Interview: Costume Designer Shirlee Idzakovich

Meet New York based costume designer Shirlee Idzakovich. She has a degree in patternmaking, owned her own childrenswear company, and then transitioned to costume about 20 years ago. We discuss the difference between fashion and costume, how to build a costume design portfolio, how to find costume jobs. We also discuss what kinds of skills you need as a costume designer and what kind of education you need to pursue a career in costume.
Shirlee Idzakovich on the internet:
Email: [e-mail]
Instagram: / costumer.shirlee
Facebook: / shirlee.idzakovich
Costume Design FB Group: / 380038736158820
Pinterest: / shirleezak
EdTA (Educational Theatre Association): www.schooltheatre.org/home
EdTA instagram: / thespiansociety
EdTA facebook: / schooltheatre
iTheatrics: itheatrics.com
Job board on Playbill: www.playbill.com/jobs
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CONTACT: [e-mail]
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MENTIONED/RELATED VIDEOS:
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[@zoehongteaches]

Please give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed this interview! The quotes are from other costume designers in Shirlee's costume design FB group!

[@amitmahajan5180]

I just love it ...amazing ..... Ty so much Zoe Hong.....

[@absolute3112]

@1:57 am EST, cant sleep... REALLLLLLLLY needed to see this video. I want to be costume designer, totally lacking in confidence, but seeing her 'trick' with the button/zipper to get the actor to 'vent' their issues, is something Ive done MANY TIMES, realizing there's a certain level of emotional intelligence is needed to do this work. Never realized , this is kinda my 'super power' because often I would be the 'go-to' person for actors to speak their mind and vent... because they know Ill listen. And I love her discussing making costumes to fit several sizes, I do that too, from my own clothes.. and gaining so much weight in a flash. Wow! Again, Zoe,... thank you :)

[@lainea8628]

I hope you can make a part 2 for this video.

[@JCCinemafilms]

Am a costume designer in Africa I will like to ask her some things please I need her social media handles

[@shirleeidzakovich3149]

Shout out to Zoe for allowing me to come and chat, thank you for all the comments. I loved all the excitement that we share for fashion and costuming.

[@zoehongteaches]

Shirleeeeeee I miss you already! See you in March!

[@coreartalex6708]

Please, Please, Please Go Together to a Met Fashion or Costume Expo Together Next Time Zoe is on NY .... A video of you together analyzing something like that would be Incredible!

[@shirleeidzakovich3149]

Fun times at the MET or FIT!!!!

[@hildadelatorre.]

Thank you for all the great info Shirlee!

[@lilolmecj]

shirlee idzakovich I loved hearing your story, and your excitement and love for your work.

[@abundantlyinspired]

I adore and respect Shirlee’s honesty about the costuming industry and yours as well when you speak about the business of fashion.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️ It is so rare to have the real world cliches broken down. But this behind the scenes knowledge is power to equip people who are thinking of choosing these fields!! Thanks for sharing this!!😊 I have often disappointed people when I’d share true stories about when I modeled for 6 yrs...some have said I sound bitter or so negative but I’m just sharing the reality of my experiences which is not what they have heard from the media.

[@zoehongteaches]

We are the opposite of traditional social media! Not everything is beautiful! hahaha There's lots to love, there's also things not to love.

[@suzannebeyer5369]

If a student graduates from a fashion school and thinks rayon is a brand, that school should be shut down YESTERDAY. OMG

[@zoehongteaches]

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[@peachy7586]

Can we talk about Shirlee's hair? And Zoe, I lovaaa your videos, and your laughter and your blushy cheek (yeah lol)

[@zoehongteaches]

Thank you, I'm happy you like my videos, but I'm not a fan of talking about my appearance.

[@lilolmecj]

Because it is crazy beautiful?

[@zackpopovich1002]

As a Fashion Design senior at Kent State so happy that Zoe and Shirlee gave us a shout out .

[@SaiyaHyuga]

I'm so excited to see an interview with a costumer on your page! I love coming to your page to look for design tips and tricks and techniques. Honestly, I've come to your videos in the past for help on some of my design homework assignments! I'm currently a costume design student at the Academy of Art University working towards my BA. My program is Costume Design, but I've been taking a lot of fashion classes as core classes. I've also been making my own costumes, what I've filled my portfolio with for the most part because I don't have a lot of local theater, for years and I can't wrap my mind around a design student who doesn't know fabrics. Thank you Zoe for taking your time to make all this amazing content! And thank you Shirlee for taking the time for this interview and answering so many questions!

