1. Costume Design 101
The Basics

2. What is a Costume?
Anything worn (or not worn) in a production that gives information about a character or a play.

3. 2 groups that costumes help in any production
1. Actors
Helps the actor become a character by creating a visual exterior.
Period Movement

4. 2 groups that costumes help in any production
2. Audience
Identifies relationships between characters
Groups

5. Individuals

6. Pulls focus to main character(s)

7. 8 things costumes tell us about a character
Occupation
Social Status
Age
Culture
Personality
Education
Health
Sex

8. Occupation Uniforms Military Doctors, Nurses Business Suits
White collar vs. Blue collar

9. Social Status Rich vs. Poor Cleanliness Quality of fabric Jewelry
State of distress

10. Age Fashionable vs. Out of style Bright/primary colors for kids
Layers for old people
Less clothes for young people
(showing more skin)
Hair and make-up

11. Culture Regional: Ethnic Subcultures east coast vs. west coast Preppy
Punk
Nerds
Stoners

12. Personality
Happy, bubbly
Sad, depressed, serious
Boring
Evil
Innocent

13. Education Insignia on clothes School Uniforms “Joe’s Auto Shop”
Harvard vs. East L.A. Community College
School Uniforms
“Joe’s Auto Shop”
Doctor’s lab coat

14. Health Hospital gown Pregnancy pad Straight jacket
Clothes too big – looks sickly
Tight clothes – looks healthy
Work out or sports clothing
Fake cast / crutches

15. Sex
Male – Female
10 – 1

16. 7 things costume tells us about a play
Location
Season/weather
Time of Day
Time Period
Activity
Genre
Concept

17. 5 Elements of Design
Color
Line
Shape
Texture
Mass

18. Color

19. Line
Straight
Curved
Diagonal

20. Shape

21. Texture

22. Mass

23. Costume Tearsheet Project
Look through the magazines provided and find clothing that fits into the categories we have discussed.
Try to determine which element or elements of design helped you to reach your conclusion.
Cut the pictures out, glue them down and label. Example: Red dress shows fiery personality, short skirt and halter top show young attitude. Elements of design: Color and Mass

24. Color Line Shape Texture Mass
Character
Occupation
Social Status
Age
Culture
Personality
Education
Health
Sex
Play
Location
Season/weather
Time of Day
Time Period
Activity
Genre
Concept
Elements of Design
Color Line Shape Texture Mass