Florence-based fashion school Polimoda embraces theater costume design through a new short course led by celebrated Broadway choreographer and director Lorin Latarro.
Creating costumes for a musical is an art form that requires creativity, attention to detail and a deep understanding of the characters involved. Costume designers must have expertise in fabrics and garment-making techniques based on the movements required on stage, but most importantly they need to know how to use clothes to represent specific settings or psychological profiles.
That’s why Lorin Latarro has been chosen as a mentor for the new short course in Costume Design starting in July 2023. Latarro will share her wealth of expertise with students on an introductory course in costume design, with the support of Broadway professionals and teachers at the school.
“The students of Polimoda would bring so much energy to Broadway. We have a huge tradition of incredible designers, but it’s mostly the same group of people. And I think they’re always looking for young energy to help them with their sketches and fresh ideas,” comments Latarro.
The short course in Costume Design will be held at Polimoda’s workshops in Florence and run for a month, during which students will gain specific knowledge about the cultural and technical aspects of costume design and discover the secrets behind the iconic looks of famous New York musicals. They will learn the steps involved in creating an outfit for a character in a musical, from the first visual concept to the final design and prototype production.
At the end of the course, which will be run in English and costs 5,500 euro, the top student will also have the chance of an internship on Broadway with Lorin Latarro, flying to New York to put into practice what they have learned at Polimoda.