Modern-day clothing worn by characters; requires careful brand and logo clearance checks.
Technical Details
Contemporary Costume works with standard garment industry sizes (EU 32-52, US 2-16), with costume designers often preparing 3-5 variations of the same wardrobe in different sizes for lead actors. Color selection is guided by current Pantone trends and considers digital color reproduction standards (Rec. 709 for HD, Rec. 2020 for 4K productions). Materials include cotton-polyester blends (70/30 ratio), which wrinkle less and offer better washability. Special treatments like Teflon coatings reduce soiling by 40-60% compared to untreated fabrics.
History & Development
The systematic use of contemporary fashion in film began in 1967 with Arthur Penn's "Bonnie and Clyde," where Theadora Van Runkle combined modern cuts with 1930s elements. Edith Head established the principle of "timeless contemporaneity" in 1969 for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" – modern fits with historically inspired design. The 1980s brought product placement in costumes: in "Pretty Woman" (1990), Armani charged $1.2 million for wardrobe provision. Digitization since 2000 enables CGI costume modifications in post-production, allowing up to 30% of costume work to be done retrospectively.
Practical Application in Film
"The Devil Wears Prada" (2006) used 150 original designer pieces worth $3.8 million, with Patricia Field acquiring 40% of the wardrobe through loans. For "Ocean's Eleven" (2001), Jeffrey Kurland developed a color-coding system: each character was assigned specific hues (Danny Ocean: shades of gray, 20-40% saturation). Contemporary Costume requires 6-8 weeks of lead time compared to 16-20 weeks for period pieces. The average wardrobe size is 80-120 pieces per lead actor for a 45-day shoot.
Comparison & Alternatives
Contemporary costume differs from period costumes with 70% lower procurement costs and 50% reduced time expenditure. Fantasy costumes require 3-4 times longer development time, whereas contemporary costume is often adapted directly from existing collections. Virtual costumes using motion-capture technology are increasingly replacing elaborate costume changes – "Avengers: Endgame" used 40% digital costume elements. The choice between purchased and custom-made contemporary clothing depends on the budget: custom tailoring costs €800-€2,500 per outfit, while ready-to-wear costs €150-€600.