominent female costumers: Margaret
Harris, Sophia Harris, and Elizabet Montgomery. Their twentieth century designs
were used for productions on Broadway, at the Metropolitan Opera, the West End
of London, and Royal Shakspeare Theatre among others. The digital scans are
provided by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s library. They are
browsable by collection, theatre, and play title. After making the selection
the search can be further refined and sorted. Materials include costume and set designs,
sketches, notes, photos, prop lists, storyboards, and fabric swatches. The
collection totals over 5000 items from more than 150 different productions. It
provides the costumer with historical reference and a place for comparison of
like productions.
Motley Collection
of Theatre & Costume Design. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from
http://images.library.illinois.edu/projects/motley/
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