Costume Assistant

A large part of the costume assistants role is to aid in the designing of and the research into costumes as well as helping to make and adapt them.  They have a range of tasks from ordering accessories, overseeing fittings and helping to keep the continuity throughout often taking instructions from the Costume Designers and Assistants and Costume and Wardrobe Supervisors.  

A Costume Assistant needs to be:

• very organised and efficient 
• have a good memory and keen eye for detail
• be able to work as part of a team and under pressure
• understand the research process and sourcing information
• be able to understand the call sheets and schedules 
• be able to put actors at ease when in the dressing process 
• know how to care foe and maintain the costumes 
• have  knowledge of period costumes and contemporary fashion 
• have good communication skills
• have IT skills

1. The Costume Assistant can be known by other names such as: Wardrobe Assistants, Standby Wardrobes and Standby Costumes and they are usually employed during the pre-production.  
2. They can be asked to break down the scripts to create costume plots and list the requirements and changes in the continuity book. 
3. For the Costume Designer they can research into the styles, designs and construction methods of the era.
4. They assist in organising the costume department, ordering supplies and assisting in setting up workrooms.  
5. They can be involved in sourcing and buying costumes and accessories 
6. They could be given the job of packing costumes to be shipped overseas.
7. During shoots, they make sure that the correct outfits are ready for when the actors need them.   In this job they would be required to explain the costumes, checking that they match the continuity requirements.
8.  Costume Assistants are in charge to monitor costumes for damages and do any last-minute alterations or repairs.
9. Between the shoots they would have to clean and iron the costumes as well as look after the accessories, hats and gloves etc. of the actors and keep a record of what is used.  

source: www.creativeskillset.org