A look back - and a look forward?

Today is a special day in New Series Doctor Who - it’s exactly ten years since The Doctor exploded back onto our screens following the wilderness years!

Since we had the official 50th Anniversary barely 18 months back, there is no big celebration like there was in November 2013.
Instead the BBC have marked it with a few low-key items.

One of these is a heartfelt tribute by the incumbent Doctor, Peter Capaldi himself.



Now, I was watching this video when something struck me.

So, he appears to be on-set filming series 9, and is wearing his now trademark coat with black hoodie underneath, but with a casual t-shirt below.

But what caught my eye is the fact that he is wearing the custom made ring which disguises his wedding ring as The Doctor’s ring.

Could he be caught between takes while filming? If so, is that t-shirt more than just ‘model’s own’? Is it part of the new look returning costume designer Ray Holman has created?

If it is, then NOW is thew time to trawl the collections of a few named high street retailers to see if it is available.

I’m seeing Paul Smith, All Saints, maybe even Debenhams could be possible targets! Ah - the game’s afoot!!!!

Gallifrey One 2015 - Thursday lobby con

Today’s my first day back in LA for 2015’s Gallifrey One convention.

Each year I’ve been going the convention seems to swell not only in the numbers attending (though that has now been capped) but in the length of the festivities.

Officially the convention runs Friday morning to Sunday late afternoon, but with increasing numbers of fans arriving on the Thursday afternoon, an impromptu mini convention runs where everyone catches up with friends and buddies.

Known as Lobby Con, it’s become an increasing popular steam running in parallel with the main programme.

The Thursday afternoon, running into the evening, is the first chance for cosplayers to get into costume and character ready for the main days.

Here is a little selection of photos I took.



Nice to see the Tenth Doctor’s first costume being kept alive!



These Ten cosplays always have the best fun!



I like the way people take the well established costumes, like the Fourth Doctor’s iconic scarf - and make it their own by selecting their own unique colour schemes.



But there is always space for some high end costumes alongside the innovative creations.



For example this eye-catching reworking of the Sixth Doctor coat using brown fabrics.



As you can see - I had some fun too!
I have some friends who made their own Cookie Monster, so I tactically wore my t-shirt on the off-chance of bumping into them. It worked!

You’ll also notice that today was the first chance for fans to trade ribbons - that curious convention pastime that has progressive grown year on year.

I have joined the craze, with a few of my own to trade, which amassed the long train of ribbons down the side of this posting.

If you’re at Gallifrey One right now - seek me out - I have ribbons to trade!

Including my Sixth Doctor special ribbon, complete with plastic watch chains!
No-one else has done anything like this, so grab them from me while I have them!

Danny Pink goes Barking!

In a pseudo warm-up to next weekend’s big Gallifrey One convention, today I trekked out to Barking for Tenth Planet Event’s first signing session of 2015.

Barking Signing - 7th February 2015

To be honest the guest list was a little light on interest, with Jasmine Breaks, the little girl in Remembrance Of The Daleks; Clem So, the go-to Chinese actor seen in Pond Life, The Angels Take Manhatten, The Day Of The Doctor and notably as a clockwork droid in Deep Breath; and Gregory De Polnay, D84 in The Robots Of Death.


There were also a couple of non-Who also-ran guests who appeared in the likes of Grange Hill and Z Cars, but for me the main draw was Brian Miller, Barney the tramp in Deep Breath and husband to the late, great Elizabeth Sladen.


However, with less than a week to go, the organisers added a surprise guest, Samuel Anderson - Danny Pink himself!

It was a cold morning, and I got there in good time to get the signatures in my book I was after, though sadly Gregory De Polnay was a no-show due to ill health. Hopefully he'll come on a future session.

Samuel came across very well and was interacting with the fans without any reservations, engaging with one and all.

He was happy to sign anything put in front of him including a wonderful portrait done by a fan, who gave him a copy to keep - which Samuel asked him to sign!

A change of wardrobe?

There’s a bit of very interesting Doctor Who costume news that I’ve known about for a little while, but have kept under wraps.

However, since it is now for all to see on his website, I think I can happily reveal that Howard Burgan, who has been costume designer since The Snowmen in 2012 has now handed over the reins - to none other than Ray Holman!

Ray was instrumental in creation of the first look for the Eleventh Doctor back in 2010, having designed for series five.

Prior to that he had designed for Doctor Who in Tenth Doctor era when the double-banking of episodes meant Louise Page needed a second pair of hands to cover the Doctor-lite episodes Blink and Turn Left - all this while designing for Torchwood series one to three.

Since leaving Doctor Who, he worked again with Russell T Davies for Wizards vs Aliens, and with David Tennant for both series of Broadchurch.

Time will tell if Ray will imprint his own look on The Doctor’s costume for series nine. I kinda hope he does - I’m a bit uninspired by the sombre look of the Twelfth Doctor right now.

Capaldi coat - sneaky preview

Been working on this for a while now, so just a cheeky preview today.

Mission accomplished!

