Measure Twice, Cut Once

Measure Twice, Cut Once

Written by Chris Walls, Director’s Assistant, LLC

There’s a growing trend in our industry encouraging groups to sell their used costumes; and while we support the spirit of that idea, we also recognize that it’s not always as simple as it sounds on paper.

On one hand, it’s resourceful — one group makes back a little money, another saves a little. But anyone who’s ever been measured for a uniform knows: fit is personal. Those garments were built for specific students, with specific measurements, and specific pride. And when those elements don’t line up, everyone pays the price — sometimes literally.

Those 19 costumes were made for 19 exact people. Nineteen students who stood a little taller the day their uniforms arrived. Nineteen bodies, nineteen stories. Expecting another group’s students to step into those measurements and feel the same pride, the same ownership, is like asking a soloist to play from someone else’s sheet music — the notes might fit, but the expression won’t.

When a student puts on a uniform designed specifically for them, something changes. They stop worrying about how they look and start focusing on how they sound, move, and perform. A well-fitted uniform says, You belong here. You matter enough for this to fit you perfectly.

Dr. Gary Garner, one of my greatest teachers, used to remind his students that “clarity and balance are everything.” He was talking about sound — but the same principle applies here. A balanced ensemble isn’t just musical; it’s visual, emotional, and human. When every student looks like they belong, they play like they belong.

This is especially important for our plus-size performers, who already face a world that often makes them feel like they take up too much space. Imagine being told you’ll be wearing an “alternate” costume — different from your peers — just to make a budget work. That’s not a savings; that’s a loss. Confidence isn’t something you can alter later.

And here’s the part that’s often overlooked: by the time a second group buys those used uniforms, pays for the necessary alterations, and adjusts for mismatched fits, they’ve likely spent more than they would have on new, properly tailored garments. What started as a shortcut ends up being the long way around.

The great marching programs — the ones people remember — understand that uniforms are not costumes. They are statements of unity, crafted individuality, and pride. They represent the hours of work, the sweat, and the collective belief that every person on that field matters.

At Director’s Assistant, we design and deliver garments that fit your students — every size, every shape, every story. Every order begins with the person who will wear it, not with someone else’s leftover measurements. Because in the end, you can’t fake confidence, and you can’t substitute belonging.

Measure twice. Cut once.
Because when you take the time to do it right, everyone looks, feels, and performs their best.

About the Author

Chris Walls is the founder of Director’s Assistant, LLC, a Texas-based company serving hundreds of fine arts programs across the country. A former band director, conductor, and designer, Chris believes that excellence begins with the details — in music, in leadership, and in the way students feel when they take the field. Director’s Assistant was built on that belief: that every student deserves a uniform that fits their body, their story, and their confidence.