A Brief History of The Costume Designers Guild

 A costume designer is tasked with making a film believable through the use of clothing, accessories, and style. The costume designer is what makes actors memorable, like Audrey Hepburn, or James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause. Costume designers are directly responsible for the image that most people envision when they think about iconic characters like Captain James T. Kirk or Marshal Matt Dillon. It is the Costume Designers Guild that organizes, protects the interests of, and awards deserving costume designers.

The Costume Designers Guild was founded in 1953. At that time 30 motion picture costume designers united to develop a group dedicated in promoting the best interests of Hollywood's costume designers. While the Costume Designers Guild was originally independent of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, in 1976 they created an alliance. As a partner of IATSE the Costume Designers Guild gained more notoriety and bargaining power over Hollywood powerhouses.

Even though the Costume Designers Guild has been in existence for over 50 years, it has not always had an award show dedicated to honoring costume designers. The Costume Designers Guild Award show began in 1999, and 2011 marks the annual Costume Designers Guild Awards. The Guild strives to "recognize excellence in costume design with competitive awards for commercials, television, and motion pictures" as well as induce past costume designers into the Costume Designers Guild Hall of Fame.

The first CDG award show was hosted by Angelica Huston, and few awards were distributed. Bob Mackie received the Career Achievement in Television Award, and Paul Mazursky received the Distinguished Director Award. During the 1999 awards show several people were inducted into the Costume Designer Guild Hall of Fame, including Travis Banton, Adrian, Dorothy Jeakins, IreneSharaff, and Edith Head. Many of the designers awarded had outfitted stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Bing Crosby,  Alfred Hitchcock,Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, and Joan Crawford. Several of the designers had also won various Academy Awards for their works in feature films.

In 2000 the CDG added more award categories. Awards were presented in Excellence in Contemporary Costume Design for Film, Excellence in Periods/Fantasy Costume Design for Film,

Excellence in Contemporary Costume Design for Television, and Excellence in Period/ Fantasy Costume Design for Television. That year Colleen Atwood and Patricia Field were among the award winners for their work on Hollow and Sex in the City respectively.

In 2006 the Costume Designers Guild expanded the award categories again to what it is currently in 2011. The categories included Excellence in Contemporary Film, Excellence in Period Film, Excellence in Fantasy Film, Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries, Outstanding Contemporary Television Series, Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series, and Excellence in Commercial Costume Design.