Costuming

[rowyn]

I want this jacket. Except for myself and not just my avatar in Puzzle Pirates.

It's not that esoteric a style; a knee-length coat with back vent and lapels. Yet my search skillz must be weak, because I cannot find it.

Coats of this sort are pretty common in pirate costumes -- for men. I'd be tempted to order one for a man, except that (a) I want it fitted through the waist and a man's would be too loose and (b) I am unimpressed by the quality of clothing sold as "costume", since often it's not suitable even for costume wear. I was in a Halloween shop and looked at a bagged jacket selling for $55 that proved to be made of some ultra-thin, flimsy polyester. It looked right in the picture but the actual product was awful.

I've found some nice old-fashioned coats at regular clothing stores, but nothing of the particular style I want. For that matter, I own a perfectly nice old-fashioned black velvet jacket. But it's not the same.

So ... anyone have any suggestions?

Edit: I should've specified that I don't want to make it myself ; I'm willing to pay maybe as much as a hundred dollars for a good-quality coat -- but the hours it would take to make it myself would soon add up to more than that at the value of my own time. I'm assuming that the same would be equally true of anyone who does sewing, but if you happen to know (or be) someone who will custom-make clothing at that kind of insanely low price then do let me know. :)

Comments

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

Seconded! :-)

Paying someone to alter a suitable man's coat might be a lot cheaper than you think - the time it would take a professional seamstress to do it is a lot shorter than the time it would take, well, us. But then it seems like they're hard to find in either men's or women's styles.

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think I'd get it for Gwendel rather than for myself. She'd look much better in it. ;D

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

Oh! I responded to your comment, but the alteration part was meant for rowyn.

Maybe the two of you can get a matched set!

[rowyn]

This may be true, but Gwendel has lots of cool clothing and how many neat costume pieces do you have? You obviously need the coat more. :)

[rowyn]

Mmm, maybe. I think the one time I hired a professional to make alterations was ten years ago, when I paid about $30 to have a double-layered skirt hemmed. I admit I'm just as glad to have found something that works and came in a women's cut.