[@zoehongteaches]

Good luck with your program! Yes, there is a lot of subject overlap with fashion and costume and it's good you're taking a lot of initiative on your own.

[@xPrincessJellyfishx]

I'm also a costume design student at the AAU!

[@2LIVCREATE]

What an invaluable interview!! That's what I love about ALL your videos, Zoe!.... YOU ALWAYS SHARE WITH US, THE PRINCIPLE FUNDAMENTALS OF LEARNING, AND WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY!!! WE L❤VE AND THANK YOU, ZOE! 😘😘😘💕

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome! Glad you're learning!

[@Candi_Weightloss]

Thanks Shirlee for all your knowledge and experience! I learned a lot. First things , first....learn everything about fabrics...ASAP.

[@nataloves]

Thank you for showing us time and time again that it's never too late to start!

[@stevenclemons1]

This was incredible!!! You're doing something that no one else would do. I feel like you're doing it just for me and I'm so grateful! You're the literal best!

[@veralouise5897]

Wow...Are you able to read minds? I was just doing research for a project on costume design... You are great, thank you!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@peggyriordan9857]

This was one of the best interviews I have ever seen within the fashion/costume arena. I just loved it and I hope Ms. Idzakovich will come back for another installment of the reality show that costuming can be. I really appreciated the realness of the discussion and after hearing her describe some of the people she has had come in for a job and then not know what a fabric is, I discovered that I am probably qualified to work in a 'shop' hunting for fabrics! I just can't say enough great things about this video. It was fun, amazing, interesting, so educational. I just hope so much there can be another session set up. It was so clear that you both love what you do it was inspiring. Thank you so much for having put this together..

[@autumndawn8587]

I love hearing her story of how you were a mom to college kids before she really kicked her career as a costume designer off as someone who has, for over 10 years, struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome after graduating with a theatre degree/emphasis in costume design and, because of the nature of designing, I couldn't do it. I'm now 32 and I always worry if it's "too late". I realize, it isn't thanks to her story! YES about the "accuracy" and research. I had a situation where I had a deep violet and a red orange lipstick for two silly flappers on a 1920s comedy as an assistant designer and I was "called out" by the choreographer, in front of the rest of the cast and crew, that no one wore any other color but red in the 20s even though I had taken literal color ad images from the 20s and put them side by side with my makeup design for the show when I showed it to the director. it's a comedy, something that is, by nature, playful, where the main costume designer had them wearing dresses made with patterns and prints on them I had never seen on any 1920s dress. However, they decided to ignore that fact and continued with the red lipstick.

[@alexanderpons9246]

Love, love, love this video/interview Ms. Zoe Hong! Your guest is so full of real and valuable knowledge, her advice on working at any local children theater is perfect. Funny the part she said that she still loves Fashion but didn't know how to get into it after her life in theater immedtiatly made me think that someone with her knowledge will be perfect to really develop a commercial fashion line because of what she knows of how to work a look for a certain body(the example of an actress who was casted and was 5'9" and a size 4 who left and the understudy who was 5'2" and a size 12) is what Fashion really needs! Thank you so much for your wonderful channel Ms. Zoe Hong!

[@maryalderete8051]

I watched this while sewing, hand stitching, my own outfit. Thank you!

[@deelightful7996]

Thank you Zoe for always bringing full detailed interviews that address everyone's questions.

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@TheSplendidus]

This was so good! Shirlee is so beautiful, gorgeous costume godess I was thinking about looking for a job in theater, I'm mindblown, costuming is completely a world on it's own..... Thank you both for doing this! I would love to see another chat about whatever related to fashion/costuming/sewing

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome! Good luck with your job search!

[@lindawatson5090]

Thank you, Zoe & thank you, Shirlee! It was so informative, so fascinating & really fun!!! 💜

[@walteraddie7925]

Love this. So informative with an inside real view of how this industry works. There is so much that happens behind the scenes that I was clueless about. Thank you both!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@erinpaige79]

Thank you Zoe and Shirlee! I appreciate your candor and all of the interesting information! I got a degree in fashion design 18 years ago and always wanted to transition into costume. But I got married and had kids instead. In the past year I've gotten back into sewing garments for myself and rediscovered my love for the work. Perhaps this interview was the push I needed to get in touch with my local theater. Thanks again!

