The Society's members include students, fashion designers, teachers, lecturers stage and screen designers, re-enactors and museum staff. It is a friendly, lively and enthusiastic society and will offer you opportunities to meet fellow enthusiasts, exchange views and play your part.
The membership year runs from January to December and the twice yearly members' magazine 'The Thread' (spring and autumn) keeps members in touch with events past, present and future, exhibitions, courses and study day events. Members will also receive ‘Costume’, the Society’s illustrated, peer-reviewed journal twice a year. ‘Costume’ presents research on all aspects of dress from all over the world, from prehistory to the present day.
As a member of the Society you will have access to conferences, events, information, publications and study awards.
There is an annual programme of study days, visits and meetings across a wide range of topics and periods. These include visits to collections, exhibitions and archives within the UK, all of which allow access to curators, designers and academics.
Please note that 'institutional membership' does not entitle you to the full Costume Society membership. EUP, the publishers of Costume journal manage these subscriptions, which give access to print and online copies of Costume. But this does not mean that you are a member of the Society, so you cannot attend our member-only events or receive copies of The Thread.
From 01 January 2025 the Society is delighted to introduce a new category of membership, to replace our Student/Under 26 Membership option - Career Starter Membership. This Membership is open to those pursuing a recognised course of study and/or those who are between the ages of 16 and 29; it gives the same entitlements of Individual Membership. If you choose this option for membership, please contact the Membership Scretary to confirm your date of birth and/or the course you are studying and academic establishment.
UK Membership is £36.00 (UK Career Starter Membership £21.00); Overseas Membership is £40.00 (Overseas Career Starter Membership: £25.00).
You can join as an individual or enrol someone as a gift. To enrol as an organisation or institution, please contact the Journal publishers (links on the Journal page) who handle institutional memberships.
We also offer six month membership (January-June or July-December) at £18.00 for UK Members (£10.50 for UK Career Starter Membership) and £20.00 for Overseas Members (£12.50 for Overseas Career Starter Membership).
New Members registering and making payment on, or after, 01 November will have their membership applied to the following calendar year.
Overseas Members - please be aware that your copy of the Journal maybe subject to local customs handling/duty charges on arrival which you will be liable to pay in order for your copy to be released for delivery.
For questions or comments, please email the Membership Secretary
Complete the registration form to join the Society.