Series Eight costume index

Deep Breath

Pre-credits
11th Doctor costume comprising:

Frock Coat Purple cashmere with corduroy collar

Waistcoat Purple Prince Of Wales check with laid-in collar and 4-pockets

Shirt Budd Shirtmakers end on end blue

Trousers G-Star Raw jeans

Boots Custom make brown/purple leather

Disguises worn during episode  

Victorian Night shirt
White with pale blue pinstripe worn over white cotton vest

Tramps clothes
Heavy overcoat with fur collar, worn over a jacket and shirt

Clockwork droid frock coat
High-buttoned black frock coat, worn over shirt and tie

Closing scene

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red/navy silk lining

Shirt White Budd classic fit shirt with custom made collar

Cardigan John Smedley Navy Marano wool

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues


NB This costume combination was used for the photoshoot revealing The Doctor’s new look in January 2014

BBC promo pics - The 12th Doctor

Into The Dalek

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining

Shirt White Budd classic fit shirt with custom made collar

Cardigan John Smedley Navy Marano wool

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

NB The costume combination worn in the official publicity stills accompanying the episode do not match the on-screen costume 

BBC promo pictures -
Into The Dalek

Robot Of Sherwood

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining
NB: A button is lost early on in the episode, but is miraculously reinstated.
For a number of scenes the coat is worn fully buttoned up. This is the only episode this happens

Shirt Paul Smith burgundy shirt
NB: notice the floral fabric on the inside of the cuffs (and presumably collar)

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

NB: The official promo still for the episode depicts Peter Capaldi wearing the wrong shirt

BBC promo pictures - Robot Of Sherwood

Listen

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining

Jumper Paul Smith cashmere black jumper with designer holes

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

NB: The promo stills for the episode depict Peter Capaldi in the wrong costume (the combination matches his costume not worn until Death In Heaven)

BBC promo pictures - Listen

Time Heist

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red/blue silk lining
NB: For a number of scenes The Doctor wears his coat with the top two buttons done up

Shirt Navy blue Paul Smith

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

NB: The Doctor is briefly seen wearing a black All Saints hoodie. This is the first time he dons what will later become a regular garment in his wardrobe

The Caretaker

Opening Montage
All with:
Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining
Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed
Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

Variations:
Binary-star planet scene
Shirt White Budd classic fit shirt with custom made collar

Clara’s bedroom:
Jumper Paul Smith cashmere black jumper with designer holes

Smokey corridor and 
TARDIS scene:
Shirt Navy blue Paul Smith


Coal Hill School scenes
Coat Brown warehouse coat

Jumper Paul Smith cashmere black jumper with designer holes

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues



Closing scene
The Doctor returns to wearing his navy Crombie-style coat at the end of the episode

Kill The Moon

Opening and closing scenes only

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three- quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red/navy silk lining

Shirt Custom made black dress shirt with bold white polka-dot design. Made by Budd Shirtmakers from Joel & Son fabric

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues



Moon scenes

Space Suit Sanctuary Base Six suits, as first seen in series two episode, The Impossible Planet

NB These suits are copies of the Tennant era version and has several subtle difference including boots, gloves and webbings.

Mummy On The Orient Express

Coat Black double-breasted evening jacket with silk-faced revere lapels

Shirt White - possibly Budd classic fit shirt with custom made collar

Tie Large silk cravat tied in a bow - reminisent of Jon Pertwee series seven



Waistcoat formal double-breasted with low buttoning front

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Black shoes

Flatline

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red/navy silk lining

Shirt White Budd classic fit shirt with custom made collar

Waistcoat Custom-made black/charcoal wool, 5-button closure and red/navy silk back (matching coat lining)

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

In The Forest Of The Night

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining

Jumper Paul Smith cashmere black jumper with designer holes

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boot Loakes black smooth leather brogues

Dark Water

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining

Shirt White Budd classic fit shirt with custom made collar

Waistcoat Custom-made black wool, 5-button closure and red silk back (matching coat lining)

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

Death In Heaven

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining

Shirt White Budd classic fit shirt with custom made collar

Waistcoat Custom-made black wool, 5-button closure and red silk back (matching coat lining)

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

Closing scene in cafe

Jumper Paul Smith cashmere black jumper with designer holes

Last Christmas

Coat Navy blue Crombie-style three-quarter length, with 3-button closure, 5-cuff buttons and to-the-edge red silk lining

Jumper Paul Smith cashmere black jumper with designer holes

Hoodie All Saints black hoodie

Trousers Paul Smith indigo Mohair-blend, overdyed

Boots Loakes black smooth leather brogues

Capaldi waistcoat - upgrade

A little while back I made myself a Capaldi waistcoat, using the correct melton fabric.

At the time I didn’t have access to the authentic red silk for the back, so I just used a plain red satin as a placeholder.

However, I now have the real thing and I’m quite excited to start using it, the first thing I’ve done is to remake the waistcoat, using the correct fabric on the back.

It’s a subtle change, and frankly will hardly get seen as it will be worn underneath the Crombie coat.

But as you can see from the two photos above, the plain red just doesn’t compare to using the authentic lining and it gives me some satisfaction to go that extra mile and get things as perfect as possible.

I’ve already got some clients looking forward to getting theirs using my special lining - and it’s almost Christmas!!