Your favorite costuming and makeup books!

Luna1968

Member
I want a few reference books for my students (and myself) in my drama classroom. I am a pretty advanced costumer, but not very advanced with makeup techniques. Mainly I want books that my students and I can reference for period costumes (men and women) and makeup, as well as for creating special effects. I really want sketches/pictures to copy and that will be helpful to recreate the actual object/garment. I have a variety of historical patterns, but they are not inclusive.

What are your favorites?

Here are a few I am considering in my library:
I already have in my possession:
Period Make-Up for the Stage: Step-By-Step by Swinfield, Rosemarie
Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin
 
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Could I get away with an older printing of the Corson book? Amazon has a 2009 printing priced at $169 new / $123 used. A little steep, although obviously the standard. A 8th edition from 1989 is $5.89 used - quite a price difference!
 
I'd have to vote for Corson as well. As far as I'm concerned, it's THE standard. I don't see anything wrong with getting the 1989 edition; while makeup technology has changed a bit (newer formulations, better options for those with latex allergies, etc.), the principles of stage makeup have not.

Although none of them are traditional theatre books, I use these for design/history reference all the time:
Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style from Smithsonian
Pantone: The 20th Century in Color by Leatrice Eiseman and Keith Recker
Face Paint: The Story of Makeup by Lisa Eldridge

If you're on a tight budget (aren't we all?), you might want to check out Half Price Books. I've had some luck finding good theatre books for cheap there, especially at the end of a semester when all the college students want to make some money selling their textbooks.
 

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