Assistant/ Associate Costume Stylist

The Costumer is a 108 year-old costume rental and retail business. We are committed to advancing scholastic theatre with its transformative benefits—enhancing communication skills, boosting self-confidence, encouraging resilience, enhancing social skills, and fostering empathy and critical thinking. We take pride in being the costumer for thousands of productions annually.

Job description

• Want a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in costume and fashion styling for theatre and film production?

• Do you have a deep knowledge of historic clothing or experience as a fashion stylist?

• Do you love the costumes from theatre and movies?

• Have you been a student of fashion or design with a talent for pulling together an outfit?

You might be a perfect fit for The Costumer—and our Costume Stylist role.

Role Description

The Costume Stylist has a keen eye for detail, a passion for costuming or fashion, ability to present costumes in a visually appealing way, and excellent customer service skills. In this role, you are responsible for understanding the director’s vision for the show, researching Broadway productions for reference, and selecting and curating costumes that are appropriate for the show, attractive and well functioning, and fitted to cast members.

The Costume Stylist is also responsible for ensuring all costumes orders are fulfilled, that costume descriptions match selections, and that costumes are reserved, bundled with accessories, props or merchandise, and transferred to sewing and alterations.

When not selecting or curating shows, The Costume Stylist tags, presses, and bags costumes for each actor. And, post-show, works with Wardrobe Services to ensure costumes are checked in, cleaned, and returned to the Vault in good repair.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

Responsibilities:

• Select and coordinate costumes, accessories, and props for scholastic and community theatre casts

• Provide costume styling advice to directors and in-studio clients

• Work with head designer, other stylists and pullers, and Production team to review costume designs for upcoming shows

• Create concepts for a particular look or style for characters

• Assist with fittings, tailoring, and on-set adjustments to ensure the best presentation of garments

• Source products, as needed, for different costume ensembles

• Stay current on licensed Broadway shows, fashion trends, fabrics, fasteners and other clothing elements

• Participate in design meetings to provide stylistic input during the pulling phase

• Process returned rental items and restock costumes into inventory and storage

• Tag and label costumes, indicating show and size, detailing costume condition, required alterations, and costume location within rental and retail locations.

• Coordinate with e-Commerce and retail teams to identify, order, and bundle merchandise with costume rentals

• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Requirements

• 1-3 years experience working as an assistant to a stylist, costume or clothing designer or 1-3 years leading the function for a theatre, fashion brand, or retailer

• Prefer applicants who can sew, make alterations, create accessories or soft sculpture

• Excellent customer service and verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to multitask and be well-organized while managing operational priorities and customer needs

• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with a team

• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions

• Ability to take creative direction while also contributing original ideas

• A love for theatre, performing arts, costuming, and/or Halloween!

• Flexibility and willingness to enthusiastically work with constantly changing priorities

• Ability to effectively communicate with people at all levels and from all backgrounds

• Acute attention to detail and commitment to high standards

Education

Bachelor's or associates degree in costume design, fashion design or apparel-related majors preferred

Schedule: Part-time, flexible schedule to meet business needs, including some weekends during busy seasons (Feb-May and October-November)

Work Location: In person in Schenectady, NY

FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Pay: Starting at $17.00/hour, depending on experience

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift a minimum of 30 pounds independently on an occasional to frequent basis

• Ability to spend up to 100% of work time standing or moving about all areas with The Costumer’s facilities. Physical activities include but are not limited to bending, stooping, lifting, climbing, carrying, walking and/or reaching on a frequent basis

• Employee may be required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear, use hands to type and utilize the tools provided

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function or duty satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements and responsibilities are representative, but not exhaustive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

Language Skills:

Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace; bilingual skills a plus. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business information, including but not limited to Company policies and procedures. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.