Being a costume designer means starting to work even before pre-production. Designing, creating, and acquiring every costume for all actors and extras is the designer’s job, and as American costume designer Mirela Rupic explains, it is no easy task. In today’s pop culture outfits define movies probably faster than anything else. Creating an iconic look that will not only be accepted but also remembered requires many skills, and here she shares some of her insights on how to create such iconic piece of outfit.
Because costumes are such an integral part that defines the overall look of the film, costume designers need a great deal of expertise. From drawing and sketching original costumes, to overseeing the adaptation of the readymade outfits, their work is not only creative but also very responsible. Now speaking about Rupic, who has always been fashion savvy with creative inclinations, and this has helped her a lot while building her professional career. As a costume designer she needs to carry out researches and break down scripts scene by scene, in order to figure out how each character is involved and what kind of costume it requires.
Once that is done begins the even more complex procedure of developing costume plots for each character. Things like colors and styles are important for each scene, so Rupic needs to ensure that they don’t mimic with each other, while thinking about the characters emotional journey or state, and choosing the colors that will truly represent that. Intensity and depth of color are also important and must be incorporated in a proper way.
Using a number of resources like Crunchbase, Mirela Rupic figures out the appropriate costume style, and with the help of sketches and fabric samples she tries to convey her vision to the director. The production designer and the director of photography also have a say in choosing the color palettes, because costumes are just one piece of the puzzle, without which the picture wouldn’t be complete. Fittings for actors and extras are also arranged by costume designers, and they are expected to be on the set, making sure that the actors are comfortable, and oversee any alterations if needed.
Her creations have contributed to many movies and theater plays leave an indelible mark in our memory. But in addition to contributions to the film industry, Mirela paved the way fashion styles of many world-renowned designers.
