My Mad Hatter Thread - Mickey's Trick Or Treat 10-29-2010

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

I know there already is a thread on the Alice In Wonderland costumes but I wanted to start a Work In Progress (WIP) in order to show progress.

This is an ongoing updated thread as an FYI for others that want to try out this costume. Not 100% screen accurate and on a wee bit of a budget.

Shoes. Kenneth Cole size 10 1/2. Purchased off of Ebay. I striped the first layer of leather stain and dye off of the boots to get them lighter. I just used 70% alcohol. I also added six more holes for the shoelace. The original movie version had 12 holes.

Before:



After:




Six holes and now twelve!



The thread bandoleer. Made up to be very similar to the movie version all the way down to the color and sequence of thread spools as they appear on the chain. Different promo shots and screengrabs from the HI RES trailer shows between 24-26 spools. I went with 26. Areas that are hidden under the coat lapel and pink kerchief in the right pocket were guessed. I just added more spools.



There is a second chain that hangs below the frock coat line on the right hand side. I used a smaller size chain that was 36-inches long.




Chains are all linked together with round links. This is where they all come together and this sits to the right side in the lower back.





It is hard to see but it was visible on the picture posts from down at Comic Con. There is a single round link that sits below the left shoulder blade. It holds the two chains together. Hard to see but it is there!


Top part that goes over the shoulder. Most of this is hidden away by the frock coat lapel. You can see the detail of the chain.


Detail is a curse. I even attached the spools of thread using strips of metal as is the movie version. Curse this costuming detail!


Front:


Back:


Right side:

[Rebabaluba]

Looking good bud! Can't wait to see more progress pics.

[Mojo_Turbo]

yea the front looks like chain



but is the back leather?



I know it's only a toy but usually they make these things pretty close

[Jodo]

Hey UM, you wanna do mine as well?

[nickytea]

Back is a triple width chain. Almost looks beaded. I'll post a pic.

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

It looks like beads and that is what I thought too but the photos I have seen are very blurred. Also the poster that is photographed from CC 2009 looks like a leather strap (as it is on the action figure) but you can see from the CC pics that it is chain.



Picture of the poster picture.



I really don't think we are going to match it up 100% because the costume on display at CC was not the "hero" costume. Also the promo photos differ from many of the screengrabs from the trailer and are different from the CC display.

All in all we are going to see different things. Also the promo pic has a black ribbon with white "x" on it. It doesn't appear in any of the trailer stills or the CC display.

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Shoes are done. I just need to know what is engraved on the left boot outside. There are no photos of this side of the boot so am at a loss...anyone?

[flashflint]

As said by nickytea in your other thread.
"Note, also, that the shoes have the "Outlandish" slogan of the revolution against the red queen carved into them: "Downal Wyth Bluddy Behg Hid.""

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Yeah! I saw that but that resides on the right boot and partials on the left boot. It is left boot area that faces out that we have not been able to see that is in question. I am thinking of just adding some things that were off of Tim Burton's concept drawings.

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

The discussion of the back chain as "ball chain" I just returned 10 feet worth of this stuff to a jewelry store. They were nice enough refund it for me thank goodness! $22.00 worth of ball chain!


By the way I was just over at Osh Home and Gardens (I think they are nationwide and not just Cali) and they sold the same type of chain I am using for $1.29 a foot. A bit more expensive but it is very close to the movie version. Same links as mine. Just in case any others are looking for chain. It is sold in by the length.

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

The ring! It doesn't get any better than this folks!!



http://www.free-quilting.com/content...content_id=303

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

SOCKS!! Continuing the find folks! Thanks for the help of a Queen Of Hearts!!

Type in SOCKS10 at check out and get 10% off! I love to save money!

Right foot! In the blue version of course!
Reference shot:



http://www.absolutesocks.com/rl7668.html

Left foot!
Reference shot:



http://www.absolutesocks.com/mesocodrsoor.html

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Well some new updates and revelations (to me at least!)

Chains ends at the upper left side of the chest and connects to a metal bar. After that it is a linked chain to a circular link with another metal bar. That is than connected to a vinyl looking strap. The circle and bar connection reminds me of the chains you see carried around by punkrockers as their wallet retainer chains. Need to find this.......


Another view. Shows the same connectors and the fact that the spools of thread are NOT under the lapel of the frock coat. Time to move some spools around. Is it me or does that look like a dragonfly on the lapel???


Lastly the vinyl looking strap that runs down the back and connects once again to the chain. No good views of how it connects but it is there!

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

And it is called a "toggle clasp."

[Jodo]

Wow...This is getting to be a bit more complicated.