[@zoehongteaches]

Good luck!

[@_Alimm]

This is such a rich interview, so much insight and information. Thankyou Zoe and Shirley!

[@marylindberg5516]

Shirley is exceptional guest; thank you for sharing your organic beginnings of costume design. I had volunteered at our local children’s theater costume shop and eventually designed for several shows. Learned so much about dealing with people via “the miniature truth-tellers.” Fortunately, there were no biters! BTW my degree is pharmacy.

[@beauchamp90]

This is such a great interview! Thank y'all so much for sharing your knowledge. Also I love research so that sounds like so much fun.

[@joystarrturk]

I know this is video is three years old, but it was a fantastic interview. I’m 43 and have always wanted to do costume design but ended up in the Michelin culinary world. I’m seriously considering a career shift to costuming. I know I’m old for a new start but this was great.

[@emolicious4now]

Before i start any project, i come to your channel to get a nugget of thought and i run with it. Thank you

[@sharrdashah3807]

You are so inspiring, thanks for all the fantastic info and the video.

[@rocarolinaelric94]

YES!!! I want to do costume design! This is very much needed

[@marcthetaylor12]

I love this so much. I've been watching you for years and I try to adapt what you're teaching to apply for costuming. This is fantastic. Thank you Zoe.

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@lan-hwang]

Thank you Zoe and Shirlee for taking the the time, the chat is both informative and interesting!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@tsilsby888]

Very interesting! I had never thought of the different perspectives between costume design and runway design. Thanks for the video.

[@Rodrigomendesdf]

I've had to stop this video in the middle because I really need to leave but OH MY GOD you both look like the family I never had! I want to live in this video!

[@zoehongteaches]

Best thing about video is you can always watch it later! :D

[@joana.a4981]

Loved this interview! Thank you

[@BeatrixBe]

This was so great to hear. I am a stage set and costume designer from Europe, but I want to switch to fashion design. I am so grateful to find your channel to prepare myself for the change. Wish me luck :D

[@zoehongteaches]

Good luck!

[@Kartsie]

Thank you so much for providing us with this interview and content!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@kittycappella7619]

Thank You for this interview! 😻

[@ohjoannabanana]

This was such a great interview! Thanks to both of you ladies.

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@pneumarian]

Thanks for the video! I don't normally make time to watch an hour long video, but took the risk & am quite happy to have done so!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@karlalovato1715]

Thankyou Zoe and Shirlee, I’ve literally learnt more than I ever could in 5 of my classes and this was about costume design and I’m a fashion design student, so thankyouuuu!😌

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@rbersani1]

I loved this. I always wanted to learn costuming.

[@billywilburn]

Thank you for sharing such a great interview with a costume designer. I teach costume design and love your channel.

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome and thank you!

[@lilolmecj]

Aaaahhhhh! So interesting! In a different lifetime...😀💕

[@aaronyasun6463]

Another wonderful interview. A lot of information learned. Thank you ❤️

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@nooralhaddad381]

Love your videos 💕 I’m learning a lot Keep it up 👍🏽

[@zedj.2133]

I savored every minute of this. Thanks Zoe!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@TwiggyySticks]

Thank you so so much for doing a video with information specifically on costume design!!! This video was very helpful and the 2 of you are very fun to watch! Lol

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome and thank you!

[@TheHobokenArtGal]

that was lots fun......thank you both!

[@katrinak8318]

Thanks to both of you for this fun and entertaining interview 😁

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@annamaxflair]

I remember when I first saw you on FT or Cityline, not recalling which show but remember the interviewer not quite knowing how to handle your lack of phony personality. When you were asked the collection being showcased, you were forthright about the work involved & how challenging the business can be. It was like the interviewer was what do i do about this lack of glamour . Its wonderful that you're doing interviews with others that are honest too.

[@momocisse3823]

Thaanks youuu zoe this was 1 hour of huge knowledges I learned a lot now I'll go search more about costume design 😊👍🏾

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome! Good luck studying!

