Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Alison Uhlfelder · Accepted Answer

“Watch as many movies as you can.”

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Alison Uhlfelder · Accepted Answer

“It’s all about shopping and looking pretty. It’s not. Costuming is the least glamorous job I have ever had. It’s a lot of running around, digging and scouring through boxes, getting your hands dirty and breaking nails often, and not getting a lot of beauty sleep!”

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Alison Uhlfelder · Accepted Answer

“I think so many people just don’t understand how many people the department actually has [on staff] to make the Costume Designer’s vision come to life.”

Question 4

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Alison Uhlfelder · Accepted Answer

“Confidence.”

Question 5

What does an Assistant Costume Designer do?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

The primary responsibility of an Assistant Costume Designer is to support the Costume Designer on a project. With this role generally comes the duties of fitting the Actors, assisting in the production of the costumes, researching costuming needs, and overseeing the budgetary aspects of costume production.

Question 6

How much do Assistant Costume Designers make?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for an Assistant Costume Designer is just under $47,000 a year. This figure can fluctuate, though, according to any number of factors, including union status, experience, number of jobs in a year, and the budgets for those jobs.

Question 7

Who is an Assistant Costume Designer?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

Assistant Costume Designers do not typically become household names, but many of the more well-known Costume Designers in film started out as Assistants. Anyone aspiring to become a Costume Designer such as Edith Head, Colleen Atwood, or Ruth Carter will likely begin their careers as an Assistant Costume Designer.

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Assistant Costume Designer