[jacksparrow900]

Originally Posted by Jodo

Wow...This is getting to be a bit more complicated.

Johnny depp costumes are always complicated and not the easiest costumes to do.

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

OCD - Obsessive Costuming Disorder as I coined the phrase over at KTTC.com We need a support group!

New revelations from yet more screen grabs (not on my work computer...will post later)

The bloody toggle clasps are too weak to hold those heavy spools so I did notice gold safety pins at the top and bottom of the chain that holds the spools. The bandoleer is pinned to the coat.

[Jodo]

Originally Posted by jacksparrow900

Johnny depp costumes are always complicated and not the easiest costumes to do.

Most of all movie costumes are.

[zipkikr1966]

Originally Posted by Jodo

Most of all movie costumes are.

To put that much detail in your costume is awsome! I love looking at what others do to make a great costume.

Brian

[Jodo]

Why thank you.










EDIT - UM, if you could PM me where your finding all the SDCC ref pics. (or pics. in general) I'd realy appreciate it....I can't find any large pictures to go by.

[BRRogers]

Lol, I love your research and progress threads mate!
You have a tenacity about your projects that actually make me squirm a bit!

I'll probably never do the Mad Hatter since it's not my style... but your detective work makes it loads easier for other folks to nail those intricate details that are otherwise overlooked... if people ever even get that far O.o;

Good luck in your endeavor! It's looking awesome so far

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Well it is 2:00am PST but who cares! I don't have to work tomorrow!!!!

Updated the bandoleer to more or less the same as the "hero" version with the exception of the back chain. CC display uses the same chain as the one in which the spools are attached however Nickytea was correct (as he always is.....) it is chain. It looks like a vinyl strap but it is just the links of the chain that is doubled up.

My improvements with the toggle clasp:




New chain on back is smaller links. I also shortened the "zoot suit" chain that hangs down past the hem of the frock coat.


Adding the toggle clasp required some major rearranging of the spools of thread. Note: The spools in the "hero" bandoleer form HD screen grabs are in a different color sequence than the CC pics. More discrepancies to be noted at the end of the post.


New chain view from the toggle clasp end.


Revamped the shoes because they didn't seem right. I added the engravings into the leather. It may not be 100% accurate but it gets the point across. I also created the toe tips from aluminum (easier to cut and bend). I created the square shape to give the illusion that the boot is a square cut toe. I am not sure how I am going to stitch those suckers to the boot because my hand can't get all the way up to the toes. Right now the toe tips are epoxied to the boots. Once they are sewn into the shoe I will engrave (Dremel) the design into the metal.




Again the outer part of the left boot is "NEKKID" because I don't know what to engrave.....


Toe tips were easy to create. Once the basic form was created I used the cobbler hammer to shape the metal to the boot.

I am now on the lookout for cobbler nails for the base of the shoe and the reddish brown shoelaces. I will probably hit the leather with antique black and try to fill in the engravings to darken them.

[tkmarti]

This is looking great...Watching this with great interest ! Well done.

[Jodo]

Very awesome mate!

I don't have any craft stores like Michael's,etc. around me so I have to wait for a trim to St Louis before I can start on my stuff...But I'm hands down going to be going through this thread to see how you did yours.

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Originally Posted by Jodo

Wow...This is getting to be a bit more complicated.

Yes! JDs roles and character costumes tend to be very complex and highly detailed which unfortunately leads to variations throughout the post production work, promotional phase, and actual movie release.

1. Different colors in the thread spools meaning the sequence of colors. Not critical but maybe for editing purposes and promotional items they should be the same order.

2. Different colors in the peacock hat pin. Hero vs. displayed at SDCC 2009.

3. Etchings in the boots display at SDCC but the HI RES trailer you don't see any markings in the boot. The one scene when the MH picks up his hat you don't even see the metal toe tips as well.

4. Same scene as #3 you will see that the scarf / kerchief is black but in promo shots it is now a bright dark pink.

5. I also believe in the same scene as #3/#4 the lace at the ends of the sleeves are black but at SDCC they are pink color.

6. Vest at SDCC display doesn't have the black and white checkboard pattern in the diamonds but the main promo shot we all reference (we meaning MH costumers) you see the pattern. The one in which MH is holding the large brown bunny!!!

7. Same promo pic as #6 we see a black ribbon with white "X" attached to the large pin on the right pocket of the frock coat. HD trailer and other promo shots you don't see it.

8. The first HI RES promo pic of the MH you see a hat pin with a blue faceted stone but it doesn't show up anywhere else. Perhaps the Hatter lost it when he threw his hat like Odd Job Tosh Togo from Goldfinger?
Just a few issues I have found so far or have heard of from others.