Being A Costume Designer

I am the costume designer for the P.S. Series. Two one act plays are performed by students, directed by students, and designed by students with aide from the faculty as a way to learn the trade they hope to make a career out of. The plays will be performed on the mainstage so I am really looking forward to seeing my costume design ideas and creations on the Grand Valley stage.

I was given a key to the main costume storage areas and the shop because it is necessary that I am able to work freely within these areas. I have classes that run into the evening and work so I am unable to be in the shop until after the costume shop manager and costume designer have already left. I am so thankful that they have let me work in there while they are gone. I work really hard to show them how much I appreciate the responsibility they have given me and take great care with everything I use.

There have been many ups and downs with these productions. Dealing with two directors is a bit difficult because both have desires and things that they want to add or change about the look of the costumes in their production. I'm having to costume fourteen actors with an extremely low budget as well as late rehearsal times that make it difficult for me to attend and do measurements and fittings. I am dealing with five three-hundred-level courses, two jobs, and the piles of homework that goes along with the courses. Late night rehearsals are difficult to attend and even when I do attend there are actors who are late or absent and I have to plan another rehearsal in order to get everyone.

It's really disappointing when I find a blouse or sweater in the costume storage that I really like for a certain character and then the actor tries it on and it's too big or too small. The garment works amazingly with my design but because of my low budget I must put the ill-fitting blouse or sweater back and search the numerous boxes and racks for something else that will resemble my design and fit the actor.

I'm looking forward to constructing a few garments. I wanted to create the costumes for the title characters because I want them to stand out and be unique. I don't want them to blend in with the other characters because they are both the focus in their respective plays. For "Bye, Bye Margarita" I am making a white salsa type dress with black trim and a red blouse with a black lace overlay for the character of Margarita. For "Wanda's Visit" I am making a very bright and colorful blouse that fits the plus sized Wanda (played by a very skinny young actress). Dealing with the fat suit has proven a bit challenging but I hope everything looks nice in the end.

I can't wait to have pictures of the productions and the costumes that I created. I'm really, really excited to see this all come together.