Quick request for all the artist types out there...

[wolfwings]

...there is one minor splurge I'm going to do for myself since it's getting to be icky weather out there. Get a coat.

But I don't like most standard coats. I prefer longer sorts.

But most trenchcoat styles lack some features I like, and many of those that have those features are only available with lots of useless junk because they were used in a movie somewhere, like buckle-front and the like.

Anyone out there care to help draw up an overcoat design for me to my specs?

Comments

[lironess.livejournal.com]

Sure....Must you have it before the 25th? I am quite busy with Halloween coming.

S'no rush at all actually. =^.^=

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

It's not for halloween, but for actual daily use since weather gets fairly potent out here in the midwest at times, and my old standby (a German army field coat) bit the dust last year, and since I have the funds I'm investing in the proverbial "hundred dollar pair of shoes to last me a lifetime, instead of buying $10 shoes every year" while I can. =^.^=

[devidarkwolf.livejournal.com]

Like a pattern customized for your size?

Well... if possible I guess that too.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

I was mostly looking to hammer out design details of the overcoat first, then shop around locally for a tailor that felt comfortable making the overcoat in question.

Re: Well... if possible I guess that too.

[devidarkwolf.livejournal.com]

I can probably draw something up for you, then. If you just let me know what kinds of details you want. :3

Re: Well... if possible I guess that too.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

Tossed the detailed idea into a reply to ruggels but you can see it too, since I haven't heard back from Ruggels yet if they're still interested after reading more details of the rough idea:

The gory details.

Re: Well... if possible I guess that too.

[devidarkwolf.livejournal.com]

ruggels seems far more qualified to draw that up than I am! I'm just an artist-type, lmao, even if I have done a lot of sewing.

Though from your description, it seems very much like you'd need it custom-done. I pictured a coat like the last one you linked, but to be honest, I'm unsure of what you mean by the leg guards. Like, you want it to be long enough to strap to your legs? For why? And do you have any references for that? I'm curious now. ^^

Re: Well... if possible I guess that too.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

Closer to the first one (the highwayman coat) for the leg area, most 'drover coats' I've seen for actual sale have a skirt-like bottom area with possibly a set of buttons to undo it and allow it to be split in half up to the waist for riding or what-not.

And yeah, it's going to be custom made, I have some tailoring friends locally that are interested in tackling it once I have the idea fully nailed down. =^.^=

And the leg-straps idea is more a 'keep my coat out of the way while still keeping me dry and not getting in the way of my legs' idea if I need to climb a ladder or something. Very much not something I'd use all the time, but an option I was thinking about trying if nothing else.

[ruggels.livejournal.com]

I've done a fair amountof costume design and my specialty is uniforms, So I could do that, I am also awayre of other fastener types. I think I can do it.

Scott

Sounds good to me.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

And I hadn't really thought of all the folks that are or have been into recreation and uniform work, a lot of the features I'd like are commonly on military outfits these days oddly. If you could quote me a price on drawing this design, or any recommendations for/against the design, I know your work and working knowledge is excellent.

Best references I can give as starting points would be:
French Highwayman's Coat
AbbyShot's Navigator
Classic Drover's Coat

I like having a cape of some kind on the coat to deal best with rain and what-not, and still think the oilskin cotton used in drover's coats is hard to beat for a coat meant just to keep the elements out with minimal maintenance. If you have other recommendations for a material, feel free to pipe up.

The Navigator's fold-up collar cut I like better than most other styles, though preferably with a buckle-front near the top edge, and one at the base of the 'folded down' level to keep the collar closed. I've had too much stuff that relies on snaps or velcro end up with the material curling in odd ways, and buttons get weak and the thread snaps eventually.

For the main coat, extra heavy duty metal zipper front, with the 'splash guard' style overflap with a minimal number of buckles. Prefer only three, top, middle, bottom, but more if you think it'd be needed or for balance. While I'm a fan of function and comfort over style, I wouldn't mind it looking nice. :-)

And the only truly odd trait of the coat that I'm unaware of being done except in rare other cases: Fully vented rear (so it's got two "tails" that go the length of each leg), with a small 'splash guard' across the backside over the upper apex of the venting, and a buckle-strap at knee and end-of-coat length set up in an orientation to let the coat tails be strapped around each leg like a set of chaps, instead of just strapping the venting and front shut in case of foul weather. Yes, it'll likely result in very 'puffy' ankles in that state, I'm aware of that.