[@MrCindywill317]

This video is so awesome n useful! I love you Zoe💓

[@PatternmakerNYC]

I’m relocating to NY from Sf. Everyone I have spoken too have said entry level jobs are stitching jobs this video was extremely helpful

[@mariaelenachavira8315]

Just love it!!!

[@wanderingcrafter]

I’m loving your channel Zoe !

[@zoehongteaches]

Thanks!

[@caitlinrobertson3780]

this is so useful! Thanks so much zoe

[@shuzennn]

Thank you for this video!! I was doing research on this career path and there's a lot of info here. 👍

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@hildadelatorre.]

Awesome video. This is Sooo imformative and enjoyable to watch. Thank you for sharing. 💖

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@simonasvantnerova4449]

ugh I love this channel

[@zoehongteaches]

thanks!

[@h15ax05]

Loved this vid :3

[@pamelabrinkley6900]

Educational and very interesting.

[@zoehongteaches]

Thanks!

[@noelfisher1829]

This is very helpful

[@RNFundsEducator]

She is amazing!!!!!!

[@zoehongteaches]

She IS!

[@user-nn4qh6jw7h]

Love your channel ❤️

[@zoehongteaches]

Thanks!

[@mscindyzac]

That was awesome!

[@zoehongteaches]

Shirlee is awesome!

[@ashy_ankles_101]

This video was amazing, funny and informative. Also, thank you Shirlee for helping me figure out if costume design was for me. It’s not, but I’m still grateful.

[@zoehongteaches]

As I always say, "No is an answer and answers are good."

[@ashy_ankles_101]

Thank you!!

[@oppongisaac7335]

Hi thanks you for your good interview .

[@MegaCillia]

Hi Zoe, I love your videos and have been watching your videos for a while now. Is it possible to make a video about how to design your label, care label, and size label and what kind of material to use? Is there a difference between the label you put on kids clothing and adult ones? what you should think about when it comes to making kids garments. If possible how you should wrap your order ( materials to use and if you should add a little something extra with it and what it should be) to send to costumers when having an online store. Many THANKS xxx

[@heatherhays4836]

Awesome video!

[@zoehongteaches]

Thanks!

[@KarinaKayy]

Actually...I have the opposite situation. Coming from a theatrical costume design background trying to get into fashion. I was very successful as a costume designer- was the youngest costume designer ever to be hired at a large Bay Area theater company at age 23. Although I loved it, I just felt like I wanted to branch out to fashion where the design/materials was king, rather than the dialogue. I was actually the most brilliant at sourcing and fabric selection and I LOVED THAT PART! Not so much the rehearsals and Shakespearean plays over done, time and time against lol I wonder if other costume designers feel this way....

[@robyn3349]

Fun discussion!

[@zoehongteaches]

Shirlee's a blast!

[@shirleysaidsew1969]

25 seconds in and her name is Shirlee! Hi Shirlee, I'm Shirley 😁

[@PamelaRubel]

What a nice interview! I'll definitely check the pinterest boards! Such an interesting universe. I'm still really curious as to where does dance costume design fall into? Is it even related to the work Shirlee does? Thank you!

[@zoehongteaches]

I think the fundamentals are the same: understand what fabrics will give you the results you need. Durability, as Shirlee said. But for dance, strong performance stretch, embellishments that won't pop off during lots of motion.

[@kaytou351]

I'm a 23 yo Nursing School drop out. I had one semester left. Looking for my true passions and I can feel my heart warming and my shoulders feeling less burdened after watching this. I'm not too sure why exactly

[@lilianqueen4378]

OMG。。。Zoe,I love ur interview and love ur wine. LEARNED A LOT :)

[@puspitaatikaa]

finallyyy... yeayyyy ^^

[@shennensahir2202]

Wowwwww thanks!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!

[@echocheck]

William Ivey Long gets royalties on The Producers costumes. I rented a few of his costumes for a production at The Pittsburgh Playhouse and he got a separate check for 10 percent of the total rental.

[@DailyRaH]

Hey zoe i love all your videos thank you so much for all the energy you put into work , can you please help me with this question please? whats the deference between a costume maker and a costume designer? Are their job description the same?

