About
The Costumer is one of America's most established costume houses, with over 100 years of costuming experience serving theatrical productions, schools, community theatres, Renaissance faires, film productions, and individual consumers. As an employee-owned business, they take pride in delivering a comprehensive, white-glove costuming experience that goes beyond simply supplying garments. For theatrical productions, The Costumer acts as an entire behind-the-scenes production team. Their theatre specialists work directly with directors to capture their vision, while stylists curate era-appropriate looks for every actor in a cast. In-house costume designers build theatre-quality, durable, and washable costumes, and an alterations team tailors each piece to fit virtually any body type. A dedicated wig mistress coifs and customizes wigs and hairpieces, and a prop master supplies action-ready accessories to enhance performances. Beyond theatrical rentals, The Costumer offers an extensive catalog of costumes for purchase, including men's and women's adult costumes, children's and toddler costumes, infant options, licensed character costumes, horror, Egyptian/Greek/Roman, religious, and 20th-century styles. They also carry professional-grade makeup, accessories, props, hats, masks, wigs, and dance apparel. Whether outfitting a full Broadway-style production or a single Halloween party-goer, The Costumer has the inventory, expertise, and service to deliver a complete transformation.
Key Features
- Full Theatrical Costume Rentals: Rent complete costume packages for school and community theatre productions, including styling, alterations, wigs, and props as part of a full production team service.
- In-House Alterations & Customization: A dedicated alterations team tailors rented costumes to fit virtually any body type, ensuring a polished, professional look on stage.
- Wig & Hair Services: A wig mistress coifs and customizes wigs and hairpieces to complete each actor's transformation in alignment with the production's era and style.
- Extensive Retail Costume Catalog: Browse thousands of costumes for purchase across categories including licensed characters, horror, historical, religious, kids, toddlers, and infants.
- Professional Makeup & Accessories: Shop a wide selection of pro-grade makeup, props, wigs, hats, masks, gloves, and special effects supplies for stage and personal use.
Use Cases
- A community theatre director rents a complete costume package for a production of Disney's Frozen, with styling, alterations, and wigs handled by The Costumer's production team.
- A school drama department sources historically accurate Egyptian and Roman costumes for their annual spring play.
- An individual shopper purchases a licensed Halloween costume with matching accessories and professional makeup for a costume party.
- A Renaissance faire organizer rents period-appropriate attire for performers and vendors attending a multi-day event.
- A film production company leverages The Costumer's film services to source and fit costumes for a period drama shoot.
Pros
- 100+ Years of Expertise: Decades of costuming experience ensure theatre-quality results and deep knowledge of historical accuracy, style, and production needs.
- Full-Service Production Team: Theatrical renters gain access to stylists, designers, alteration specialists, a wig mistress, and a prop master — not just costumes.
- Wide Range of Offerings: Serves everyone from individual Halloween shoppers to full theatrical productions, Renaissance faires, film projects, and dance companies.
Cons
- Primarily U.S.-Focused: Services and shipping are geared toward the American market, which may limit accessibility for international customers or productions.
- Rental Lead Time Required: Theatrical costume rentals require advance planning and coordination with the production team, making last-minute orders difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of productions can rent costumes from The Costumer?
The Costumer works with school theatres, community theatres, professional productions, Renaissance faires, and film productions, providing full costume packages tailored to each show.
Do they offer individual costume rentals as well?
Yes, in addition to full theatrical production rentals, The Costumer offers individual costume rentals for customers who need a single costume for an event or performance.
Can I purchase costumes directly from The Costumer?
Absolutely. They sell a wide variety of costumes for men, women, kids, toddlers, and infants, covering themes like Halloween, licensed characters, horror, historical periods, and more.
Does The Costumer provide alterations for rented costumes?
Yes, their in-house alterations team tailors rented costumes to fit virtually any body type, ensuring each actor looks their best on stage.
Do they carry wigs and makeup for theatrical use?
Yes, The Costumer stocks a full range of professional wigs, hairpieces, and pro-grade makeup including body art, adhesives, concealers, flesh and latex products, and complete makeup kits.
