Really nice work going on here. Thanks for the computer screen file you sent.
More than welcome!
A few updates: I've actually been working on the costume, thought it may not seem like it. I've purchased a few more items: the piping is purchased and weathered. By weathered, I mean I pre-wetted the piping in plain water. I then used a mixture of water and bleach (about 2/3 water to 1/3 bleach) and placed the wetted piping in it, and let it soak for just a few minutes. Rinsed it off and then ran it through the washer and dryer. This faded out the pink; it wasn't a uniform washout but it wasn't meant to be.
I ordered my girl's shoes and I found a place selling a 100 count of 1/4" aluminum post screws for $15. Even with shipping, it beats out the $0.80 EACH that Lowes wanted. I also found the material I used for the tubing!! Since a picture is worth a thousand words:
I'll have more details on how to put it on the shoes when I get the shoes in and start work. I also got the rings (white plastic, 1/2" diameter).
So, as far as some major work goes....I bought a new jacket. The Greek ones are good, and fit my GF fine. They are a bit tight on me...so I was looking at some stuff at my local Army surplus. Of course, I can't find something that actually fits, but I managed to find a black M65. Crazy. It's a large, but came with the liner and was in great shape. It's a tad big, but not amazingly so. I think it looks good. First thing I did was apply a rinse of Rit Colour Remover. I did it stove top; it wasn't enough to remove the colour by any means (esp with the military dye job) but it did "lighten" the black, making it appear a bit more worn, and left a few greyish spots. It was then into the wash with a small amount of detergent and bleach. Then just washed twice. Then to the dryer. (All of this with the nylon liner removed). Overall, instant aging without compromising the jacket. Yay. I'm going to take it to the screen printers this week for NOSTROMO on the back. I'm thinking off-white or grey lettering (or maybe...just maybe a teal blue) and this time I'm going to make the letters a lot larger. The best thing I will be able to wear this a lot. The liner and extra space allow me to wear layers for actual winter, and then removing the liner lets me wear in reasonably warm temps too.
Speaking of patches, if you take the blue W-Y wing patch from Intergalactic and put bleach on it, it turns PINK! Yes, I was trying to weather the same way I did my old set. It didn't work out so well. (Different patch run I guess, or a different manufacturer). However, my girl loves pink, so her jacket wings, and probably shirt are going to be pink. It's not screen accurate, but I like the look, she likes the look, and that's pretty much all I really care about.
Since I was placing around with bleach and dye and the new blue patches, I decided to see if I could really screw them up. So I tried bleaching and then redying them. Result: not bad, if I say. One of the "darker" blue will go on my jacket. The other is now on my hat. I like the look better than before. Excuse the cell phone camera pictures (without and with flash):
I'm not sure if I will use regular blue, dark blue, or one of the extra gold wings on my shirt. We'll see when they come in.
I don't like iron on patches, but for now it was a good way to get them placed. I'm going to drop the jackets off at an alternation place next to the dry cleaners just to get the patches sewn down. Here is her jacket, my black jacket, and my older blue jacket for comparison:
Recapping, dark blue ship patches on each shoulder for each jacket. I have the blue wings with the American patch above it. (I will be putting an engineering pin through the center part, ala Brett when it's sewn down). I also have (you can't see it) a small set of black wings on the right breast pocket flap.
Her jacket has her pink wings with the British symbol above on the left side. She has the yellow Nostromo lettering on the back.
I'm hoping to get the piping placed on at the same time as the patches. Depending on when the lacing for the sleeves shows up, I may do it all in one shot, but probably not as I will be slammed at work by the end of the month.
I did stop by my local retailer for pants and shirts. Unfortunately, no go for those. Looks like I will be ordering them online.
With some luck, I will have the shoes done by the end of the week. Shirts and pants are the next big ticket items (as well as the lettering for the black jacket). Oh, I also managed to get a green quilted jacket liner. Dead on for what Lambert wears.

I don't need it, but it was super cheap at the store so I couldn't say no. More updates to follow...
Charlie
EDIT: I forgot to mention, I also weathered the ships patches on MY jacket. Same as the piping. Water and bleach mix, soak it for a bit, rinse off thoroughly. Her jacket patches are unweathered. Overall, her jacket does look at lot newer than mine, but they both look "properly" aged to the individual elements of the jackets.