Browncoat Costuming by slayerfan1975

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Browncoat Costuming

POSTED BY: SLAYERFAN1975
UPDATED: Thursday, September 15, 2005 17:30
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Tuesday, September 6, 2005 12:34 PM

SLAYERFAN1975

I was impressed with all the costuming at Dragon*Con this weekend. Was curious for those either dressed as Zoe or Mal as to where you got the items for your costume. I know one company was selling the jackets and the vests but honestly, I don't want to pay that amount of $$$. Any info much appreciated.

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Tuesday, September 6, 2005 12:38 PM

WORKEROFEVIL

www.bitablue.com sells Chinese style clothing. I bought a silk shirt there for the opening. It's not a copy of what any of our big damn heroes wear, but I think it fits into the general style of clothing seen in the show.

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Tuesday, September 6, 2005 12:44 PM

SLAYERFAN1975

Thank you.

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 3:34 AM

SLAYERFAN1975

*push*

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 3:43 AM

STILLSHINY

I had a thought that I will try out this weekend, since I'm not rollin in coin. I want a Browncoat. My thought is to check out a few thrift stores & find a used lab coat. Then hopefully I can take some brown dye & create my "coat of a brownish color" I'll let you know if it turns out.

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - I'm thinkin we rose again

http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=4728

Listen to "The Signal" www.serenityfirefly.com

Serenity is coming. 9/30/05

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 7:50 AM

STILLSHINY

Found a coat, I'll see how it turns out & let you all know.

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - I'm thinkin we rose again

http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=4728

Listen to "The Signal" www.serenityfirefly.com

Serenity is coming. 9/30/05

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 12:51 PM

HELL'S KITTEN

I was so looking forward to Abbyshot's "Mal coat" and "Zoe vest," but I just can't justify spending that amount of cash on a bit of clothing.

So I made my own "Mal coat," "Zoe vest" and "Kaylee coveralls." (I also made River's blue dress from the BDM, but I didn't bring it; had the goggles, though... hee....) I'd like to point out now that my sewing maching hates me, but I was still able to make the stuff:

Mal's brown coat
I bought the brown suede coat from eBay, cut up and re-sewed it so it looks like Mal's, and I had to custom make the metal clasps, which was really fun. The dark brown leather cuffs were just some inexpensive pleather from Jo-Ann Fabrics. All in all, the clasps were definitely the most difficult.

Zoe vest
In a local fabric warehouse, I stumbled across some incredibly soft (*purrrrr*) brown leather that closely resembles the color of Zoe's vest. I think it cost me about $15. I found a pattern for a shirt that more or less matched the lines needed for Zoe's vest, and customized it from there. Honestly, really very easy to do, and this is coming from someone who's never sewed with or without a pattern before. I ended up making two vests; the first was made out of similar color pleather, cuz it's cheap and easy to find, so I didn't mind cutting it to bits and fiddling with it. Once I perfected the vest in pleather, I made one in my soft leather. So, um, if anyone wants a pleather version of Zoe's vest, I have one! (Size small... I can send photos....)

Kaylee coveralls
These can be found at a bunch of different places. I found mine at some girly store at the mall, which surprised the hell outta me. I made the heart and flower "patches" out of felt and just glued them on, cuz I seem to have crappy luck with real patches. Heh. The teddy bear "patch" was an applique that someone found on eBay and posted somewhere on the site; it is dead accurate, too. There is a bunch of Chinese written or stamped on Kaylee's coveralls - one of which is "love" - but I couldn't make them all out and I forgot to bring them to work to get translation help, so I left them off.

I also brought and wore a bunch of my Serenity and "Jayne" shirts that I've made. (Thanks to everyone who complimented me on the shirts. Even Adam said the "Trouble Maker" shirt was "spot-on" accurate, which made me giggle like a little girl.) That's all I can think of. ... Was that too much information? Sometimes I ramble.

