About

Hi I’m Robert Billman, founder and chief reviewer here at kostumed.com. If you’ve found your way here, welcome I’m glad you’re reading. Over the years I’ve learned that honest, grounded, user-focused reviews are what most people want when buying online, and since 2025 I’ve made this site my home for sharing exactly that.

My Background

Before this blog, I spent a decade immersed in the world of event-costume design and rental. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (with a focus on textiles and costume design) from a mid-sized university, I worked at a small theatrical rental house outside Chicago, overseeing everything from sourcing fabrics to coordinating fittings for community theater and college productions. That chapter taught me to spot quality, durability, and value not just flash.

Robert Billman
Robert Billman

In around 2018 I transitioned into freelance work, helping event planners, small film crews, and themed-experiences clients find costumes and props that looked the part and held up. It was during that time, helping people navigate a lot of sub-par gear, that I developed a frustration: many online “reviews” seemed polished but lacked real-world testing. I decided I wanted something more authentic.

Why This Blog

In early 2025 I launched kostumed.com as a space where I could apply what I learned about materials, fit, wear-and-tear, and usability and focus not on costumes any more, but on a broader array of products: gear, gadgets, home and lifestyle finds. My commitment: every review is based on real-world testing (not just specs), every recommendation is practical (“how will this perform in everyday life?”), and every opinion is honest (yes, sometimes a product falls short).

I live now in a quiet lakeside town in the Midwest, where I have the flexibility to work from home, meet with local makers, try products in real-life conditions (outdoors, indoors, everyday use) and then share my discoveries with you. Whether it’s a kitchen gadget that looks nice but fails under real cooking stress, or an accessory that survives a long road-trip test, my goal is simple: help you buy smarter.

What You’ll Find Here

On this site you’ll see full-length product reviews, comparison articles (where I put two or more items head-to-head), buying-guides that draw on my years of experience with costumes/gear and now with consumer products, and occasional behind-the-scenes stories: how I tested something, what surprised me, what disappointed me. If you stick around, you’ll notice I don’t just say “this is good” I’ll show you why I think it’s good (or not).

My Promise

I promise you’ll get transparency: I clearly disclose when I’ve received a product for testing, and I always tell it like I see it. My aim isn’t to push every product that lands on my desk, but to highlight the ones that genuinely deserve the space. My hope is that when you click through from a review to make a purchase, you’ll feel informed not pressured.

Thanks for stopping by kostumed.com. I hope you find reviews here that save you time, money, and maybe a little frustration. Drop me a line any time if you have questions, suggestions, or something you’d like me to test. Welcome to the journey.

Author Profile

Robert Billman
Robert Billman
Robert Billman is the founder and reviewer behind kostumed.com, where his creative eye meets a love for practicality. With a background in costume design and years spent in theater production, Robert developed an instinct for judging materials, craftsmanship, and real-world performance. That same attention to detail now shapes his product reviews, where he focuses on authenticity, durability, and genuine usability.

Since launching the site in 2025, Robert has turned kostumed.com into a trusted space for readers who want real insights before they buy. Living in a quiet Midwestern town, he balances his artistic roots with hands-on testing, offering honest recommendations drawn from everyday experience. For Robert, each review is not just about what looks good it’s about what truly works.
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