The Costumer's Handbook: How to Make All Kinds of Costumes

by Rosemary Ingham, Elizabeth Covey

Where would you turn for quick and easy ideas on constructing a stage costume appropriate for a Greek goddess, an Elizabethan courtier, a twentieth-century businessman? Whether you're a professional costume technician or a costume designer for an amateur theatre group, The Costumer's Handbook can help you design and construct an endless variety of stage costumes that are aesthetically pleasing, practical, and historically accurate. With detailed illustrations and step-by-step instructions, the authors show how to design, prepare, and alter original patterns and how to fit, shape, and construct stage costumes that are both attractive and versatile. Filled with time-saving theatrical sewing tips, this book reveals budget-stretching ways to make period and style alterations, demonstrates such techniques as fabric dyeing and printing, and offers valuable tips on using glue, clay, and papier mache in the costume-making process. With easy-to-follow directions for constructing a variety of costume accessories from hats, wigs, and jewelry to footwear, hosiery and armor, The Costumer's Handbook is your complete guide to developing stage costumes that are personally distinctive and artistically expressive.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent overview of the basics of theatrical costume design from organizing the shop to fabrics, pattern design, sewing techniques then some chapters on specifics like footwear, hats & hair, accessories and costume properties. A few basic pattern shapes. Illus are B&W photos and line drawings with a few pp of color photos. Good bibliog. Shopping guide is likely way out of date in my 1980 edition. There is a slightly newer ed out there. Index.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a detailed introduction to costuming than a handbook for those already actively costuming but nevertheless offers plenty of helpful information.