I'm a very big believer that everyday is a school day and we are always learning. Costume is a fantastic industry because you can never know too much. There is always something new to learn or a new way of doing something. These are my favourite blogs and websites to follow to make sure I'm always developing. Remember, knowledge is power!
Foundations Revealed
Foundations Revealed is a fountain of knowledge for anyone interested in costume. The website works on a membership basis but there is a free membership too which allows you to view a lot of their articles (and they have a LOT). Obviously the more you are willing to pay the more you will have access to. They also run an annual competition for costume makers which is incredibly popular and offers a fantastic opportunity for many costume makers from a variety of skill levels and backgrounds.
The Wardrobe Chronicles
The Wardrobe Chronicles has loads of great articles about working in the costume industry. I really like the "Real life stories" as they are very honest and I think you get a great insight into what it is like working in wardrobe, the good and the bad. They also run workshops and webinars which are great for developing skills and knowledge.
CiTEA- Costume in Theatre and Entertainment and arts
CiTEA are on a mission to make working in costume a safer and better place. They have loads of useful resources on their website including how to work out your fee or being more eco-friendly. They run lots of events and really support students as they start their careers in costume.
The Art of Costume
The Art of Costume is a fascinating website that looks at existing costume in great depth. There are lots of interesting interviews with costume practitioners that are really insightful. It doesn't just focus on theatre either, there is lots of articles looking at film and TV costumes too. In addition to the website there is a podcast if you want to be inspired when on the go.
The American Duchess
The American Duchess Blog is vast! Although it originally specialised in 18th century fashion there is far more information about other eras too now. This blog is great for learning about historical costume construction. There are lots of patterns, sewing tips, referances and historical education. You could be lost in this website for hours. It also sells books, shoes and garments if you need to purchase any historical clothing too!
Wearing History
The wearing history blog started back in 2007 so as you can imagine there is lots of information available. The blog is run by a fashion historian who shares her knowledge about historical and vintage clothing. As well as lots of historical information there are many "how-to" guides and vintage patterns to buy for any of your own projects.
Conscious Costume
It is important that we all do our part to make costume a more eco-friendly industry so I enjoy the conscious costume blog as it educates me to be a better practitioner. There is lots of tips and advice on how to work more efficiently and sustainably. I really recommend it to anyone working in the theatre industry as there is plenty of room for improvement.
The Dreamstress
The Dreamstress is another great historical fashion blog to spend many hours reading. I enjoy these posts as they go into huge detail and are very easy to digest with lots of images. There are lots of sewing tips and tutorials available as well as patterns and much more.
Kozzii Mag
Kozzii is an online magazine that focuses purely on costume for theatre, film and tv. Although there doesn't seem to be many recent posts the website is full of fascinatiung articles about working within the industry. There are lots of interviews with practitioners so you can learn what it is really like working in wardrobe and costume.
Redthreaded
Redthreaded is the go-to website for everything corsetry. The blog is jam-packed with information about corsets but also historical undergarments and clothing. There isn't just information about corset history but also how to make them and even set up your own business. The website is a hugely successful shop and resource.
The Costume Society
The Costume society have their own blog which they regularly update. It has lots of articles about historical costumes, reviews and news about the industry. It also advertises opportunitues available, such as grants and work experience, perfect for new talent. If you don't know about the society itself, it is definately worth visiting their website. It is a huge network of professionals who "promote the study and preservation of historical and contemporary dress."
What are your favourite websites? I am always looking for new recommendations so please comment below.
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