kippermint

[kippermint]

so I've finalized the overall design of my vanitas build, mainly based off victorian cutting/patterning books and extent examples of clothing from around vanitas' period. the manga takes place specifically during 1889 but given the steampunk and ofc vampires, i allowed my time range to be 1860 to 1900. i allowed further back than foward bc i don't see that vanitas is rich and fittingly, i think he probably isn't plussed about wearing the most in vogue looks and just modifies older, secondhand, pieces

Going from the inside out, his shirt. i started with "Mrs. Beeton's book of household management" from 1879 for cutting and construction advice and i plan on following the described pattern in "A manual of plain needlework and cutting-out" from 1886

This extent example is my main guide for looks, tho i will be doing a small bit of smocking on the sleeve head for added volume and also bc i can lol also ill make the collar and cuffs removable as per period tendencies, so i can keep them clean/starched

for his pants, im going with cycling breeches with the modified foldover waistband true to vanitas' design. i may or may not add some decoration to the sides as ive seen in (childrens lol) breeches but ill def use some fun ribbon layering for the cuffs

nothing too crazy with the spats, im hoping to get vintage buttons to put on them and use a buckle for the under the heel strap like these ones show. i read in one primary source that breeches and spats had buttons to connect each other which i believe will aide in holding them up

for his vest, ill follow a period pattern and keep the construction pretty accurate, just removing the collar. considering using vintage titanium mesh for the stripes but will for sure include the 3 eyelet corset at the back to adjust size and also moving the shoulder seam way up like he does???

weird look but ok king.

the coat will be the hardest part by far. rn the plan is to go on a hoop skirt method.

extent examples often have this thinner wire and LOTS of hoops which i think will work best for getting that jellyfish shape of his coat. im going to try thick millinary wire and covering the shape with a gathered tulle "petticoat" that will all exist inside the coat. thoughts rn on getting the open front are having a removable piece shapes like a an upside down U that would allow the coat to open. also considering hiding ties and having the lining be openable to access/change the shape. aesthetically, im covering the whole thing in soutache. as his sleeves are kimono or furisode shaped accoridn got mochijun, i will continue this theme by bringing the design from one sleeves, down across the back, and to the lower opposite front as houmongi usually are patterned

this alexander mcqueen design for the collar is my main inspiration as i want a LOT of swirls and tiny details. theres also a few period examples of coats that will help me. i plan on making vanitas themed dead head thread buttons for the entire coat and potentially the vest

misc items: gloves i hope to make out of leather and gussetted; bows are ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and the belt will maybe be leather or maybe eva foam and i will include the book and dagger holders, which i will 3d print. for the book, i hope to use that flexible plastic and leds inside to make it have "pages" and light up when i open it. dream goal would be the forge the earring myself but uhhhhh we'll see about that lmao

i anticipate this build to take me the next year to make and itll be fun to look at this og design info dump later and see what i actually did

[kippermint]

On a serious note, seeing the real actual muppet joker attend a convention and just fully body what he’s built himself to be awakened something in me

Like damn I really can just do whatever I want maybe I should continue my art and stories and just do whatever I want even if it’s nonsensical and fucking weird and crazy

If the fucking muppet joker can why can’t I???