Role · Costume
On set all day, keeping every costume exactly as it was in the last shot.
Standby costume stay with the shooting unit, dressing cast and keeping costume continuity take by take.
The job
A costume assistant on set rather than in the truck. You dress your actors, walk them to set, and watch every take for anything that's moved: a cuff, a collar, a scarf, a button. You fix it between takes.
You photograph and note each look so the scene matches weeks later. And you look after the cast: coats on between takes, umbrellas in the rain, warm layers on nights.
A typical day
- Arrive before cast call and prepare the day's costumes against the continuity notes.
- Dress principal cast in their trailers.
- Stand by on set through rehearsal and every take, close to camera but out of shot.
- Check continuity at the end of each take and take photographs.
- Manage changes between scenes, often against the clock.
- Return costumes to the truck at wrap, note damage and brief the team for tomorrow.
Skills
- A sharp continuity eye and a disciplined photo and note system.
- Quick, invisible repairs.
- Calm, discreet manner with actors at close quarters.
- Set etiquette: knowing when to step in and when to wait for the AD.
- Stamina. You are on your feet all day, often outside.
Reporting lines
You report to the costume supervisor, and through them to the costume designer. On set you work alongside hair and make-up and coordinate with the 2nd AD. Trainees and junior assistants may be assigned to help you.
How people get in
Standbys usually start as costume trainees and junior costume assistants. Experience dressing supporting artists on crowd days is the usual step before principal cast. ScreenSkills publishes a costume standby job description and a standby costume skills checklist.
Next step up
Assistant costume supervisor, then costume supervisor. Standbys with a design eye can move to assistant costume designer.
Find out more
Skills checklist · Costume
Costume assistant (standby costume)
Dressing principals, standing by on set, the continuity record.
Tick what you can do now. It saves on this device only. Print it or save it as a PDF and bring it to your competency check.
A guide, not a qualification. Built from our costume ladder and the costume assistant guide. Compare it with the ScreenSkills checklist . Checked 13 November 2026.
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Last reviewed 9 November 2026