There's more to costume design than just great styling - the true talent is in shaping characters and telling stories. Courtney Stern, Assistant Costume Designer, currently working on ABC's (USA) new hit-show, Switched At Birth, is in charge of doing just that. Here, we get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes.
I Am ...
Name: Courtney Stern
Occupation: Assistant Costume Designer for television and film
Finish this sentence. I am: creatively stimulated with discovering characters and making a written vision come to life everyday.
Describe a day in your life: Although my day is always different, a typical day starts out with me being the first one to the office at 6:30AM with my Urth latte and quiet time. Settling in, checking emails, making a to do list, and anything else I can do to prepare for the craziness about to head my way. I then head to catering to get an omelet of my choice! Usually, egg whites with spinach, mushroom, avocado, and tomatoes. Yum! I check in on set and make sure the set costumers are prepared for the day, they have all the pieces they need for each character, head to toe, and answer any questions I can before they start filming for the day.
We start out with fittings for the next episode that will soon be filming before we know it. Trying to constantly think of doing things that have not been done before. For example, making a cheesy school uniform look somewhat interesting and hip.
Next, head out to shop for any missing pieces that we may need. Not before grabbing lunch, which usually depends on the area we are about to shop in, my faves: Olive and Thyme, King’s Road, or maybe some Pho Noodles. Then hit the stores. Starting at the department stores (Sak’s, Neimans, Barney’s, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom) pulling clothes from a little system we like to call “Studio Services, where we are able to pull clothes for 7 days. After fittings we return the rejects and then bill out the winners! After the department stores I always hit the boutiques to try to get those unique pieces. My usuals: Opening Ceremony, Satine, Confederacy, All Saints, Ted Baker, Fred Segal, and many more. After all this run around it's usually close to 7PM when I head home with a car full of clothes, and depending on how I am feeling, I will cook a lovely dinner for me and my boyfriend and open a bottle of red or order pizza and call it a night!
Share an insider secret about your industry most people wouldn’t know: That is not as glamorous as one would think. Lots of returns, lugging around clothes, laundry, indecisive decision makers and more. Although it is rewarding once it is all approved and on camera!
What inspires you? The constant change of fashion, yet keeping it classic and sophisticated.
What you can’t make it through the day without? My latte, music, and the company of one’s around me. (Especially my incredible boss, Julia!)
Check out Courtney's photo diary in the gallery above.