Take a closer look at costume design for films and TV

He's wearing an armored breastplate with leather sandals and carrying a sword. She's wearing a Day-Glo pink mini-dress with go-go boots and toting a sparkly laser gun. They haven't even said a word, but you already know something about these film characters thanks to what they're wearing! Whether you get swept up by ancient Rome in Ben Hur or feel the lovin' vibes in Austin Powers, costumes play a big part in how you perceive the films. The costume designs tell you who the characters are, when and where they're living, and maybe even what they do for a living.

Fashion is all about the here and now – you wear what's hot for the season or maybe even just for the moment. Costume design is about the story's moments and the character's place in each one. If decades go by in the script, then the character's clothes have to show the passing of time and trends. Today's fashions become tomorrow's costumes!

It's easy to see why most Academy Awards® for Costume Design are given to lavish period films. But just as much creativity goes into costumes for contemporary films! Think about it: each person's wardrobe is a unique mix unlike any other. The costume designer has to come up with a "closet" of clothing for each character and make sure those clothes work with the sets and the other characters. You might be thinking, "OK, that's not so hard, just don't put someone in a red dress in front of a red wall, right?" There's more to it than that! The costume designer also plays psychologist and considers which colors/styles get the scene's emotions and character's personality across the best.

We've all caught them – costume continuity mistakes in movies. A watch switches arms, a jacket changes color, or a necklace disappears; all from one scene to the next. Then there are the historical blunders where a character is wearing an item that hasn't been invented in the movie's time period yet! Films are rarely shot in the same sequence that the story is told; in fact, the end is often filmed first. So the set costumer must pay attention to every detail of how the actor is wearing the costume so it can be put on again in exactly the same way.

Ever wonder why credits roll on for so long? Because films and TV shows take tons of teamwork! The film crew represents a huge spectrum of talent. Each department on the production has a head – the costume designer is head of the wardrobe department, the production designer is head of the art department, the cinematographer is head of the camera department, etc., and they all come together to make the director's vision come live on the screen for the amount of money that the producer has in the budget.

The wardrobe crew is dedicated to helping the costume designer with all the creative and practical challenges that come along. The assistant designer helps select and organize the fabrics, costumes, and accessories; and does sketches if there is no costume illustrator on the project. The wardrobe supervisor manages the general operation of the entire department. They take final responsibility for the costumes, making sure they're fitted, ready, and marked for their scenes. The supervisor may also select certain costumes (usually uniforms or costumes not for the main actors). The set costumer has to be part psychiatrist, part valet, and must have an eye for details. Besides making sure that the actors' costumes are prepared and delivered to them, they are on the set during shooting to handle any problems and be the guardians of continuity.

If you are interested in a career in costume design, check out our new Film & TV Costume Design Advanced Study Program.