steampunk fashion - Tail Coat Concept Sketches

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Tail Coat Concept Sketches

Jul. 27th, 2007 at 11:07 PM

cheesemanifesto

I have been a steampunk fan for a while now, and up until now just a lurker on this community. Recently I decided to start drawing again, and I began sketching some ideas for a coat. Originally I wanted a peacoat to keep warm, but slowly I began adding large cuffs, tails and, well, you get the idea.

back view.

I’m mostly happy with the design; I especially like the idea of the jacket having a hood. I’m not sure what sort of fabric I would make it out of. Perhaps some kind of wool, lined with blue paisley silk? Also, I tried playing around with the front a bit and came up with this, which also includes how the collar may look if the jacket had a hood. I converted the top lapel into the hood.

Which style for the front do you all suppose is better? Any suggestions?

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( 33 comments — Leave a comment )

postconditional wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 06:31 am (UTC)

It looks Colonial, but that would depend on the materials and colors/intensity used. As for the hood, I think I like it better without.

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squirrelmadness wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 06:31 am (UTC)

In general the first front looks best, as it would be very appropriate to a frock coat (which is one of the most elegant garments men have ever worn); but as far as a tail coat is concerned, the line on the second front looks much better as it flows into the tails more smoothly.

The cuffs are a little too 18th century for my tastes, but that's me personally.

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simplysithel wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 06:33 am (UTC)

The V looks nicer, but it pushes back the look to a more Regency period, it seems like. Or at least, with the V so high it does

I do so love such cuffs. I do wonder about the effect a hood and large cuffs would have when paired with the fitted waist, modest tails, and fitted sleeves.

Very interesting, lovely sketches of course. I'd not try the hood, but I'm far from fashionably creative and I'm interested in seeing what it looks like.

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clockworkgh0st wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 06:37 am (UTC)

If you want a classic look, then the first. If you want something more modern but still inspired, then go with the hood. Personally, I would wear either.

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_steelphoenix_ wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:01 am (UTC)

I like the second one better, myself; the hood is absolutely lovely. I'd wear either quite happily. :)

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tzar_the_mad wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:09 am (UTC)

I would wear that. all but the bandanna around the knee.

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cheesemanifesto wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:10 am (UTC)

I didn't expect so much feed-back! Wondeful!

Yeah, I'm not sure about the hood. I thought it might be a fun way to mix in urban culture into a kind of anachronistic coat. The cuffs are certainly 18th century, the coat design is a mixture of pea-coat and 19th century frock coats/tail coats, and the hood adds some modern flavor.

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jacoby_swift wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 04:45 pm (UTC)

I love the top lapel-hood innovation. :) Just the kind of invention/experimentation involved in steampunk. And stick me down as a vote for the horizontal front. A nice mix of workshop meets formal occasion.

Oh, and this is the perfect oppertunity for an unusual shoulder clasp to fasten the outer lower-lapel to when the hood is up and its folded across.

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cheesemanifesto wrote:

Jul. 29th, 2007 06:26 am (UTC)

hmm interesting idea, ill consider it!

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cheesemanifesto wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:11 am (UTC)

Oh by the way, the pants, belt, boots and whatnot are not really intended to go with the coat. That's just how I dress otherwise. :P

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mokosh_perun wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 09:42 pm (UTC)

You should add those shoes I just posted ;)

I like the hood too, it anchors the coat in this time period and keeps it from looking too "costume-y".

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mrpaco wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:24 am (UTC)

I'd wear either!

Have you got the ability to make a pattern out of this, or are you just sharing this in a purely hypothetical capacity?

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cheesemanifesto wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:40 am (UTC)

Ive found some peacoat and tail-coat patterns which im studying. I intend to use one and just modify the front and back.

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mrpaco wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:41 am (UTC)

Neat. I'd love to see how this turns out in real life.

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arklan wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 08:54 am (UTC)

as would i... alas, my body type is simpyl not suit to this sort of look... :(

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purpleivey wrote:

Aug. 1st, 2007 04:10 am (UTC)

oh, good luck to you! I tried to modify a frock coat pattern one time and didn't go so well. But I am impatient and was trying to do that on top of a full course-load at college.

The sketches are awesome, though. I particularly like the last one, and agree with... whoever it was wo said that one transitions better into the tails.

Keep us posted as to the progress!

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venacava wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:30 am (UTC)

i adore the hood.

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cheesemanifesto wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:40 am (UTC)

Thanks. I think it would be a nice touch.

