5 Amazing costume designer Resume Examples (Updated 2023) + Skills & Job Descriptions

You know all about design, and you have an eye for artistry. You know your way around a sewing machine, and you have at least some experience in garment construction. Maybe you even have a degree in textiles, technical theater, or costume design. No matter how good you are, though, to land your next job, you need an effective costume designer resume. Creating well-written application documents is the tried and true way to get a hiring manager to take you seriously. You don't need to be a great writer to create a compelling resume. Use our professionally written resume example, along with your work history and educational experience, to decide how to construct your resume. Our resume sample can help you figure out what headings to include and how to communicate your expertise in a way that makes an excellent first impression. Once you've done that, it's time to prepare for an interview.

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costume designer: Resume Samples & Writing Guide

Professional Summary

An experienced Costume Designer with a passion for fashion and beauty, specializing in creating unique and memorable looks for any occasion. Highly skilled in costume design, pattern making, and sewing techniques, with an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence.

Employment history

Senior Costume Designer, L'Oreal USA New York, New York

February 2013 – Present

Prepare and maintain design boards, fabric swatches, and other materials
Communicate with production teams to ensure costumes are delivered on time
Source fabrics and materials for costume design

Associate Costume Designer, Ulta Beauty Bolingbrook, Illinois

August 2012 – January 2013

Maintain an organized workspace and manage inventory of materials
Ensure costumes meet all safety standards
Source fabrics and materials for costume design

Junior Costume Designer, Urban Outfitters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

August 2011 – July 2012

Collaborate with photographers, stylists, and other members of the creative team
Ensure costumes are properly stored and preserved after production
Communicate with production teams to ensure costumes are delivered on time

Education

Parsons School of Design, New York, New York

Master of Arts in Cosmetology, June, 2011

Parsons School of Design, New York, New York

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, June, 2007

Skills

Data Analysis

Accounting

Supervisory

Leadership

Draping

Color Theory

Costuming

Makeup Artistry

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Professional Summary

A creative and passionate Costume Designer with a keen eye for detail and a knack for staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends. Experienced in creating unique, stylish costumes for fashion shows, photoshoots, and other special events.

Employment history

Chief Costume Designer, Sephora San Francisco, California

April 2013 – Present

Attend meetings with clients and other designers to discuss design ideas
Design costumes for fashion shows and photoshoots
Manage fittings and alterations for garments

Costume Designer, Estee Lauder New York, New York

September 2012 – March 2013

Maintain an organized workspace and manage inventory of materials
Source fabrics and materials for costume design
Monitor the budget and timeline for costume design projects

Junior Costume Designer, Beautycounter Santa Monica, California

April 2011 – August 2012

Attend meetings with clients and other designers to discuss design ideas
Research fashion trends and current styles
Develop creative concepts for fashion and beauty campaigns

Education

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Bachelor of Arts in Aesthetics, February, 2011

Skills

Computer Literacy

Self-Motivation

Leadership

Risk Management

Costume Illustration

Costume Designing

Fashion Styling

Costume Rendering

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Employment history

Senior Costume Designer, Revlon New York, New York

April 2015 – Present

Manage fittings and alterations for garments
Develop custom pieces and accessories for costumes
Source fabrics and materials for costume design

Associate Costume Designer, Sephora San Francisco, California

May 2014 – April 2015

Manage fittings and alterations for garments
Monitor the budget and timeline for costume design projects
Collaborate with photographers, stylists, and other members of the creative team

Jr. Costume Designer, Estee Lauder New York, New York

May 2013 – April 2014

Maintain an organized workspace and manage inventory of materials
Research fashion trends and current styles
Communicate with production teams to ensure costumes are delivered on time

Education

Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island

Bachelor of Arts in Makeup Artistry, March, 2013

Skills

Troubleshooting

Financial Management

Adaptability

Negotiation

Garment Construction

Tailoring

Costuming

Costume Illustration

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Employment history

Lead Costume Designer, Nordstrom Seattle, Washington

May 2016 – Present

Develop creative concepts for fashion and beauty campaigns
Communicate with production teams to ensure costumes are delivered on time
Source fabrics and materials for costume design

Associate Costume Designer, Revlon New York, New York

May 2015 – April 2016

Source fabrics and materials for costume design
Ensure costumes are properly stored and preserved after production
Create sketches and patterns for garments and accessories

Junior Costume Designer, L'Oreal USA New York, New York

May 2014 – April 2015

Create sketches and patterns for garments and accessories
Research fashion trends and current styles
Attend meetings with clients and other designers to discuss design ideas

Education

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York

Aesthetics, March, 2014

Skills

Reporting

Conflict Resolution

Collaboration

Planning

Embroidery

Visual Merchandising

Fashion Design

Costume Illustration

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Employment history

Chief Costume Designer, Beautycounter Santa Monica, California

October 2014 – Present

Create sketches and patterns for garments and accessories
Develop custom pieces and accessories for costumes
Manage fittings and alterations for garments

