The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. It can also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances represented or described, or to a particular style of clothing worn to portray the wearer as a character or type of character other than their regular persona at a social event such as a masquerade, a fancy dress party or in an artistic theatrical performance.

Theatrical costumes, in combination with other aspects, serve to portray characters' age, gender role, profession, social class, personality, and can even reveal information about the historical period/era, geographic location, time of day, as well as the season or weather of the theatrical performance. Sometimes theatrical costumes literally mimic what the costume designer thinks the character would wear if the character actually existed. On the other hand, often stylized theatrical costumes can exaggerate some aspect of a character. Without theatrical costumers, the audience would be left wondering who is related to whom, and which person is which. Costuming, truly is as important as the set and the script, yet most audiences take it for granted.

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theatre Costumes - Google News

Postcard From London: Cozy With Cross-Dressing - New York Times
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:41:40 -0000
New York TimesPostcard From London: Cozy With Cross-DressingNew York TimesBut what keeps the audience drooling are the can-you-top-this costumes (designed by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner) of which, the show's program says, ...and more »
Rock's Role: STAR! - Washington Post
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:42:50 -0000
Rock's Role: STAR!Washington PostSo the kids live in the 1890s but sing as if it's 2009, pulling microphones out from under demure costumes. The notion is that the issues they face belong ...and more »
Seattle Repertory Theatre's costume sale is irresistible to finery ... - Seattle Times
Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:05:49 -0000
Seattle Repertory Theatre's costume sale is irresistible to finery ...Seattle TimesHundreds of people lined up Saturday for the Seattle Repertory Theatre's first costume sale in more than three decades. Among the items on sale were wigs, ...and more »
Old Globe merrily merges doo-wop, 'Twelfth Night' - San Diego Union Tribune
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:06:42 -0000
San Diego Union TribuneOld Globe merrily merges doo-wop, 'Twelfth Night'San Diego Union TribuneLinda Cho's costumes for the community of leisure that Viola stumbles into are a (laughing) gas and a show all their own. They run from the yacht-club ...and more »
American Ballet Theatre Performs "Sylvia" at the Metropolitan ... - Dancer Universe
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:18:52 -0000
Financial TimesAmerican Ballet Theatre Performs "Sylvia" at the Metropolitan ...Dancer UniverseThe elaborate and layered scenery and opulent costumes, a trademark of ABT's full-lengths, set such a rich setting for the story, but it was Leo Delibes' ...Photo Journal: Ashton's Sylvia Dances at American Ballet TheatrePlaybillArtsall 3 news articles »
REVIEW | 'THE TEMPEST' Minor tempest from heavens perfect ... - Columbus Dispatch
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:22:06 -0000
REVIEW | 'THE TEMPEST' Minor tempest from heavens perfect ...Columbus DispatchJan Woods' varied period costumes nicely contrast the shipwrecked royal retinue and the island's otherworldly inhabitants. Perhaps her best work reinforces ...and more »

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Mauricio Carneiro - Costume Designer: I've put together some designs I developed with few theatre companies in Rio, together with some of my illustrations and some work I colaborated with other designers in this 2 min video. Hope you enjoy.