When working on a contemporary show, odds are you might have a couple of costume t-shirts. When tshirts are used in wardrobe, you might find yourself having to mend or repair these tshirts frequently. T-shirts can be tricky onstage for a couple of reasons. Typically, t-shirts aren’t worn with an undershirt. This means more times than not, these costume pieces will be worn right against the actor’s skin. In AEA (Actor’s Equity Association) rules, if a costume piece is worn as a “skin” (the first layer of clothing an actor is wearing against their body), the piece has to be washed after every show.)Because of this, if there is a…
-
-
Tutorial: How To Quick Rig a Dress Shirt
It happens every show. You have a limited amount of time and you need to help an actor change suits. You only have one minute to complete to change, and it feels impossible. What do you do? This is when you start considering quick rigging for the clothing! Especially in modern musicals, the changes are so fast and frequent that most pieces you see on stage are probably rigged in some way to make them easier to take off and put on. One of the most basic costume-rigging tricks in the book is quick rigging a dress shirt! In this tutorial, we will walk you through step by step the…
-
From Teeth to Tape: Your Comprehensive Guide to Zipper Type and Selection
Zippers may seem like a small component, but they hold the power to transform the way we fasten and secure our belongings. From clothing to bags, zippers play a crucial role in our daily lives, ensuring convenience and functionality. However, not every zipper type is created equally. Today in The Wardrobe Guide, we will journey into the world of zippers, exploring the diverse types available and shedding light on their unique features and applications. So, without further adieu, let’s zip through the fascinating universe of zippers! This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend products we have tried and tested ourselves. If you use these links to purchase something,…
-
How to Label Theatre Costumes Like a Pro
In theatre, costume labeling is an essential part of the wardrobe process. It helps to keep track of costumes and ensure that they are returned to the correct actors. There are a few different ways to label costumes, and the best method will vary depending on the specific production. However, there are some general tips that can be followed to ensure that costumes are labeled effectively. We will discuss everything you need to know to label costumes for theater. It will cover the different types of labels, how to create them, and how to apply them to costumes. It will also provide some tips for keeping track of labeled costumes. …
-
Step by Step: Exploring the Expert Services of Your Local Cobbler
Working on or off Broadway, you quickly become aware that no one saves the day quite as often as your local cobbler. These skilled artisans possess a wealth of expertise to address a wide range of shoe-related concerns. From repairing worn-out soles and heels to replacing damaged parts, cobblers are adept at keeping a show’s footwear safe and ready for intense use in a live performance. Additionally, cobblers can expertly handle tasks such as altering the fit, making it quick-change ready, as well as helping with non-shoe pieces. Whether your shoes require a simple fix or a complete overhaul, cobblers are your go-to resource. Join us as we explore the…
-
How to Remove (and Prevent) Dress Shirt Collar Stains
Have you ever started pressing one of your dress shirts only to find a pesky ring forming on the collar? It’s a common occurrence, but it can be frustrating. The good news is that many simple ways exist to remove or prevent these collar stains from forming on dress shirts. In this article, we will talk through why they happen, and discuss step-by-step our favorite way to remove them. This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend products we have tried and tested ourselves. If you use these links to purchase something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These links help us cover…
-
Our Picks for Backstage Laundry Baskets for 2023
As a professional wardrobe technician, you spend a lot of time carrying around laundry baskets. Laundry baskets are an essential backstage tool for any wardrobe crew. Whether they are used for catching quick change discards, tracking costumes, or sorting laundry, laundry baskets are one item there never seems to be enough of. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, so it can be tough to decide which one is right for your needs. If you aren’t using the correct basket, you might find out rather quickly. This is because it might cause injury to you or injury to your costume pieces. In this article, we will discuss…
-
A Complete Guide to Wardrobe Daywork on Broadway
On Broadway, while the dressers come in at night to run the show, there is another team of wardrobe crew in the theatre during the day. These crew members are the wardrobe dayworkers. Wardrobe daywork on Broadway shows helps maintain the costumes and makes them look fresh and new for every performance. While this might seem like a simple job at first, it is an incredible skill to be an effective dayworker. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the job of a dayworker. We will talk about how to approach a new daywork call, as well as ways to make you indispensable to the wardrobe team. What…
-
7 Essentials Details to Add to Your Notes to be an Effective Wardrobe Swing
An essential member of any Broadway wardrobe team is its swing Dressers. These dressers might be called to do any track in the show at the last minute. They also might be tasked with knowing multiple tracks of the same show. Because of this, it’s essential for a wardrobe swing to have fantastic notes to reference while moving through the show. When you start training, you will receive notes from the dresser who built the track that you are learning. However, it’s impossible to include every little detail in track notes before they become extremely dense and difficult to read. In this article, we are going to take a closer…
-
Sewing 101: How to Add Suspender Buttons to a Pair of Pants
If you are interested in stitching, one of the first tasks you might be given is stitching suspender buttons to dress pants. This is one of the simplest tasks in a costume shop, but it also requires more measurements than you would imagine getting the placement just right. An easy way to spot a novice stitcher is to observe their technique when they are applying suspender buttons. In this article, we will break down the basics of how to achieve the perfect placement for suspender buttons on a pair of men’s trousers. Once you learn these basics, you will be able to carry them with you for the rest of…
