Glazey, Mary
Costumes work of one woman
The Press 20 August 1973
Although her job is an important one, television viewers are not likely to recognise the name of Mary Glazey—she is television wardrobe mistress for the N.Z.8.C., and makes all costumes for its plays, dramas, historical productions, and dramatised documentaries.
The N.Z.B.C. wants to build up its costume wardrobe so that there will be no need to hire costumes in the future, which means that Mrs Glazey finds herself very busy when production begins on a play or historical programme.
She spent 12 days on the four costumes used in “The Anniversary” a Chekhov play, which will be screened this evening. Five days went in cutting patterns and fabrics, and sewing up took a week. Being a period play, it presented some difficulties. Not only did the costumes include stays and corsets for the two women as well as boning in the dresses themselves, but hairstyles had to be designed to suit the costumes.
Mrs Glazey worked to a budget of $7OO to “dress” the production. All the costumes are carefully fitted, but are made with large unobtrusive seams for possible reuse in future productions. The first step in “dressing” a production is presenting rough sketches of costumes to the producer and set designer, who make the final decision about what is to be worn. Fabric is then bought for the costumes.
Texture is very important when fabrics are chosen, says Mrs Glazey, because it must stand out against the set background for black-and-white transmission. The cast is then measured and fitted, outfits being kept as simple as possible to make sewing them easier. Patterns are drafted and then cut out. Then comes the usual procedure of fitting, making up, and finishing.
Mrs Glazey became interested in dressmaking at Wellington Girls’ College, and spent two years apprenticed to a dressmaker and one year cutting and designing. She joined the N.Z.B.C. as wardrobe mistress in 1971, after making costumes for an amateur repertory theatre, which gave her a practical grounding in the work.
Mrs Glazey’s mother, Mrs A. M. Cornwell, also works in the N.Z.B.C. wardrobe section.
