Clothing / Prop Donations

At this time, we are not accepting donations. Thank you.

CST welcomes donations of prop and wardrobe/costume pieces, please contact us at cstheatre@gmail.com with any pieces you would like to donate. See below for some guidelines on wardrobe donations.


In order to keep the costume collection at a manageable size in our warehouse, we are asking for donations of items that would be most frequently useful and more difficult to come across when needed.  Modern clothing is readily available in actors’ closets so we don’t need to keep these things in stock.  If you are unsure if an item(s) is useful or is not listed or would like to schedule a time to drop off a donation, feel free to email us at cstheatre@gmail.com.  If an item has sentimental value so that this would be upsetting, the CST collection is not a good place for it.

Highly useful:
–  FABRIC!  Best if at least 4 yards but as small as 1 or 2 yards is good.  That includes sheet sets that are in good condition.
–  Notions and trims: lace, ribbon, buttons, snaps, zippers, velcro…
–  Crinolines/hoop skirts/slips
–  Mens two and three piece suits
–  Womens skirt suits in large sizes (to be made over into frock coats)
–  Ladies dressy clothing in sizes over 12
–  Distinctive uniforms – cheerleader/nurse/maid etc  We are good on military and choir.
–  Girl size dresses with these distinctions –  Victorian inspired – Cotton/muslin/wool   floral/plaid/striped/plain print and a full skirt  Also sailor and drop waist styles in classic cuts and cloth.
–  Boy size dressy clothes
–  Granny style boots
–  Dance shoes – tap, character, jazz and ballet of all colors and sizes
–  Children’s dress shoes – oxfords, Mary Janes and other classic styles
–  Gloves, wigs, hairpieces, hats – Those frilly pretty things

Let us take a look at:
–  Prom & Wedding dresses
–  Vintage clothing*
–  Coats
–  Cocktail dresses
–  Recital and Halloween costumes

We suggest that you donate to Goodwill/Salvation Army or charity of your choice any items that CST cannot use such as:
–  Everyday clothes from the 80’s to present
–  Ladies pumps
–  Adult black oxfords
–  Sport coats and dress slacks unless they are extra large or long in size
–  Children’s play clothes

* Warehouse and stage life is hard on costumes and even harder on vintage clothing.  Being able to look at an original piece can be invaluable to a costumer to understand how clothes were made, but putting the pieces on the stage is nerve wracking knowing that valuable pieces are likely to be damaged.  If you’d like to make a vintage piece available to the costumers, you might consider giving or loaning it directly to that costumer personally to be studied.  Another option would be to auction/sell the item and donate the proceeds to the wardrobe fund.