无党派人士

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 12:54 PM

SLAYERFAN1975

No, not too much info at all. Only thing is I don't have a sewing machine so most things I am gonna have to by as is. I can sew buttons, that is about it. But thanks for all the heads up. I think I may go out and do some shopping this weekend :)

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 1:57 PM

FIREFLYGAL

Two Words: Thrift Stores. There's a huge thrift store in my neighborhood that has dollar days Sunday and Monday. I bought a red and green Zoe shirt and a pair of green and tan pants for $1.00 each. Then a pair of boots for $3.00. The "big" ticket items were the vest, which my roommate sewed for me and the gun which my dad carved for me, but not everyone is lucky that way

The holster was probably most expensive and made out of a big piece of leather but I made a couple of proto types first, so that added to the cost. Most costume pieces can be had in thrift stores.

By the way, SlayerFan you can hand sew. Takes more time but allows you to customize!

I aim to misbehave!

Firefly items:
For lapel pins and badge holder lanyards
e-mail FireflyGal1@hotmail.com
www.cafepress.com/fillies
www.cafepress.com/fireflyflan

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 2:00 PM

SLAYERFAN1975

yea, as long as I don't have to sew in a straight line hehehe

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 2:29 PM

CHATOYANT

I'm not so sure the Browncoats all wore coats just like Mal's. I think the Browncoats might be like the opposite of the Redcoats, common people in common clothes and most farmer's and rancher's coats would be brown. I don't think the coat really has to be any certain design, and dirt and ware can substitute for brown. I mean, they were a ragtag army, not so well outfitted, just completely committed. What do you think?

I have seen many coats in thrift shops that seem in the spirit, and I want (expect) the Browncoats to be around for a long time, but I don't think Joss reallly wants us in uniforms. Just my take on it.

Liannon Chatoyant

Rock is dead. Long live paper and scissors!

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 4:04 PM

FIREFLYGAL

Well, you might have to sew in a straight line for a little bit...

I aim to misbehave!

Firefly items:
For lapel pins and badge holder lanyards
e-mail FireflyGal1@hotmail.com
www.cafepress.com/fillies
www.cafepress.com/fireflyflan

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Wednesday, September 7, 2005 4:28 PM

REALLYKAYLEE

use RIT dye. it works the best!

ye-AH!

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Thursday, September 8, 2005 1:11 AM

STILLSHINY

Quote:
Originally posted by reallykaylee:
use RIT dye. it works the best!

ye-AH!

But of course. The coat is in process. I need to remove the chest pocket & dye it one more time, I also plan on mixing in a little red to give it more of a leather look.

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - I'm thinkin we rose again

http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=4728

Listen to "The Signal" www.serenityfirefly.com

Serenity is coming. 9/30/05

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Thursday, September 15, 2005 4:55 PM

BROWNCOATGUNSLINGER

I know! I drooled over the browncoats they were selling and then I realized that over $400 was just not feasable expect for the few saps I saw actually buying the suede coats there.

I drove to D*C from Florida, so once in Georgia I found an Army/Navy store looking for a Korean war era coat since that's what most Browncoats appear to be in the flashbacks.

I found a cracked leather tan coat for only $18 so I would up wearing that.

But not satisfied... I remembered my pirate coat that I had purchased 2 years earlier off eBay(that I left at home not wanting to be a pirate at D*C. cliche!). Monday night after unpacking, I spent a good hour, unstitching part of the coat and voila! Instant Browncoat!

It's made of a pseudo-suede type material with darker leather cuffs. Sure it has no clasps to keep the coat shut... but hey. Don't need em yet.

It's a bit shorter than Mal's... but it suits me just fine!

Now I was very pleased to find a cheap brown gunslinger rig online! My old black one gave up the ghost at D*C... *sob*

So after I attach the brown stripes to my pants, I'll be ready for the premiere! And any other local Browncoat events... lol.

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Thursday, September 15, 2005 5:30 PM

JESIAHBLACK

I really lucked out; a few months before i actually first saw Firefly at all, i had bought a rather nice brown suede coat that pretty much fits the bill wonderfully. I sometimes think it was a sign.

So, the best thing i can suggest for anyone is to just check around; some stores that specialize in suits or long coats (like my own nearby Burlington Coat Factory) has a pretty healthy selection of stuff like that.

"Oh, I was born, a six-gun in my hand. Behind a gun I'll make my final stand."

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