wardrobe mistress

American  

noun

1. a woman in charge of keeping theatrical costumes cleaned, pressed, and in wearable condition.

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wardrobe mistress British  

noun

1. a person responsible for maintaining and sometimes making the costumes in a theatre

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Etymology

Origin of wardrobe mistress

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

I ask her if there’s a trick, when you’re the daughter of a doctor and a wardrobe mistress, to playing a monarch as well as she does.

From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2017

“On the first night, our wardrobe mistress Rosie gave each of us these personalised towels. From that day to this, I’ve used it to lay out my stage make-up,” he said.

From The Guardian • Apr. 7, 2017

Losing him to London was Galina’s greatest sacrifice, and she fell into a long depression before beginning a new life for herself as wardrobe mistress at Kiev’s National Opera.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 29, 2016

I shave and then 00:29:05 Antonia Xereas—who is my stylist, my wardrobe mistress who I’ve known since, God, I don't know, ’95, ’93, ’94, something like—we’ve known each other forever.

From Slate • Oct. 17, 2014

With a wave of his hand and a few whispered words, the stage manager handed her off to the wardrobe mistress.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood