Every guide on the site, hung on one rack in three rails: costume history, behind the seams, and costumes in LA today.
Rail ACostume HistoryHollywood costume design decade by decade, the silent era, studio wardrobe departments and the costume Oscar.
Look 01A Short History of Hollywood Costume Design, Decade by DecadeHow costume design for film and television developed in Los Angeles, drawn from the Costume Designers Guild’s own timeline and the Academy’s records: the first designers of the silent era, studio glamour after sound, the founding of the guild in 1953, the first costume Oscars, television’s rise and the designers who defined later decades.4 min readFittedLook 02Costumes in Hollywood’s Silent EraHow film costume design became an occupation in the silent era, the designers the Costume Designers Guild credits with the first signature looks, why most silent features are lost according to the Library of Congress, and what the survival numbers mean for anyone hunting for silent-era costume history in Los Angeles.4 min readFittedLook 03Inside Golden Age Studio Wardrobe DepartmentsHow costume work was organized in Hollywood’s studio era and what remains of that system today: the contract designers the Costume Designers Guild credits, the costumers who have been organized as IATSE Local 705 since 1937, the many crafts inside a costume department, and the studio costume houses that still store and rent costumes.4 min readFittedLook 04The Academy Award for Costume DesignA short history of the Oscar for costume design from the Academy’s own records: the first awards at the 21st ceremony, the separate black-and-white and color categories, the year they merged, the designers named in those early lists, and the 2018 milestone the Costume Designers Guild highlights.4 min readFitted
Rail BBehind the SeamsHow a film costume is made, the Costume Designers Guild, working in a costume department and caring for costumes.
Look 05How a Film Costume Is MadeThe path a film or television costume takes in Los Angeles, built from the job descriptions of the Motion Picture Costumers, IATSE Local 705: breaking down the script, deciding whether to buy, rent or build, patterns and dress forms, cutting and stitching, dyeing and aging, fittings and alterations, and keeping continuity on set.4 min readFittedLook 06The Costume Designers Guild, Local 892What the Costume Designers Guild is, from its founding in 1953 to its place in IATSE as Local 892, which jobs it covers, how it differs from the costumers of Local 705, and what its own application FAQ says about requirements, recommendation letters and credits.4 min readFittedLook 07Working in a Los Angeles Costume DepartmentHow people get into film and television costume work in Los Angeles, based on the Motion Picture Costumers, IATSE Local 705: finished and custom made costumers, the Industry Experience Roster, the 30-day, 100-day and 200-day paths, permits, training programs and what an application requires.4 min readFittedLook 08Caring for Costumes and Vintage GarmentsHow to store and look after costumes and old garments using the National Park Service Museum Handbook’s textile guidance: temperature and humidity ranges, the 50 lux light limit, deciding between hanging and flat storage, padded hangers and dust covers, folding, moths and mold, and pesticide residues in old hats.4 min readFitted
Rail CCostumes in LA TodayWhere to see film costumes, renting and buying vintage in Los Angeles, and the Halloween rules.
Look 09Where to See Film Costumes in Los AngelesA visitor’s guide to the Los Angeles museums that hold film and fashion costume: the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, LACMA’s Costume and Textiles department and the ASU FIDM Museum downtown, with addresses, opening days, admission notes and why costume displays change so often.4 min readFittedLook 10Renting Costumes in Los AngelesHow costume rental works in Los Angeles, from the studio costume departments in Burbank, Glendale, Universal City and West Los Angeles to the independent signatory costume houses listed by IATSE Local 705, what each type offers, and what to ask before renting.4 min readFittedLook 11Buying Vintage Clothing and Costumes in LAA practical checklist for buying vintage garments and costume pieces in Los Angeles: checking seams, fabric and waistlines the way museum curators do, spotting moth and mold damage, reading or missing care labels under the FTC rule, weighted silk and bias-cut risks, pesticide residues in old hats and furs, and the federal drawstring rule for children’s clothing.4 min readFittedLook 12Halloween in Los AngelesWhat to know before you wear a costume out on Halloween in Los Angeles: the 2026 West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval date, route, bag and safety rules and street closures, plus the California laws on masks used to hide identity and on imitation firearms in public, including why an orange tip alone is not enough.4 min readFitted