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

[anotheranon]

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.

Comments

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

See if you can find a copy of the Prince Charming Live show on video. I bet that would have a better view of the jacket -- I also seem to remember that that jacket (or was it another one?) was actually one worn by David Hemmings in a film from the 60s. I'll ask a few friends who were Ant People at the time -- if I find out anything, I'll let you know.

I always liked his "Stand and Deliver" look myself. I loved Adam at the time -- it's a shame he's such a pathetic nutbar these days.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I've thought of that - it's currently out of print so I may have to try and find it by other means! Do you happen to know the name of the David Hemmings film? It might be more "findable" and if it's the same jacket/same type of jacket it could be a help.

Re: Adam's nuttiness - in reading through adam-ant.net it seems he's been nutty throughout most of his career, it was just more under control way back when. Poor old thing....

And I rather agree - Adam was far better with his Ants than without!

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

I just looked it up -- it was Charge of the Light Brigade from 1968 and it's readily available from Amazon on DVD and really cheap too if you use one of the market place people! ($7.71!!)

Yes, I am the Research Queen. :)

I believe the jacket was an actual costume from the movie, not just a replica so it would be IDENTICAL.

I didn't realise he was so bizarre so early on. It seemed like it was really apparent in the last 10 yrs or so but I wrote that off as just what happens to someone when they're a huge success and then their career (sadly) dwindles down into nothing.

I know he was a jerk even when he was a big deal - a friend of mine had problems with him when she and her friend went to see a few shows and he got angry at her for not wanting to sleep with him back in the mid-80s. :-p

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I believe the jacket was an actual costume from the movie, not just a replica so it would be IDENTICAL.

Interesting. Wonder how he (or more likely, Malcolm McLaren/Vivienne Westwood) scored that?

I didn't realise he was so bizarre so early on. It seemed like it was really apparent in the last 10 yrs or so but I wrote that off as just what happens to someone when they're a huge success and then their career (sadly) dwindles down into nothing.

Could be - I imagine it must suck to be at the foot of the pedestal you once stood on! Re: mid-80's jerkiness - that sounds horribly tacky, but I cynically think that most pop stars at the height of their "poppiness" probably have similarly inflated opinions of their bedroom prowess :P

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

On review - if you do find any documentation that David Hemmings jacket = Adam Ant's jacket, please do send it on. I'm going to make my own inquiries of Ant people but I don't know many, and this is an interesting factoid if I can corroborate it (not that I doubt you, I just like multiple sources).

I am suddenly very nervous that I'm concerned about documenting this thing - it's not like I can enter it in competition!

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

I did a google search and came up with this site:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/norb.stachowski/AA.htm

and I know it was mentioned all the time back in the 80s. I'll see if I can find any more articles about it but it was common knowledge so it shouldn't be that difficult to corroborate.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Yep indeed, there it is - taken from a magazine article, etc. Thank you!

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. :)