Costume Designer, Revlon New York, New York

March 2014 – September 2014

Communicate with production teams to ensure costumes are delivered on time
Develop custom pieces and accessories for costumes
Collaborate with photographers, stylists, and other members of the creative team

Jr. Costume Designer, L'Oreal USA New York, New York

September 2013 – February 2014

Prepare and maintain design boards, fabric swatches, and other materials
Ensure costumes meet all safety standards
Attend meetings with clients and other designers to discuss design ideas

Education

Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California

Bachelor of Science in Cosmetology, July, 2013

Skills

Attention to Detail

Negotiation

Troubleshooting

Critical Thinking

Pattern Making

Costume Rendering

Color Theory

Tailoring

Use This costume designer Resume Template

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costume designer Job Descriptions; Explained

If you're applying for an costume designer position, it's important to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements in order to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Including accurate and relevant information that directly aligns with the job description can greatly increase your chances of securing an interview with potential employers.

When crafting your resume, be sure to use action verbs and a clear, concise format to highlight your relevant skills and experience. Remember, the job description is your first opportunity to make an impression on recruiters, so pay close attention to the details and make sure you're presenting yourself in the best possible light.

costume designer

Create prototype or sample for desired project.
Design or construct costumes.
Examine costume fit on cast members and sketch or write notes for alterations.
Design custom clothing and accessories for individuals, or theatrical, or music production.

costume designer

Design or construct costumes or send them to tailors for construction, major repairs, or alterations.
Purchase, rent, or requisition costumes or other wardrobe necessities.
Check the appearance of costumes on stage or under lights to determine whether desired effects are being achieved.
Create worksheets for dressing lists, show notes, or costume checks.
Review scripts or other production information to determine a story’s locale or period, as well as the number of characters and required costumes.
Provide managers with budget recommendations and take responsibility for budgetary line items related to costumes, storage.

costume designer

3D models in Maya and Zbrush for printing
work with clients to fit their budget without compromising quality
Use materials such as thermoplastics and EVA foam to create armor
My work has been shared by Warner Bros. Pictures and featured in an episode of Square Enix’s Duty Commenced.

costume designer

Explored design concepts with director suitable in line with the theme and narration of film, video, cast and set.
Researched the styles, era and trends of clothing needed for film and music videos.
Discussed and finalized budget associated with costumes and accessories with the production head.
Organized mood boards to fit in ideas, color schemes, silhouettes, inspirations and looks.
Designed and sourced for fabrics, footwear, jewellery and apparels while working simultaneously with tailors and styling assistants.
Examined costume fit and overall ensemble on cast members followed by alterations if any.

costume designer

Choosing the fabrics, trims, etc, for the fabrics.
Adjusting the design if required, to suit the needs of the customer.
Participating in the fitting rehearsals.
Collaborate with production designers

costume designer Job Skills

For an costume designer position, your job skills are a key factor in demonstrating your value to the company and showing recruiters that you're the ight fit for the role. It's important to be specific when highlighting your skills and ensure that they are directly aligned with the job requirements, as this can greatly improve your chances of being hired. By showcasing your relevant skills and experience, you can make a compelling case for why you're the best candidate for the job.

How to include technical skills in your resume:

Technical skills are a set of specialized abilities and knowledge required to perform a particular job effectively. Some examples of technical skills are data analysis, project management, software proficiency, and programming languages, to name a few.

Add the technical skills that will get hired in your career field with our simple-to-use resume builder. Select your desired resume template, once you reach the skills section of the builder, manually write in the skill or simply click on "Add more skills". This will automatically generate the best skills for your career field, choose your skill level, and hit "Save & Next."

Sewing
Pattern Making
Draping
Textile Design
Fabric Selection
Garment Construction
Costuming
Costume Fitting
Costume Designing
Color Theory
Costume Rendering
Costume Illustration
Fashion Styling
Makeup Artistry
Hair Styling
Visual Merchandising
Photography
Tailoring
Alterations
Fashion Design
Embroidery

How to include soft skills in your resume:

Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work and that can be used in any job. Including soft skills such as time management, creative thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and show that you navigate challenges and changes in the workplace efficiently.

Add competitive soft skills to make your resume stand-out to recruiters! Simply select your preferred resume template in the skills section, enter the skills manually or use the "Add more skills" option. Our resume builder will generate the most relevant soft skills for your career path. Choose your proficiency level for each skill, and then click "Save & Next" to proceed to the next section.

