watch out, she's at it again...

Crossposted to dressdiaries

Yes, only one week back from Costume Con and I'm already plotting the next Big Project!

This time it's one I've been toying with for years, but never thought I had the talent to even try: stage costume/historic variation hussar's jacket (as modeled by '80's pop star Adam Ant, always a snappy dresser). I was an Ants fan like crazy as a teenager, and have lusted after the wardrobe just as long. Now that "Pirates of the Caribbean" has made the eclectically sashed, heavily eyelinered look trendy again I figure, now or never!

I found I already had a candidate pattern in my collection, so I traced this off for manipulation. It is neatly folded away in it's plastic bag, pending the next step.

Research: The Adam-Ant.net galleries showed nothing in the way of a back view, and even in the videos he doesn't stay turned around long enough to see detail. So, I've spent the past couple of evenings Googling for "hussar jacket", "hussar pelisse" and similar. Results: I think I've narrowed down the braiding pattern I'm looking for as belonging to an 11th hussar dolman from 1854 (scroll down to "dress and frock tunics").

Next step: going to check the local community college library over the weekend for books on military uniforms and see if I can get more detail. Who knows, there are so many variations on the braid color and arrangement, I might end up making something rather new. Or not.

I am quite determined to take my time on this - I'm not on a deadline and it will be awhile before I can get materials even if I came up with a fully-realized pattern tomorrow.

and in other news....

Still having the searing headaches - not hellish, but certainly enough to make me miserable. No, it's not the lack of caffiene - I've been drinking coffee as usual, etc. Sure is annoying though!

The weather is rainy and miserable, and I have a full day at the courthouse tomorrow - joy :P Must find some inoffensive reading to take with me, as books on sensual s/m and old issues of Fate from my grandmother might attract rather more attention than I'd like (not like I worry too much about the other juror's opinions of me, I just don't like answering questions). Aha! Perhaps I'll finish this!

Might go to a movie tomorrow. Which one will largely depend on what I have to hear in jury - if evidence is really depressing it'll be "The Whole Ten Yards", if I can take something "heavier" maybe "Hellboy" or, alas, "Secret Window" (in only one theater near me - yet another case of "if you blink, you miss it").

Tired now. Going to go help D. shave his head and then go to bed.