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Role

Wardrobe Coordinator

A Wardrobe Coordinator manages costume information and logistics such as calendars, fittings, contacts, purchasing, rentals, shipments, inventory, returns, paperwork, staffing records, and vendor communication. They keep the Costume Designer, Supervisor, Costumers, workroom, accounting, and production aligned around current status while protecting performer information and distinguishing coordination from design, fitting, and on-set continuity authority.

Roles

Also known as: Costume Wardrobe Coordinator

Reviewed

On some productions this title overlaps with Costume Coordinator; elsewhere it supports a specific wardrobe office, unit, or project type.

Wardrobe Coordinator connects a defined craft or decision area to the wider production plan. A strong brief clarifies authority, deliverables, schedule, safety expectations, and the handoffs this role owns.

Responsibilities

  • Schedule fittings, meetings, pickups, returns, shipping, laundry, and department deadlines.
  • Track purchases, rentals, inventory, vendors, receipts, purchase orders, and outstanding items.
  • Maintain contacts, staffing records, performer information, calendars, forms, and distributions.
  • Communicate status and escalate missing approvals, budget issues, delays, or custody problems.

Tools

  • Calendar, inventory, and costume database software
  • Purchasing, rental, shipping, and expense systems
  • Shared drives, forms, and contact tools
  • Labels, barcode, and tracking equipment

Documents

  • Fitting calendar
  • Purchase and rental tracker
  • Inventory and return list
  • Department status report

Skills

  • Wardrobe logistics
  • Vendor coordination
  • Expense tracking
  • Confidential administration

Career path

  • Wardrobe Coordinators often come from costume PA, office, rental-house, fashion-production, theater, or general production coordination work.

Work environment

  • The role is office-centered but regularly moves through fittings, vendors, trucks, workrooms, shipping areas, and set during schedule changes.

Common questions

What is the main responsibility of a Wardrobe Coordinator?

A Wardrobe Coordinator manages costume information and logistics such as calendars, fittings, contacts, purchasing, rentals, shipments, inventory, returns, paperwork, staffing records, and vendor communication. They keep the Costume Designer, Supervisor, Costumers, workroom, accounting, and production aligned around current status while protecting performer information and distinguishing coordination from design, fitting, and on-set continuity authority.

What does a Wardrobe Coordinator do day to day?

Day to day, Wardrobe Coordinator work commonly includes Schedule fittings, meetings, pickups, returns, shipping, laundry, and department deadlines., Track purchases, rentals, inventory, vendors, receipts, purchase orders, and outstanding items., and Maintain contacts, staffing records, performer information, calendars, forms, and distributions.. The exact balance changes with the production schedule, crew size, and the point at which the role joins the project.

What skills matter most for a Wardrobe Coordinator?

The most useful skills are Wardrobe logistics, Vendor coordination, Expense tracking, and Confidential administration. Together, they help the role make dependable decisions, communicate a clear handoff, and respond to notes or changing conditions.

Which tools and documents does a Wardrobe Coordinator use?

Common tools include Calendar, inventory, and costume database software, Purchasing, rental, shipping, and expense systems, Shared drives, forms, and contact tools, and Labels, barcode, and tracking equipment. The role also relies on Fitting calendar, Purchase and rental tracker, Inventory and return list, and Department status report so decisions, approvals, continuity, and delivery requirements remain traceable.

How does someone build experience for a Wardrobe Coordinator?

Wardrobe Coordinators often come from costume PA, office, rental-house, fashion-production, theater, or general production coordination work.

How does a Wardrobe Coordinator vary by production?

The scope changes with format, budget, location, crew structure, and the production's technical method. The role is office-centered but regularly moves through fittings, vendors, trucks, workrooms, shipping areas, and set during schedule changes.

Related entries

Sources