Costume Design: Techniques of Modern Masters

by Lynn Pecktal

Award-winning pros share secrets of the trade in an informative, gorgeously illustrated book that's equally well suited for the coffee table and the reference shelf.

Genres: Reference, Theatre, Fashion, Research, Art, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Costume Design by Lynn Pecktal. It is a non fiction book and contains many interviews of well known costume designers. Many of the costume designers mentioned in this book are multi talented and they, choreograph the show(creating the dances), design the sets and/or lights and more on top of designing the actor’s wardrobes. There are 18 costume designers interviewed in this book. Some of them are, Willa Kim, Bob Mackie, Jose Verona, Randy Barcelo, Zack Brown, Jane Greenwood, Santo Loquasto, and many more costume designers. I like this book because I learned a lot about the inside look of costume designing. Many costume designers’ joys are making magic in the theater through fabric, embroidery and... creative costumes! The struggles many costume designers face is having to work under a budget, their own income, and prima donnas(actors who have snotty,bratty and rude behavior). One minor topic that interests me is the amount of prima donnas still in theater. I recently watched Phantom Of The Opera and I saw Carlotta, a very vivid example of a prima donna. I thought that people like Carlotta don’t exist in modern theater because they aren’t tolerated in today’s society. I was surprised that a question to the costume designers was along the lines of, “Would you modify a design, because an actor does not like the colour etc?” That question had diverse answers. Some said yes, they did change their designs and some did not modify the costume unless the change was in the character’s best interest. Some of them did not even listen to the actor’s rants at all. I did not know at all that costume designers have that obstacle. Prima donnas are an unimportant topic, but sometimes little details can have an effect on the big thing, the design of the costume itself. I never thought of all the work that goes into the designing and creating of the costumes before opening night. Costume design is a seemingly small detail, that has a big influence on a show. Costume design is an proves that clothes(combined with acting)make a character. I recommend this book to people who like theater or want a very interesting non fiction book to read. Costume Design is filled with stunning pictures and amazing facts!