[@whiteraven8322]

I absolutely loved this video! everytime I watch your videos I learn so much, I'm a beginner seamstress and I want to one day be able to have my own online for vintage clothes, and I was wondering if it matters what kind of fashion School you go to in order to get a degree. I used to live close to LA and always wanted to go to fidum but now I live in Palm Springs and I don't have a school close to me that specializes in a fashion degree to put in simplest terms

[@zoehongteaches]

I would research an accredited online fashion program.

[@susaneliascouture]

Thank you for this video Zoe, when I landed in New York to go to FIT. I initially was planning on going into Costume design....This will age me but some guy said "oh no need Edith Head pretty much owns that slot, someone would have to die to open up the opportunity to get on top". I studied Couture instead! I don't regret it, but still may dabble in Costume design some day. Would like to do movies. Yes, fabric is everything but so is design construction....check me out sometime when you get a chance!

[@zoehongteaches]

Yes, the construction is so important!

[@Firecat0]

Omg! It caught me so offguard when you mentioned Anchorage! I'm sitting at UAA right this moment!

[@zoehongteaches]

Hello! I grew up in Anchorage! I even took some art classes at UAA while I was in high school.

[@Firecat0]

@@zoehongteaches Nice! XD I'm not originally from here but I'll be graduating (at last!) in a few months. Never trained my sewing skills to make irl fashion a good option without a ton more work, but I'll actually be putting on a fashion show in an mmo later this year! I'm using modding of 3D clothing/character models to create brand new, unique gowns and outfits that will walk a runway. I'm turning it into a big roleplaying event for others on the server and collaborating with players running an opera house to come up with an original narrative and theatrics that we'll incorporate. I'm not limited by many things designers in the physical world would be and I plan to take advantage of it! Surprisingly I'm getting good training with working with flattened, broken up pieces and parts of outfits like patterns because of how textures, uv maps, and 3D modelling works!

[@zoehongteaches]

Sounds great! Have fun and good luck on your show!

[@nononsense6875]

So since he is in South Alabama and is not able to move right now. Do you now if there are any wonderful schools that offer online courses?

[@jessicaohare9084]

For films: What skills does an assistant costume designer need? What are they responsible for? Do they pattern make? or just sew and dye? Do they just assistant on set? What is the difference between and assistant and costumer on set? Thanks

[@ciaraanne5532]

I was wondering if you have any idea about the different types of costume jobs more specifically within both making and designing. I know theres generally a difference between makers and designers but within that is there any amount of overlap where someone will both design and make the garment or does that depend on the budget of the production? thanks so much

[@shirleeidzakovich3149]

Absolutely. Sometimes I do both just to save time or money. But that is with a much lower budget project. I CAN do both but it takes time. Thanks for your question!

[@hagfish_]

17:25 What's the 'herringbone video' referring to? I did a search, but I'm not sure which video she was referring to (that they tested each other on).

[@zoehongteaches]

How to Render Tweed, I think, or Fashion Illustration Tutorial: Tweed

[@akemphilia]

Hi Zoe Thank you for your inspiration so far please how do I get the size chart of women's outfit either uk or us including the measurement please thank you in advance

[@akemphilia]

And the size chart used for the small medium and large outfit

[@zoehongteaches]

Go to an online store that sells the kinds of garments you want to sell and check out their size chart. Go look at a few of them and figure out what works best for you.

[@irinazhilina8830]

Many thanks to Zoe for having variety of designers (costume designer, self-taught designer, factory owner). Everyone can find valuable information in a specific field plus general information (be passionate about what you do and work hard). Please invite a lingerie designer for an interview. 👙🎀💝💝💝

[@momocisse3823]

Whose still watching this in 2021 😎

[@arcana830]

Thumbs urrrp!

[@nononsense6875]

A friend of mine is going to school to be a Tailor......Now we’re talking about a school in South Alabama so.....

[@Discofoxx1]

Ppl hiding costumes! 😂😂😂

[@judithtremaine2525]

Who??!!

[@lilolmecj]

I am amused by Project Runway, but it is so unrealistic. And all of the contestants always cry about team challenges, everything in life, just about, is a team effort!

[@zoehongteaches]

hahahahahahahhahahahaha~ very true

[@saramartinez8747]

I don't even study fashion, I just love to know how the industry works. But I would love to get into theater scenography, I think most of the advice you both gave applies , so thank you both!

[@zoehongteaches]

You're welcome!