Newly revised and updated, The Costume Designer's Handbook is now more comprehensive than ever and is the backbone of any costume designer's library since its original publication in 1983. Features of this new edition include: a foreword by Arvin Brown, Artistic Director of the Long Wharf Theatre guidance on how to read and analyze a play plans for establishing a costume plot insights into working with directors and other designers resources for doing historical research a discussion of the properties of color sketching, drawing, and drafting techniques an 8-page color insert 150 black-and-white photos, drawings, and charts a complete, up-to-date reference section

A practical and inspiring guide to how to style, wear, buy, and care for every kind of accessory, from the New York Times best-selling author of How to Get Dressed.Costume designer and writer Alison Freer is beloved for her sassy, rule-breaking fashion advice, which emphasizes that style should be fun, personal, and functional. Instead of prescribing what to wear or own, Freer empowers you to wear whatever you want—and shows how to pull it off—with humor and wit. In The Accessory Handbook, Freer breaks down every type of accessory—from hats and hosiery to jewelry, bags, and shoes—and explains how to best shop for, care for, and wear each with flair.

Detailed advice on acquiring and refining the myriad of skills needed to be a theater designer, from drawing to costume design to effectively presenting design work Theater designers need to be proficient in an extraordinarily diverse range of skills to carry out their work—they are expected to be able to draw both creatively and technically; to be able to use color imaginatively; to make accurate scale models of their set designs; to design costumes, whether of a specific period, modern, or entirely fantastical; to understand the relationship of their work to stage lighting; and to be able to use computer-technology in imaginative ways. Here a professional theater designer and teacher describes these techniques in detail with explanatory illustrations, and suggests practical ways to acquire them. Topics covered include drawing and sketching instruction; the use of color and hand-drafting techniques; advice on model-making, textures, and perspective; a guide to costume designs and costume-rendering techniques; creative use of digital techniques; and practical methods for the effective presentation of a range of design-work. Each chapter concludes with a useful series of pract... [Read More]

Beginning with studio practices and safety rules, this information-packed handbook is appropriate for both newcomers and experienced dyers but assumes that readers have a serious interest in textile design. An overview of dyeing starts with fibers and fabrics and discusses all aspects of the dyes favored by textile studios--fiber reactive, acid, vat, and disperse--before explaining discharging, screen printing, monoprinting, stamping, stenciling, resist dyeing, devore, and painting. Would-be fabric artists are advised along the way to identify a personal approach to dyeing--free spirit? rule-follower?--and color photographs of work by today's top fiber artists elucidate prevailing styles. Recipes and techniques are accompanied by step-by-step instructions with photographs, and a concealed spiral binding allows the book to lie flat. Ten appendices include a worksheet for recording chemicals, procedures, and costs for all projects; a guide to washing fabric; descriptions of stock solutions, thickeners, and steaming; a metric conversion table; and a guide to water temperatures.

Practical information usually gained only through years of work experience and word of mouth is presented in this handbook for textile designers, students, interior designers and others who use textiles in their work.Textiles: A Handbook for Designers is a thorough study of the textile industry and the design processes and techniques used by professionals. With an overview of the textile industry and a thorough explanation of the designer's role, the text encourages adaptation of any design expertise into the processes, techniques, and formats characteristic of the textile industry.Textiles is a compilation of information obtained from many different designers. Because each designer may work for years within only one segment of the market, this comprehensive view of studio practices throughout the industry should be meaningful even to practicing professionals. An indispensable reference work for artists who aspire to work with textile design as well as for professionals in the textile industry and related fields of interior and apparel design, the revised edition of Textiles covers the most recent developments as well as traditional practices. 252 illustrations, 40 four-color photo... [Read More]

Every great design has its beginnings in a great idea, whether your medium of choice is scenery, costume, lighting, sound, or projections. Unmasking Theatre Design shows you how to cultivate creative thinking skills through every step of theatre design - from the first play reading to the finished design presentation. This book reveals how creative designers think in order to create unique and appropriate works for individual productions, and will teach you how to comprehend the nature of the design task at hand, gather inspiration, generate potential ideas for a new design, and develop a finished look through renderings and models. The exercises presented in this book demystify the design process by providing you with specific actions that will help you get on track toward fully-formed designs. Revealing the inner workings of the design process, both theoretically and practically, Unmasking Theatre Design will jumpstart the creative processes of designers at all levels, from student to professionals, as you construct new production designs.

Costume designer Alison Freer’s styling kit is a magical bag of tricks, built to solve every single wardrobe malfunction on earth. TV and film productions wait for nothing, so her solutions have to work fast. In How to Get Dressed, Alison distills her secrets into a fun, comprehensive style guide focused on rethinking your wardrobe like a fashion expert and making what’s in your closet work for you. She provides real-world advice about everything style-related, including:   • Making every garment you own fit better    • Mastering closet organization    • The undergarments you actually need    • The scoop on tailors and which alterations are worth it    • Shopping thrift and vintage like a rockstar Instead of repeating boring style “rules,” Alison breaks the rules and gets real about everything from bras to how to deal with inevitable fashion disasters. Including helpful information such as how to skip ironing and the dry cleaners, remove every stain under the sun, and help clueless men get their sartorial acts together, How to Get Dressed has hundreds of insider tips from Alison’s arsenal of tools and expertise.

More than a "how-to" book, Technical Sourcebook for Designers is a "why-to" text for aspiring apparel designers and merchandisers whose responsibilities include communicating about specifications by means of design flats and technical packages. In the global apparel industry, these tools are essential for mass production and evaluation of products that may be manufactured in factories outside of the United States. This text presents a holistic approach to technical design, including such considerations as selection of fabrics, finding seasonal fashion trends, garment construction, and fit evaluation, all in the context of meeting the needs of the target consumer with cost-effective decisions.

Veteran theater designers Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer have consulted with a broad range of seasoned theater industry professionals to provide an exhaustive guide full of sound advice and insight. With clear examples and hands-on exercises, Fundamentals of Theatrical Design illustrates the way in which the three major areas of theatrical design—scenery, costumes, and lighting—are intrinsically linked. Attractively priced for use as a classroom text, this is a comprehensive resource for all levels of designers and directors.

Tween girls love "Project Runway," follow their favorite stars' clothing lines, and use clothes as a way to express themselves. And now, girls can learn everything they need to know to start designing clothes. The kit includes a doll-size dress form, 27 patterns, ribbon, rick rack, and two swatches of fabric. Full color.

"Costume designer and XOJane fashion columnist Alison Freer provides real-world, no-BS style advice [covering] everything a girl could need to know: from determining if your clothes are fitting properly to how to care for, maintain, and keep your garments organized--plus what to do when the inevitable fashion disaster

Attend the ball, or even the Halloween party looking your very best in this costume. Whether your daughter is a queen or a princess at heart, this costume without a doubt makes her look like that, and turns imagination into reality. Look absolutely wonderful, and like actual royalty at the party, and watch as others fall in love with this elegant