This is an invaluable book for anyone who designs, or aspires to design, costumes for stage productions. It explains the role of the costume designer, from understanding the script to realizing ideas o paper and in fabric. Among the topics covered are: art and design materials; foundations of art and design: exercises for developing drawing skills; script and character analysis; the theatre production process; ad approaches to historical and modern dress production. This book provides a real life, in depth look at big studio costume departments with an eye toward explaining what's involved, including costume design theories, department operations and management, from supervision to set labour, fittings, locations and more.