20-Year Prospect
Movies, television shows, Broadway musicals—there are hundreds of productions out there in need of someone who can pull together an outfit or twenty. And, since neither Hollywood nor the Great White Way are going anywhere anytime soon, we think it's safe to say costume designers will still be employed twenty years from now.
After all, think of how some of the most popular television shows of the last few years have relied on costuming as part of their cachet. Mad Men, while known for its incredible acting and depression-inducing plot, is also famous for the meticulous work of costume designer Janie Bryant. Not only can Janie whip up a period-accurate outfit that represents a specific character in a mere three to five days, but she can make that outfit for $35.
Downton Abbey is also known for the clothes worn by its characters...although many of those clothes have been worn before, by actresses in other period productions. If the plotlines involving Two-Faced Bates ever set your teeth on edge, you can always find your Zen again by playing a rousing game of "Who Wore Lady Mary's Dress First?"
Although they'll be handing out the Oscar for Best Costume Design well into the future—and, hey, you might even win a naked gold guy of your very own for your mantel—these jobs will be few and ultra-competitive. Best keep your enemies close and your shears closer.