Academic Catalog

THTR 25C: FASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION III

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2021
Units: 4
Hours: 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: THTR 25B.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Successful students can demonstrate advanced techniques of costume construction from drafting to finish, including techniques of draping on a dress form to create patterns and clothing for costumes on the stage.
  • Successful students will be able to create design ideas through the interpretation of sketches and renderings of costume designs, and develop a complex costume or costume element for theatrical production.
  • Successful students will master complex elements of costume construction for the stage by taking a leadership role in body measuring, pulling costumes, fitting, garment measuring, garment alterations, show maintenance and laundering theatrical costumes.

Description

Continuation of THTR 25B with a practical focus on creating costumes from designs for a theatrical production. Further use and practice with complex sewing projects and patterning skills to include drafting and fitting a body block, then creating a pattern from it, basic draping techniques and advanced materials usage with specialty materials for complex theatrical headgear, wigs, and costumes.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:
A. Research, classify and identify costume styles and periods for the theatre and stage.
B. Master complex elements of costume construction for the stage.
C. Develop creative design ideas.
D. Practice with advanced techniques of costume construction from drafting to finish.
E. Develop techniques of draping on a dress form to create patterns and clothing for costumes on the stage.
F. Interpret sketches and renderings of costume designs for theatrical productions, and understand the techniques used to create costumes for various regions and in different cultures.
G. Understand the organization elements in creating costumes for production.

Course Content

A. Research and analyze clothing for particular periods in history and the relationship to the theatre, stage and script.
B. Take a leadership role in body measuring, pulling costumes, fitting, garment measuring, garment alterations, show maintenance and laundering theatrical costumes.
C. Develop a complex headgear or costume design/idea/fabrication, that would include lights, moving parts or a complex breakaway theme.
D. Learn and practice techniques of drafting a pattern, constructing it and fitting it.
E. Simple bias draping project on a dress form to understand grain and the draping concept of dead hang pivot fullness.
F. Analyze the use of line, texture, color and form in the creation of costume design in American, European, Hispanic, African and/or Eastern/Asian theatrical societies.
G. Analyze a script, create a costume plot, production schedule, and evaluate costs and budgeting for costumes in the theatre.

Lab Content

A. Supervised construction of related projects including racking a show and pulling existing garments, creating new garments and accessories and maintaining the show during its run.
B. Advanced projects include millinery and thermoplastic fabrication and advanced structuring such as tailoring and corsetry.
C. Dress from draping project.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

A. Studio facilities with access to sewing machines and tables, overlock, blind hemmer, industrial iron and table, steamer, and costume shop.
B. Space appropriate for storing class materials and projects.
C. Space appropriate for storing show costumes.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

In-class projects
Assigned construction exercises
Project review
Final project presentation

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture presentations and classroom discussion covering costume research, technology and construction
Oral presentations of major projects followed by in-class discussion and evaluation
Instructor guided laboratory practice sessions
Instructor demonstrations of costume technology and techniques

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Ingham, Rosemary, and Liz Covey. Costume Technicians Handbook, 3rd ed.. 2003.

Maclochlainn, Jason. The Victorian Tailor; An Introduction to Period Tailoring. 2011.

Barrington, Mandy. Stays and Corsets: Historical Patterns translated for the Modern Body. 2017.

Jaffe, Hilde, and Nurie Relis. Draping for Fashion Design. 1975.

While some of these texts are older than the recommended "5 years or newer" standard, they remain seminal texts in the field.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

A. Reading assignments include reading a script and chapters from the various texts, as well as research assignments that include verbal and visual research.
B. Students complete a costume production book that includes all pre-production and production planning for a show.

Discipline(s)

Stagecraft or Theater Arts