In short: A costume designer designs, creates and hires the clothes that actors wear in a film or TV drama. They research the characters, plan the wardrobe within budget, run fittings and get the looks approved by the producer and director. A talking head rarely needs one; a period drama or character-led film does.
A costume designer designs, creates and hires the costumes for a film or TV drama, so that the clothes show who each character is. They work with the director, producers and writers, and they plan the wardrobe alongside the production designer and the hair and make-up designer.
What a costume designer does on a shoot day
Most of a costume designer's work is done before the shoot. They research the characters and the period, then sketch and build mood boards. The script is broken down into what must be made and what must be hired, and a team is recruited. Purchases are scheduled within tight budgets and deadlines.
Fittings are organised and outfits are photographed and sent for approval. A fitting is where a look meets the actor's body, so it is often where the design is first tested and where many changes are made before the shoot. Once filming starts, the designer attends set whenever a new actor or a new look appears, and they keep the wardrobe matched to the continuity notes.
Who they work with
The costume designer works with directors, producers, writers, the production designer and the hair and make-up designer. Designs are discussed with and signed off by the producer and director. ScreenSkills does not state a formal reporting line. The designer recruits a team and schedules the purchases for it.
Kit and skills
ScreenSkills lists these skills for the role:
- Styling, and a working knowledge of costume history.
- Storytelling through garments, cut and colour.
- Garment production, from patterns to finished pieces.
- Organisation of scripts, schedules, teams and budgets.
- Communication with directors, team members and actors.
A portfolio is essential, according to ScreenSkills.
How to become a costume designer
Many people start as runners or trainees. Others come from costumier work, theatre or dressmaking. ScreenSkills points to these routes:
- Trainee work. The ScreenSkills Trainee Finder scheme helps people get into art department roles.
- Qualifications. A-levels or Highers in art, design, fashion, textiles or theatre studies, or Level 3 vocational courses such as BTEC, NCFE, UAL and OCR diplomas in art and design, fashion or photography.
- Apprenticeships. The costume performance technician apprenticeship standard covers theatre, film and TV. Fashion, textiles or tailoring apprenticeships are another route, with a later move into television.
- Degrees and short courses. Some courses carry the ScreenSkills Select award. Short courses in pattern cutting, millinery or embroidery build specific skills.
- Networking. ScreenSkills suggests its events, such as Open Doors, plus LinkedIn and a ScreenSkills profile.
Bectu, the union for workers in the creative industries, offers career development support to members, and it publishes a costume rate card that shows what the work pays.
Do you need one on a small shoot?
- A corporate talking head or an interview: no. The presenter usually wears their own clothes, with a brief on colour and fit.
- A product or fashion-style film: not a costume designer, but a stylist or wardrobe person to manage the clothes.
- A drama, a period piece or a character-led brand film: yes. A designer on a short contract can plan the looks and the fittings, even if a small team does the making.
For a drama that needs one, the production hires the designer directly. The film crew hire page covers the directing, camera, lighting, sound and editing crew Granary books for studio shoots.
Related roles
Sources
- ScreenSkills, Costume designer (film and TV drama), read 5 November 2026
- Bectu, home page, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What does a costume designer do on a film?
A costume designer designs, creates and hires the costumes for a film or TV drama cast. They research the characters, sketch looks and build mood boards, break the script down into what must be made or hired, and organise the fittings.
Who approves a costume designer's looks?
The designs are discussed with and signed off by the producer and the director, according to ScreenSkills. The costume designer also works closely with the production designer and the hair and make-up designer.
How do you become a costume designer in the UK?
Most start as runners or trainees, and some come from costumier work, theatre or dressmaking. ScreenSkills says a portfolio is essential, and it lists a costume performance technician apprenticeship that covers theatre, film and TV.
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