dresser; costume assistant
Refers to a person responsible for costumes in traditional Japanese theater, especially kabuki. Not a general term for a fashion stylist or personal dresser.
In kabuki, the dresser is in charge of dressing the actors and managing the costumes.
Compound of 衣装 (costume) and 方 (person in charge). The reading かた for 方 is a common suffix indicating a role or specialty.