Corduroy Dreams
Biola University - 18-Minute Short Film
Role: Costume Designer
Additional Recognition: Nominated for Achievement in Costume Design – Biola Film Festival
Project Overview
Corduroy Dreams is an 18-minute comedy about Adam, a college student obsessed with vintage fashion—particularly corduroy pants. After searching thrift stores across town for the perfect pair, Adam becomes convinced that finding the right outfit will help him finally impress the girl he likes. What begins as a simple quest for clothing quickly spirals into an absurd night of misadventures, culminating in a chaotic party and an over-the-top fashion showdown.
The film blends surreal humor, romantic fantasy, and retro aesthetics, using fashion as both the subject of the comedy and the emotional driver of the story.
As Costume Designer, I developed the wardrobe style for the film, drawing heavily from 1970s–1980s vintage fashion. Clothing plays a central narrative role in the film, so the costumes were designed to highlight personality, confidence, and the characters’ relationship to style.
Design Goals and Concept
The costume design for Corduroy Dreams was built around the idea that fashion reflects identity and aspiration. Each character’s wardrobe visually communicates their confidence, personality, and place within Adam’s world.
Adam begins the film wearing outfits that feel slightly mismatched and incomplete—suggesting someone who admires vintage fashion but hasn’t fully mastered it yet. His wardrobe combines thrifted pieces with awkward styling choices that emphasize his insecurity and desire to fit into a specific aesthetic.
Other characters represent different levels of fashion confidence. Some appear effortlessly stylish in curated vintage outfits, while others exaggerate the retro aesthetic through bold silhouettes, textures, and accessories. These contrasts help heighten the film’s comedic tone and reinforce Adam’s internal struggle with self-image.
Corduroy itself became the central visual motif of the costume design. Texture, fabric weight, and silhouette were used intentionally to make the material visually distinct and memorable on screen.
Key costume ideas included:
Incorporating 1970s–1980s inspired silhouettes and textures throughout the wardrobe
Using corduroy as a recurring visual motif tied to Adam’s personal goal
Designing outfits that exaggerate character personality for comedic effect
Creating a cohesive vintage aesthetic for the party environment and supporting characters
The wardrobe evolves alongside Adam’s emotional arc, culminating in a moment where his confidence finally matches the aesthetic he has been chasing.
Responsibilities as Costume Designer
As Costume Designer, I was responsible for sourcing, styling, and coordinating wardrobe for the film’s cast while maintaining a consistent retro aesthetic.
My responsibilities included:
Developing the overall costume concept inspired by vintage fashion culture
Sourcing wardrobe pieces from thrift stores and vintage collections
Styling the main character’s outfits to reflect his evolving relationship with fashion
Selecting and styling the signature corduroy look that becomes central to the story
Coordinating wardrobe for party scenes to create a cohesive retro aesthetic among background characters
Maintaining costume continuity across scenes and locations
Working with the director and production designer to ensure costumes complemented the visual world of the film
Because clothing is central to the film’s humor and character development, careful attention was paid to fabric choices, color palettes, and silhouettes.
Final Result
The final wardrobe design helped establish a playful, visually distinctive world rooted in vintage fashion culture. Corduroy, texture, and retro styling became recurring visual motifs that supported both the comedic tone and the emotional arc of the story.
Through carefully curated costumes, the film’s characters each embody a different relationship with style—from insecurity and aspiration to effortless confidence.
The costume design for Corduroy Dreams was nominated for Achievement in Costume Design at the Biola Film Festival, recognizing the role wardrobe played in shaping the film’s visual identity and storytelling.
Below are costume boards, thrifted wardrobe pulls, texture references, production stills, and behind-the-scenes photos documenting the costume design process.
