On the topic of making the TDK jacket waist look slimmer, I found an easy solution over the weekend that took nothing more than a couple large safety pins, used on the mesh area underneath the leather spine. Basically the same way apparel retailers make their shirts more fitted on their mannequins.
I tried this last night and it looks noticeably more fitted now. The downside is that there's some extra slack on the leather spine in the back, but with a cape on you can't tell. Since I'm highly anal about details, I'm going to have a seamstress shorten the leather pieces. I'm talking about shortening the wings of the spine pieces so there shouldn't be any impact on how the spine area was intended to expand and contract.
The stitching from shortening those pieces will show but rather have that than leather spine pieces hanging loose. With the cape on there's no way someone will be able to see the stitches whereas they might catch glimpses of leather hanging loose when you're walking/running and the cape billows. I even went as far as painting the safety pins black even though you can't see them with the cape on, my gf now thinks I'm nuts :lol
Another downside is the softer leather area at the bottom of the center spine will scrunch up as well, but with the belt on that should be pretty well hidden. If anything, my thoughts are that with that part scrunched up, it might actually help hold up the belt better.
If people want pics, I can post them here later this week.
