Costume quandaries (aka I suck at decisions)

[castalia]

I am making good progress on a steampunk costume for Dragon*Con, though I may or may not be able to incorporate the ray gun I made earlier this year. The more I think about it, the more I want to go with a sort of Victorian naturalist character, as I could play with specimen cases and jars and all sorts of little accessories to dangle on my person.

I am currently busy on an Eton Jacket, which I plan to wear over a blouse and a boned corselet I've already completed, made out of a faux tooled leather jacquard. These will be worn with the short version of this split skirt, without all that fringe of course. And boots.

Where I fall down idea-wise is the hat. I'd like to have a hat, b/c I like hats and they make outfits seem more finished somehow. The options I'm considering are 1) Make a hat, and 2) Buy a cowboy hat and call it a day.

For option 1, I've found a cool site that offers Victorian hat patterns and kits, complete with everything one needs to make a buckram frame and the instructions to cover it with the fabric of one's choosing. You can see finished hats at this site - lots of variety and it's easy to change the style just by bending the brim. At around $35, this isn't a terribly expensive option, and I'd get the satisfaction of having a finished product I made myself. I'm considering the Audrey or the Julie, but I can't make up my mind.

As for option 2, it'd actually be a bit cheaper and obviously less work. Sierra Trading Post has a bunch of cowboy hats on sale for $20-$25 each, which isn't bad. I could get a crushable one which would pack well, this more curvy model, a pinch-front Stetson, or for a little more a Kakadu Langston slicker hat or cowhide hat. STP is forever having sales and free shipping options, so it would be pretty affordable and all I'd have to do is maybe adjust the bands or stick a feather in there, etc.

To the costumers on my flist, what say you? I'm not really going for the high society look or anything very froofy, so if I make a hat it'll likely be something that would look a little more outdoorsy and rugged anyway.

Have a poll:

[Poll #1436360]

Comments

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

What kind of hat? I do have a small head - I wear an extra small hat, usually. About 21 inches in diameter.

Yeah, I've had newsboy caps before, but it's the visor I'd love a pic of. When I think visor I think what the clerks at race tracks wear.

[keleos.livejournal.com]

Hat:




It's a chola hat from Bolivia. I paid $27 for it and waited FOREVER for it to arrive, only to get it and realize that either the numbers they gave were misrepresented, or I measured wrong. I think it was probably the latter. The inside of the hat measures about 20.5 inches.

[deborak]

I'm being random, but this is just too funny! Maybe you could order one of these to go under your hat.

[keleos.livejournal.com]

That is... unsettling in a whole new way.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's lovely. Very small, though, so I'm wondering if even I could wear it. Might be half an inch too small for me. If you don't find anyone who can wear it, I'm sure someone over at steamfashion would snap it up.

[keleos.livejournal.com]

How about I bring it to D*C with me and you can try it on. If it fits, you can borrow it for the con. After that, I'll plop it over in that comm... though some days I'm not so sure about the "fashion" aspect over there.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

I'd love to try it on, just to see.

though some days I'm not so sure about the "fashion" aspect over there.

*snort* I couldn't agree more.

[keleos.livejournal.com]

And as much as I like to peruse etsy, sometimes the pimping gets a little heavy-handed.

I'll bring the hat with me, e-mail me to make sure I still have your cell number and you have mine, and I'll text you when we get our room.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Oh man, yes. Every other post is a "come buy my crap!" ad.

Will do!