Communication
Interpersonal
Leadership
Time Management
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Critical Thinking
Creativity
Adaptability
Teamwork
Organization
Planning
Public Speaking
Negotiation
Conflict Resolution
Research
Analytical
Attention to Detail
Self-Motivation
Stress Management
Collaboration
Coaching
Mentoring
Listening
Networking
Strategic Thinking
Negotiation
Emotional Intelligence
Adaptability
Flexibility
Reliability
Professionalism
Computer Literacy
Technical
Data Analysis
Project Management
Customer Service
Presentation
Written Communication
Social Media
Troubleshooting
Quality Assurance
Collaboration
Supervisory
Risk Management
Database Management
Training
Innovation
Documentation
Accounting
Financial Management
Visualization
Reporting
Business Acumen
Process Improvement
Documentation
Relationship Management.

How to Improve Your costume designer Resume

Navigating resume pitfalls can mean the difference between landing an interview or not. Missing job descriptions or unexplained work history gaps can cause recruiters to hesitate. Let's not even talk about the impact of bad grammar, and forgetting your contact info could leave your potential employer hanging. Aim to be comprehensive, concise, and accurate.

Professional Summary

A highly creative and detail-oriented Costume Designer with extensive experience in the Fashion & Beauty industry. Skilled at creating unique and stylish costumes to enhance any production.

Employment history

Chief Costume Designer, Nordstrom Seattle, Washington

December 2011 – Present

Source fabrics and materials for costume design
Create sketches and patterns for garments and accessories
Collaborate with photographers, stylists, and other members of the creative team

Costume Designer, Gap Inc. San Francisco, California

June 2011 – December 2011

Research fashion trends and current styles
Create sketches and patterns for garments and accessories
Prepare and maintain design boards, fabric swatches, and other materials

Entry Level Costume Designer, Revlon New York, New York

December 2010 – May 2011

Education

Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California

Bachelor of Science in Cosmetology, October, 2010

Skills

Computer Literacy

Reporting

Documentation

Time Management

Pattern Making

Draping

Fashion Design

Color Theory

Include your Contact Information and Job Descriptions

Missing job descriptions lessens your chances of getting hired.

Key Insights

Employers want to know what you've accomplished, so make sure to include descriptions for all of your previous jobs.
Keep job descriptions short but don't just list your jobs.
Never copy-paste a job description to post on your resume. Get inspired and use tools to help you write customized descriptions.

How to Optimize Your costume designer Resume

Keep an eye out for these resume traps. Neglecting to detail your job roles or explain gaps in your career can lead to unnecessary doubts. Grammar blunders can reflect negatively on you, and without contact information, how can employers reach you? Be meticulous and complete.

Employment history

Lead Costume Designer, Gap Inc. San Francisco, California

November 2016 – May 2022

Attend meetin's with client's an' other designer's ta discuss design idea's.
Manege fittings n' alterations fer garmants.
Desine costums fer fashon showz an photoshoots.

Associate Costume Designer, Gap Inc. San Francisco, California

April 2016 – October 2016

Manege fittins an alterashuns fer garmentz.
Moniter the buget and timline for costum design projecs.
Ensure costumes are properlly stored and preservd after production.

Jr. Costume Designer, Estee Lauder New York, New York

October 2015 – March 2016

Create skethces an pattterns fer garments an accessores.
Manege fittings an alterations fer garments.
Prepaer and maintian desing boards, fabric swatches, and otehr materiels.

Education

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Master of Science in Cosmetology, August, 2015

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, August, 2011

Skills

Visualization

Process Improvement

Conflict Resolution

Collaboration

Color Theory

Textile Design

Fashion Design

Alterations

Correct Grammar and Address Gap Years in Your Resume

Don't leave unexplained gaps in your work history.

Key Insights

When explaining gaps in your employment section, start by being honest.
Elaborate on the gap and show that you never stopped learning.
Explain and elaborate any gap in your work history by highlighting new skills.

costume designer Cover Letter Example

A cover letter can be a valuable addition to your job application when applying for an costume designer position. Cover letters provide a concise summary of your qualifications, skills, and experience, also it also gives you an opportunity to explain why you're the best fit for the job. Crafting a cover letter that showcases your relevant experience and enthusiasm for the Accounts Payable role can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview.

Senior Costume Designer
Urban Outfitters
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Urban Outfitters Hiring Team

I am excited to apply for the Senior Costume Designer position at Urban Outfitters. As a highly skilled Costume Designer with 12 years of experience in Fashion & Beauty, I am confident that I can contribute significantly to your organization.

As someone who has always been committed to making a positive impact on the world, I have pursued opportunities to contribute to my community through my work wherever I may be. My experience in this field has equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed throughout my life and I am confident that they will help me to bring my passion and expertise to your organization and help drive your success.

Thank you for considering my application for the Senior Costume Designer role. I am very passionate about this field and possess a deep understanding of the industry so, I am thrilled about the opportunity to contribute to your organization's success.

Cordially,
Cal Watson
783-189-8474
[email protected]

Cal Watson

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