BARBARA KIDD responded to my email, OH HAPPY DAY
So for this coming Gallifrey, I have decided to go ahead with my costume plan from what feels like years ago, and do Jenny (not Doctor's Daughter Jenny. Madame Vastra Jenny).
Looking at her costume, I have made plans: sew vest, harvest pieces of old ripped white shirts for faux undershirt, buy wig, buy frog, buy katana, use gloves, and...sew jodhpurs. Alas, therein lies the problem: jodhpurs. Which, up until the 1930s were made with natural fabrics. Afterwards, however, the invention of stretch fabrics caused the sihlouette to be tight-fitting, and not at all what Jenny's are. If you notice the pictures of her costume, the wider part of the pants are on the hip part. Most patterns I've seen for the original style show the wider part at the thighs.
It's been bugging me, to say the least.
So I thought: the only person who knows FOR SURE how this costume was achieved would be Barbara Kidd, the costume designer. So I googled her, found the email of her agent, emailed her agent (who passed the email on to Barbara), and today I got a response.
It is worth mentioning that I also told her to get her butt over to the States for Gally, as she will have a gaggle of cosplayers following her around like lost puppies. It is worth mentioning EVEN MORE that I didn't word it that way.
"Hi Caitlin, how marvellous that you love costume and esp. our costumes for Dr.Who.
I found it very helpful that I also understand period costume in designing for series 6, as we went into the future but also back in time.
One of my favourite seqs. is when River Song in ‘Lets Kill Hitler’ goes into the restaurant in 40’s Berlin and we see the diners running out of the hotel in their underwear.
This is preparing you for the fact that I dressed Jenny in real period jodhpurs - probably 1930’s, perhaps earlier, I’m not certain - so can’t be helpful re the construction.
Do you have access to any costume collections? My advice would be to do as much research as you can and see what you can find.
Perhaps look at Sears Roebuck catalogues of the 20/30’s - they are very clear and informative.
- you’re right that we don’t have cosplayers here. Perhaps we’ll get an invitation to come over and see you all.
Good luck - regards Barbara. "
Looking at her costume, I have made plans: sew vest, harvest pieces of old ripped white shirts for faux undershirt, buy wig, buy frog, buy katana, use gloves, and...sew jodhpurs. Alas, therein lies the problem: jodhpurs. Which, up until the 1930s were made with natural fabrics. Afterwards, however, the invention of stretch fabrics caused the sihlouette to be tight-fitting, and not at all what Jenny's are. If you notice the pictures of her costume, the wider part of the pants are on the hip part. Most patterns I've seen for the original style show the wider part at the thighs.
It's been bugging me, to say the least.
So I thought: the only person who knows FOR SURE how this costume was achieved would be Barbara Kidd, the costume designer. So I googled her, found the email of her agent, emailed her agent (who passed the email on to Barbara), and today I got a response.
It is worth mentioning that I also told her to get her butt over to the States for Gally, as she will have a gaggle of cosplayers following her around like lost puppies. It is worth mentioning EVEN MORE that I didn't word it that way.
"Hi Caitlin, how marvellous that you love costume and esp. our costumes for Dr.Who.
I found it very helpful that I also understand period costume in designing for series 6, as we went into the future but also back in time.
One of my favourite seqs. is when River Song in ‘Lets Kill Hitler’ goes into the restaurant in 40’s Berlin and we see the diners running out of the hotel in their underwear.
This is preparing you for the fact that I dressed Jenny in real period jodhpurs - probably 1930’s, perhaps earlier, I’m not certain - so can’t be helpful re the construction.
Do you have access to any costume collections? My advice would be to do as much research as you can and see what you can find.
Perhaps look at Sears Roebuck catalogues of the 20/30’s - they are very clear and informative.
- you’re right that we don’t have cosplayers here. Perhaps we’ll get an invitation to come over and see you all.
Good luck - regards Barbara. "