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Costume change chart

Character × scene grid with scene number and story day on top and costume number and state in each cell, plus a costume list with source, doubles and return date.

A costume change chart shows what each character wears in every scene. Rows are characters and columns are scenes, with two header rows for scene number and story day (D1, N2, flashback). Each cell holds a costume number and a short state note, with a legend for changed, undecided and not-in-scene cells. A costume list below records number, character, items, source (purchase, make, rent, owned), doubles, ageing, rental house, return date, photo and notes.

English Excel — Costume change chart (English)Print · PDF — Costume change chart (English)
한국어 Excel — Costume change chart (한국어)Print · PDF — Costume change chart (한국어)

The Excel file includes Example and Guide sheets next to the blank form. How to fill it in

What's inside

What's inside

  • Production
  • Script version / date
  • Prepared by / costume designer

Character × scene (costume no. / state)

  • Character
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12

Costume list

  • Costume no.
  • Character
  • Items (top / bottom / shoes / accessories)
  • Source
  • Doubles
  • Ageing
  • Rental house
  • Return date
  • Photo
  • Notes

How to fill it in

What it is for

A costume change chart is a grid showing which costume each character wears in which scene. The costume designer builds it from the breakdown and uses the costume list below to track sourcing, doubles and rental returns. Makeup, the AD team and the script supervisor check wardrobe continuity against it.

When to use it

Build it after the breakdown and before fittings, and update it after fittings, script revisions and schedule changes. During the shoot, check the day’s scene columns each morning to prep costumes.

Field by field

  • Prepared by / costume designer

    What
    Who made the chart and who runs wardrobe
    How
    Once if it is the same person; add the on-set costumer if different.
    Example
    Soi Choi, costume designer

  • Character

    What
    The character wearing the costume
    How
    In the grid, one row per character; in the costume list, the character who wears that costume. Character names, not actors.
    Example
    Sua

  • 1

    What
    Scene columns (1–12): costume number and state in that scene
    How
    First fill the two header rows with scene numbers and story days, in story-day order. In each cell write the costume number and a short state (sleeves rolled, wet); ○ if it changed from the previous scene, ? if undecided, / if the character is not in it.
    Example
    1-3 ○ wet

  • Costume no.

    What
    Unique number for one costume
    How
    Character number – costume order (if Sua is character 1: 1-1, 1-2). Use the same numbers on the grid, breakdown and continuity log.
    Example
    1-2

  • Items (top / bottom / shoes / accessories)

    What
    The garments and accessories in that costume
    How
    Top, bottom, shoes, accessories in that order. Do not leave out accessories that affect continuity (glasses, watch).
    Example
    Black shirt · cafe apron · jeans · white sneakers

  • Source

    What
    How the costume is obtained
    How
    One of purchase, make, rent or owned. For actor-owned pieces, agree whether wardrobe holds them until wrap.
    Example
    Make

  • Doubles

    What
    How many extra copies you need
    How
    Allow for takes on costumes that get wet, torn or worn by a double. “—” if none.
    Example
    3

  • Ageing

    What
    How worn it is made to look
    How
    In steps such as none / light / heavy, and age the doubles to match.
    Example
    Light

  • Rental house

    What
    Where a rented costume came from
    How
    Only when the source is rent. Keep contact details separately.
    Example
    ○○ Costume House

  • Return date

    What
    When a rented costume goes back
    How
    The contract date — check it falls after the costume’s last shooting day.
    Example
    2026-12-20

  • Photo

    What
    Whether fitting / arrival photos were taken
    How
    Fill ■ when done. Always photograph rented costumes on arrival.
    Example
    ■

  • Notes

    What
    Scenes and cautions
    How
    Short: scenes the costume appears in, order of doubles, washing or storage cautions.
    Example
    Scene 12 wet — use doubles in order

Tips

  • Order scenes by story day, not script order, and the places where costumes must change jump out.
  • If a number changes within the same story day, confirm with the ADs that it is intended.
  • For wet or dirty scenes, look at shooting order too and decide whether clean doubles go first.
  • Save fitting photos under the costume number so you can match them on a phone on set.
  • Put each rental’s return date next to its last scheduled appearance so you see early whether you need an extension.

Common mistakes

  • Keeping the same costume across a story-day change, so the character wears the same clothes for days.
  • Leaving the scene-number header empty and working from column numbers, then prepping the wrong scene.
  • Only one double for a wet scene, so there is nothing dry from the second take.
  • Returning actor-owned pieces mid-shoot, so the costume is missing on the next shooting day.

Filled-in example

Filled in for the fictional drama “The Temperature Between Us”. All people, companies and numbers are made up; the Excel file has the same example on its Example sheet.

Costume Change Chart

ProductionThe Temperature Between Us
Script version / dateDraft 3 · 2026-10-20
Prepared by / costume designerSoi Choi, costume designer

Character × scene (costume no. / state)

Character123456789101112
Scene no.1237121418
Story dayD1D1D1D3N3D5N5
Sua1-11-2 ○1-2 sleeves rolled1-21-3 ○ wet1-2 ○1-2
Jaehoon/2-1/2-1/2-2 ○/
Minjun///3-13-1 wet//
Jieun/////4-14-1

Costume list

Costume no.CharacterItems (top / bottom / shoes / accessories)SourceDoublesAgeingRental houseReturn datePhotoNotes
1-1SuaWhite blouse · navy slacks · black flatsPurchase—None■Scene 1 (D1) commute
1-2SuaBlack shirt · cafe apron · jeans · white sneakersMake2Light■Cafe uniform · scenes 2, 3, 7, 14, 18
1-3SuaBeige trench coat + 1-2Purchase3None■Scene 12 (N3) wet — use doubles in order
2-1JaehoonLinen shirt · apron · chinos · brown shoesPurchase—Light■Scenes 2, 7
2-2JaehoonDenim shirt · apron · chinos · watchOwned—None■Scene 14 · wardrobe holds until wrap
3-1MinjunGrey knit · navy coat · slacks · glassesRent2None○○ Costume House2026-12-20■Scenes 7, 12 · wet in 12
4-1JieunGreen cardigan · floral dress · flat shoesRent—None○○ Costume House2026-12-20Scenes 14, 18 · fitting 2026-11-10
Open the example full size · print

FAQ

Should scenes be in script order or story-day order?

Story-day order makes costume changes easy to spot, since scenes on the same story day usually share a costume. PDNote’s costume & makeup sheet draws the same matrix from scene data and can sort by story day.

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