gement: (Default)
gement ([personal profile] gement) wrote2008-10-14 12:50 pm

Where does he get those wonderful clothes?

So who do I have to off to find a purple suit in this town?

Stupid popular Batman movie with stupid popular Joker. I wanted to do this costume four years ago now, but this, of course, is the year that I cut my hair and thus have the utter freedom to dye it green without any fear of the consequences.

So this is, inevitably, the year that Heath Ledger went and did the most fantastically psychotic Joker ever. I know. Because I saw it last night. In a first-run theater downtown. Three months after its release. It was that popular. (Yes, it's great. If you're one of the people I issue disturbance warnings to, though, this has a big flashing disturbance warning all over it.)

Fabulous movie. Perfect timing. It'll give a little extra subliminal edge to my costume, even though I'm still intent on portraying the much less disturbing Clown Prince of Crime version as voiced in the 90's by Mark Hamill (the novice Jedi and phenomenal voice actor). J has already put in an order of novelty devices for me at Archie McPhee's.

I call Brocklind's today to ask about purple suits.
"Purple suit?" she asks.
"Yeah, do you know how hard it is to find a purple suit in this town?"
I can hear her smiling. "Yes, actually I do, because I'm fielding a few calls like this a day. I'm afraid we don't have any jacket-and-pants, but we do have one purple tailcoat."

I'll be going to investigate that possibility this evening. It will probably be too large, because I have girl-shoulders. At that point my options will be:

1) Thrift stores (being female, I might find a women's suit in purple that I can make work).
2) Miracle rental place that a friend suggests here.
3) Paying someone to sew something (unlikely to work well on my budget).
4) You have something that might work in your closet and would be willing to loan.

I'm approximately a women's size 10, and I wear a small in off-the-rack men's shirts. Thoughts?

[identity profile] red-the-squeaky.livejournal.com 2008-10-14 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
You may want to ping Jonwa... just a thought.
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] gement.livejournal.com 2008-10-14 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
BRILLIANCE! Thank you, that definitely broadens the thrift store options.
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] gement.livejournal.com 2008-10-14 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
In the cartoon, it was usually solid. I have a lot of screen capture references, and the variety is phenomenal. Jack Nicholson was actually wearing a pumpkin-orange shirt with his green tie and purple suit. Some glamour shots from comic books have him almost in a tux. The cartoon that I'm working from most heavily looked like a solid purple leisure suit. And green spats, I think. I should at least find shiny shoes, but that's not hard.

[identity profile] artdreams1.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
and spats are super easy to mock-up.

[identity profile] adularia.livejournal.com 2008-10-14 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Following [livejournal.com profile] tfabris's suggestion, the thrift store on the north end of Broadway with the Marilyn Monroe mannequin is likely to have something that'll work. QFC has Rit dye.

[identity profile] ilmarinen.livejournal.com 2008-10-14 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
What's the budget? Quick online search finds a few places selling purple suits, including some specifically for "joker" costumes.

http://www.mensusa.com/tools.aspx?id=269 (lots of actually clothing, but guessing lower end of quality spectrum)

Costume specific:
http://www.fan-store.net/servlet/the-300/Batman-Cosplay,-The-Joker/Detail
http://www.fan-store.net/servlet/the-200/Cosplay-DARK-KNIGHT-Batman/Detail

Looks to be in the $150 range for something along those lines.

[identity profile] gement.livejournal.com 2008-10-14 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
*boggle*

As a Master of Library and Information Science, I am ashamed and awed. Like, wow. Must ponder. I'd been ruling it out because I don't like trusting $150 to something I buy without trying on, but... Since I hadn't looked, I had no idea of the variety that would be available. Wow. Thanks.

[identity profile] artdreams1.livejournal.com 2008-10-14 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Purple tailcoat. Mmmmmmm. I was going to suggest large shoulder pads anyway. They're so manly. And possibly taking it in somewhat elsewhere.

Dying is good if the suit is light blue, say, and must be at least somewhat natural fiber. Poly (that would be the fiber rather than the lifestyle) doesn't let go or pick up color well.



[identity profile] paperm00n2.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
There is a store downtown (I think it's on pike) right near pike place market called Leroy's. It specializes in the most fabulous pimp suits ever. I think I've seen purple ones in the window.

[identity profile] ca-katarina.livejournal.com 2008-10-20 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Poly
(that would be the fiber
rather than the lifestyle)
doesn't let go
or pick up color well.


>giggle<

I know some poly
(people) who don't
let go very well
either.


Sounds like you'll have a fantastic costume --
because you'll have the attitude down.

And wasn't Heath Ledger AMAZING??!!?!
Edited 2008-10-20 13:15 (UTC)

[identity profile] mathochist.livejournal.com 2008-10-24 09:56 am (UTC)(link)
I do hope you'll post pictures!