While seams, hems, and reinforcements are not as glamorous as the cut and embellishment of a stagewear costume, they play a vital role in the overall performance and longevity of the garment. Seams join the pattern pieces together; hems create and finish the edge of the garment; and reinforcements are designed to strengthen areas of…
Before deciding where to put decorative details on a costume, consider what the basic outline of the costume will be. If your costume drawing looks like this: (a costume covered with braid, applique, buttons, and contrasting panels but it is hard to say what the basic shape of the costume is), that’s a red flag….
The reason to test stagewear while moving during fittings is because even if a garment looks good in a mirror, it might not function when the actor raises their arms, bends over, or takes a long stride. Costumes need to move, not just stand still. A neckline that looks perfect when you’re standing still might…
The same fabric can look very different on a table compared to what happens when it’s made into a costume. When held up it can fall straight down, or when lit it might become much lighter, or when pulled over the body it can become a different shape altogether. Choosing fabric for stage costumes involves…