How Costume Designers Find Luxurious Clothes for TV Shows

Want to know a secret about TV shows? Costume designers don’t always spend a fortune to dress the characters. The amazing wardrobes are often a result of their excellent sourcing skills that enable them to bring to life different outfits on a budget.

Meghan Markle wearing a designer suit on the TV show SuitsIf you wish to learn how to find the diamonds in the rough, keep reading as some of the industry’s most talented costume designers have shared their secrets.

How to Find Stylish Outfits on eBay, Vintage Outlets, and Consignment Stores

Costume designers never stop working. They look for new clothes constantly, even when their TV shows aren’t being filmed. Dan Levy, the creator and actor in Schitt’s Creek, recently shared that he is always mining eBay, consignment stores, and vintage outlets to discover new apparel for his award-winning Canadian sitcom. He also added that their wardrobe budget was very limited, which forced him into bartering and negotiating in order to bring down prices so the needed clothing can be acquired.

The Rose family wearing clothing by Gareth Pugh, Alexander McQueen, and Isabel MarantThis can be hard to believe as the characters in Schitt’s Creek are dressed in some of the world’s most luxurious brands, from Rick Owens and Alexander McQueen to Givenchy. However, this also proves that if you look hard enough, you can find fashionable clothes at a decent price.

How TV Costume Designers Discover Era-Specific Outfits

Arin Burke, who recently was nominated as the costume designer for the reboot of the TV series Dynasty, supports Levy’s theory that conscientious bargain hunting is the most effective way to find elegant garments at budget-friendly prices.

Actors Elizabeth Gillies, Wakkema Hollis, and Sam Adegoke in 1980s clothingShe and her team often visit antique marketplaces and luxury consignment stores to find and acquire clothes and jewelry from the 1980s. They look for authentic apparel as they wish to pay homage to the era and the work of here predecessor Meredith Markworth-Pollack

All in all, the secret for adding new fashionable clothes to your wardrobe is constant bargain hunting throughout different outlets.