Costume Designer
Deborah Cantor - Costume Designer/Wardrobe Stylist
As a costume designer, Deborah has had countless opportunities to
originate inspirational looks and visions in multiple mediums. Her
career started with acquiring a fashion and textiles degree at
Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), where she produced a final
collection that was showcased at Graduate Fashion Week, in front of
professionals within the fashion industry. As a result received high
profile press coverage of her work. Deborah then moved into the
high-end print fashion world working for British Vogue, Harpers and
Queen (London) and Harpers Bazaar (New York), to name a just few.
Her main focus is now on-screen wardrobe currently working with all
the major UK television channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and
Sky.
Deborah’s costume career started at the BBC Costume Department
cataloguing and indexing stock from various productions for over a
year. This experience was a crash course in history and time
periods. The fabric, texture, makeup of a garment, measure and
colour code enabled her to date the outfits. This practical
experience was invaluable. "There is nothing like having a
garment in your hand and instantly knowing its history and
understanding how it fits on a body."
Deborah then became a Costumier. She created different departments
by the style of uniform, and genre of the show. “This became my
beautiful, colorful office! Costume Designers/stylists would come
to me with a brief and I would help create a look for the
programme, commercial, pop video, or film, all in a timely (excuse
the pun) fashion.” Having worked on everything; from police
dramas to game shows where having knowledge of everything from safe
numbers for police uniforms or army rankings for national and
international sectors, to 50’s costumes for Hairspray, or Victorian
costume for Jane Eyre, was imperative. The intricate details must be
correct or the look is ruined and the production is compromised.
High profile fashion designers often came in to the department for
inspiration and direction on the following seasons trends. Costume
really does influence the fashion industry. “I was privileged to
be a part of this wave. I was BBC trained in every area of the art
of costume. From learning how to dress a period costume drama
cast, to measuring garments, to accessorising, working for the BBC
has been invaluable. I learned so much during my six years tenure.
It is British television at its best, producing high end, world
renowned, great drama and entertainment.”
The experience and contacts afforded Deborah the opportunity to turn
freelance as an Assistant Costume Designer. Learning how to manage a
budget, work with different personalities, costume designers and
makers. It was here, where she mastered ‘set etiquette’. Learning
the skill of fitting artists, dressing, shopping, lining up,
breaking down costume, script breakdown, location filming, and
studio filming. “Seeing something you created on screen makes it
more than worthwhile. While freelancing gave me freedom, it also
built my confidence. It challenged me to work harder in an
ever-evolving world.”
Deborah has worked with many incredible talents as a Costume
Designer/Stylist including Model Jodie Kidd, Pop Star Rachel
Stevens, Actress Alison Steadman, Actor Chris O’Dowd, Composer Lord
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Singer Dame Shirley Bassey, Sports Star jamie
Redknapp, Actor John Barrowman, Presenters Richard Madeley and Judy
Finnigan to name a few. Her work is varied from the world of Fashion
and Costume, she has designed and created some extremely prestigious
programmes including Bafta nominated The Big Narstie Show (Channel
4). The Lateish Show (Channel 4) and Big Fat Quiz (Channel 4),
Mission Survive with Bear Grylls (ITV), Richard and Judy (Channel
4), The Edge (BBC) , Redknapps Weekend Warmup (Pilot/Sky). As an
Assistant Costume Designer Deborah was a crucial part of a costume
team to receive an RTS (Royal Television Society) award for Strictly
Dance Fever. Deborah was second designer for shows including Cirque
De Celebrite (Sky) Gladiators (Sky), Royal Variety (BBC/ITV), Any
Dream Will Do (BBC), How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria (BBC) and
Strictly Dance Fever (BBC) to select a few. In her fashion print
days Deborah assisted Fashion Editors with shoots starring Actress
Sigorney Weaver, Actress Meg Ryan and Actor Aaron Eckhart all
photographed by the extraordinary Patrick Demarchelier as a small
example.
Having the privilege of working on a variety of different programmes
for all the UK networks as a Costume Designer every day is varied,
depending on the brief-working in many different areas from TV and
film to commercials/print and theatre. Thriving in the Entertainment
side of the industry and enjoying the challenge of speed and
creativity.
A costume designer tells a visual story and it has to be immediately
recognisable when creating a character. Open communication with the
producer, director and artist is needed. One must interpret the
look, which can sometimes combine different genres and bring it to
life. Deborah relies heavily on her experience and instinct. “You
have to take the viewer on a believable journey.”
The industry is ever changing and evolving and you move with the
change to stay current and relevant. Always taking inspiration from
anything around her. Deborah attends Fashion season both S/S and A/W
and has done for 25 years. “It always excites me to create a
look or vision for TV or print. Each day is different, meeting new
people and working with other creatives, each department plays an
important part in creating the look.”
“Sharing my creations and visuals with the masses is a distinct
honour. This is an industry that gives people an ideal and dream,
something we aspire too, as well as a way to share that vision and
prove that anyone can dress in something similar to their
favourite celebrity, model, singer. We tell a visual story that
brings magic to the screen or page of the magazine.”
“It is a privilege to work in a creative field that gives us the
opportunity to express ourselves. As a Costume Designer/Stylist we
show the world our thoughts and processes through glossy pages and
both the small and the big screens. Working with teams of
brilliant photographers, directors, makeup teams, actors, models,
set designers etc. We all come together to invent and evolve
beauty.”
“It is my proud responsibility to put something visually
identifiable on screen in front of millions of viewers. Often, we
make history with iconic characters or bring to life a forgotten
period of time. We, in this area of the industry, make a strong
statement with our art. It is a very important medium to visually
represent an ideal for viewers/readers/consumers. This is my
extraordinary life as a Costume Designer.”
Check out Deborah's profile on IMDb