published in VoyageLA
Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Kear.
Hi Lindsey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a costume designer and business owner of the newly launched “The Costume Consultant”. After graduating from Ithaca College, I was placed through a temp agency at Ralph Lauren in their Women’s Collection fabric department. While prepping for fashion week, Ralph brought in a stylist to put the looks together. I immediately wanted to know how to get that job. I followed that inspiration by completing FIT’s styling program as well as interning/assisting stylists in NYC.
I chased my next dream of wanting to move to Los Angeles. I networked like crazy, online, through family members and anyone who would talk to me. It took one meeting over coffee for me to make the initial connection I needed to break my way into the costume industry for TV/Film. I hustled for the next ten years, saying yes to every job possible. I’ve worked in almost every role within the costume department and in every medium including TV, film, music videos, photo shoots, and personal styling. Lady Gaga even put me in her Million Reasons Why video while working with her on that shoot. As of late, I’ve been mostly working on location. I’ve worked on projects in Canada, Hawaii, Australia, Hong Kong and most recently in Atlanta, on Marvel’s She-Hulk as the Associate Costume Designer.
Now a total of 15 years later, I’m following another aspiration of mine, helping other people break into or navigate within the costume industry. I’ve always returned the favor of meeting people for coffee and helping educate them about the costume industry just as I was given that gift. I most recently worked with a life coach Lee Dashti (www.leemariedashti.com) and put together this wonderful business called The Costume Consultant. As The Costume Consultant, I now can reach multiple people worldwide, whether they want to learn about how to break into costumes or if they are currently working within the industry but need help with negotiating, changing job roles, networking, working on location.
Our services include a virtual comprehensive consultation to help identify opportunities/ areas you need support in. Whether you’ve been in the industry for a while or looking to get your foot in the door, our services can apply any step of the way.
The best way we can get started is if you schedule a 10 min free Discovery Call. We can discuss how we can work together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a straight line. I’ve always had the fear of getting stuck so I’ve jumped around a lot. However, this has enhanced my career because my network of people has become so vast. Sometimes people work specifically in film or only in TV. I’ve done it all. I also love filling in the gaps in between shows with commercials as well. Creating a large network in a business like this means everything.
As far as creating The Costume Consultant, this has been years in the making. I just wasn’t aware of it. The past few years, I’ve had this great desire to help people. I wasn’t sure of what that looked like or how I could fulfill it. I never had the time to volunteer due to my crazy work schedule. Luckily, I’ve been able to take the past few months off, really clear my head and focus on what that actually could mean. After a consistent daily meditation practice, I literally heard someone speak to me “The Costume Consultant”. It all seemed to fall into place after that. I have been super focused on what that could be and how to make it come to life. I’ve also relied on my costume community to help spread the word which has been so amazing and uplifting. The feedback has been incredibly positive. I’m fulfilling a need this industry has desperately needed for a long time….information, support and providing resources to our costume community. Since I’m actively working within the costume industry, I am up to date with many issues that people need help with.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Even though my specialty has been in costume design, I have been really known for my network within the costume industry as well as mentoring. When there are job positions to be filled on shows, people call me for recommendations. In tandem to this, costumers also let me know their availability in case any job positions come available. I’m able to connect them and get the position filled asap. This business is definitely a referral business.
In regards to mentoring, many of us lean on each other for advice. The questions vary from negotiating deals, internal department conflict, whether or not to take a certain job or even just simply needing a confidence boost. Other questions also include where to find housing while working on location. If I’ve worked in that same location before, I can give advice on neighborhoods or even favorite restaurants and hiking spots. I love talking it out with them and being able to provide the support they’re looking for. I, too, have relied on my mentors for the same advice. Askia Jacob, who is Samuel L. Jackson’s personal costumer, has been a long time mentor/ support system for my career.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Zoom has been such a big part of all of our lives since Covid. I’ve been in so many zoom work / design meetings as well as interviews. While it takes away from the personal / human aspect of it all, it has created freedom in regards to location.
Creating my business during this time where virtual meetings are the norm, I am able to meet with people all over the world. I’ve already met with clients in Shanghai, Salt Lake City, Detroit, Chicago, etc. It really has expanded the opportunities.
I also have learned to go after what my true calling is. Working as The Costume Consultant has brought me a great joy that I’ve been missing in my career. This is what actually feeds my soul.