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arklan wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 08:55 am (UTC)

i agree. awesome hood.

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pvcdiva wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 09:23 am (UTC)

as a clothier, I'm tryinh to work out seam placement, but the line is lovely. I would be hard to get it to fit so smoothly without seams!

I like the idea of the hood, even if the first drawing has a more elegant collar line, as other have stated.

As for fabric, a soft worsted would be traditional and have a good handle.

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ornithoptercat wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 11:33 am (UTC)

Princess seams a few inches to the outside of the buttons, I would think. Or if you use wool, it's theoretically possible to shrink-shape with steam... though I wouldn't recommend trying that unless you *really* know what you're doing (I don't; I only know they do it instead of darts for couture skirts).

Definitely a nice soft wool for fabric (I'd go with navy, with either red or gold-braid edging - to work with those piratey cuffs).

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pvcdiva wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 11:50 am (UTC)

yup - princess seams is what I was thinking...with side panels

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saerlaith wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 09:55 am (UTC)

In general, I prefer the straight front, with a hood. It gives it the feel of some of the more modern peacoats, while the tails make it anachronistic.
Also, with the v-front one runs the chance of ending up with some unpleasantly cold gusts of wind against the stomach...

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ornithoptercat wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 11:21 am (UTC)

I think I'd split the difference on the front - so it hits where the straight one would, but curve it slightly at the sides to get a smooth line into the tails. The hood is nice; you'll probably either need to make the upper lapels/hood and the lower lapels separately, or make it as if it wasn't going to have the hood and then attach the hood to the inside of the collar (if you do the latter, you can even make the hood detachable by adding buttons or snaps).

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arklan wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 11:50 am (UTC)

ya know, something about this distinctly strikes me as airship captain clothing... especially made of leather perferably brown, with a cloth hood... a proper pair of goggles, and it would look positively smashing.

this is, of course, the meager opinion of a poor colorblind man.

heh.

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turkchief wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 01:30 pm (UTC)

Hmmm...

I like, but I think that the lower, straiter cut front, cut with a shallower curve than on style 2 gives you better coverage, but a smoother transition into the tails. I like both the hood and the cuffs. I have had something half way between a duster and an officers caped great coat in the works out of oil cloth denim for years as something to wear to Cow Boy Action shoots in the winter...TC

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madamekat wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 02:40 pm (UTC)

I, too, am hot for the V in the last photo. But Regency men make my heart flutter! Regency steampunk...*happy for the rest of the day*

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arashinotenshi wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 06:08 pm (UTC)

First of all can I just say - I like your drawing style, the line work is very neat and economical (my own sketches are anything but, I have a tendency to shade excessively)

I like the overall look, it's very gentleman pirate. Personally I would say go for the straight front, the V actually seems to detract from the overall silhouette a little. Also, I would be inclined to make the hood detachable - the fastenings could be hidden or made a feature, and this way you get the best of both worlds!
It would look good in earthy brown tones, black would be rather too goth, unless of course that's what you're going for, and too much colour would probably be rather OTT as it's already a rather flamboyant design with the cuffs and such.

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cheesemanifesto wrote:

Jul. 29th, 2007 06:28 am (UTC)

a detachable hood is a good idea too. hmm.. perhaps instead of making the top lapel the hood i could have the hood attach inside the collar somewhere? with a button or something perhaps?

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rouxgoss wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 07:10 pm (UTC)

I would warn against how high the V is in the second picture - not only would you have a chilly belly spot on cold days, but it would also show what you were wearing underneath in a sort of awkward way. I think the bottom of the first one would fit better for use as an actual coat. The hood adds a really interesting hipster flair to it, but I'd suggest that instead of the thick cuffs for the hooded coat you have extra long sleeves that cover your hand to your fingers, perhaps with a thin cuff and buttons if you don't want to loose that detail.

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xidiomaticlogic wrote:

Jul. 28th, 2007 11:29 pm (UTC)

I love them both, AND your drawing style - my personal favorite coat-front is the second style. It's less strictly-victorian, though I don't know what you were going for, but it has a bit of a 18th-century-nautical feel to it, which I adore, and with the hood it adds just the right amount of modern feel. I'd totally wear it. =D

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jaideroxor wrote:

Jul. 29th, 2007 05:19 am (UTC)

so many eras in one >

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cheesemanifesto wrote:

Jul. 29th, 2007 06:29 am (UTC)

that was the idea

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( 33 comments — Leave a comment )