Four Breakdown
Moving on to Part 3 of the Breakdowns with the almighty Four.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
First I have to say that the 4th Doctor is my favorite. Like a lot of Americans, I grew up watching Tom Baker on PBS in the 1980s and to me he was, and in many ways still is, THE Doctor full stop. It took quite a while in the late 80's for me to NOT change the channel when I saw "the old guy in the velvet coat" or "the young blonde dude" or the "three stooges Moe looking guy" or the "rainbow clown Doctor" instead of the Real Deal - Tom Baker. It's kinda like when you're used to the Voltron Lions and then you suddenly see that space car malarky. Ugh. However! I became a full-fledged converted fan around '89 and I have since come to like pretty much all of the Doctors. But I digress...
So roll on the Four breakdown.
More Info and pics
This was the first Who costume I put together for Halloween 2004 and later SDCC 2006-7. it's gone through several upgrades since then. I got pretty crazy and spent an insane amount of time and money on it's current incarnation to get it perfect as possible. But I know not all of us suffer from this level of insanity and I'll be offering the budget alternatives to what I did.
Like Pertwee you need to pick your Baker. He had a lot of variation during his long run: 4 scarves, 5 coats/frocks, 3 hats, 3-4 vests, 3 shirts, cravats, ties, boots/shoes...etc. My all time favorite Baker costume (and overall Doctor costume for that matter) is the Season 12 costume which began hat and long scarf look originally devised by costume designer Jim Acheson. It's so wonderfully bohemian. It embodies the character best IMHO. Because of this it got the most love and cash lavished on it. It's the single most expensive costume in my Who line-up. However, where I can, I'll try and offer tips on some of the other varations too.
(the 2004 initial version of the costume)
The Shoes:
original screen worn shoes on Auction March 2010
Baker wore solid dark brown lace-up wingtip shoes in Season 12. These look black at times so black shoes can work too. You can see a good close up on these when he steps on the landmine in the beginning of Genesis of the Daleks. Also his statue by Iconic Replicas makes a good ref point too.
www.productenterprise.com
http://www.sixteen12.com/dw_dw.html
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
I picked mine up on ebay for $15. But brown/black wingtips are not hard to find at any dept. store, Shoe Pavilion or Shoe store of your choice. You want to avoid a sole that's too thick and the 'squared' toe look. If you need to cut corners - any good black/brown dress shoe you may have in your closet will do.
Here's a pair Paul Smith makes
http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/shop/paul-smith-mens-shoes-390/paul-smith-shoes-brunswick-shoes-scxd-f236-buf-s25/product.html
He usually wore white or tan socks with these. I opted for the tan socks - again any good shoe store should have these. I actually got mine in the women's section since I couldn't find the right color in the men's.
Season 18 he wore Argyle Socks. Corgi Knitwear made the knee-length Argyles which Baker wore in the first three recorded serials for S18 ("Hive," "Decay," "Meglos"), to June Hudson's specifications.
Another tip is to pick comfortable shoe for all day con going. Rockport brands are very good for this but if you find a can't-miss style in a less comfortable shoe then do yourself a favor and get some foam or gel cushions for your shoe - you can get them at any Target, shoe store or drug store usually for $8-25. You'll thank me later.
Tom's original Buccaneer style boots he later wore on action May 2010
Later Baker got into the Buccaneer style leather boots, the brown suede boots he wore in Face of Evil, the swamp bamboo boots in Power of Kroll and the full brogue Oxford Shoes (from Lobb, in dark tan suede) that he wore in Season 18. Although he later went back to the buccaneer boots in later Season 18. So you have other options for later variations.
The Shirt:
The Season 12 shirt was a light plaid-on-white shirt. These kinds of shirts are still around so you can scour thrift stores, ebay as well as standard clothing outlets like Banana Republic, The Gap, Old Navy etc. for this. I found some decent matches at JC Penny and It's a Wrap in Burbank.
My first version came from Jet Rag in West LA. The one I currently use is a great match I found at Hollister. Technically called a Daily Ranch shirt (in Grey). Although it doens't look like they sell this one anymore.
Update 1/7/09- Hollister is currently offering another shirt with a similar criss-cross pattern in a blue on white that's another pretty good match for the season 12 shirt. Check them out or keep an eye on ebay where these tend to turn up.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
His later shirts are the mid-19th Century standing collar shirts although the one he wears in the Ribos Operation is yellow-tinted. He wears more a modern collar shirt (usually open with no tie) by Season 17.
Budget Option- Any white standard dress shirt (preferrably without the collar buttons) you may already own or can purchase at any Dept Store or Suit outlet.
Season 18 Shirt - This one is tricky. It's got a very specialized double collar- both a very wide almost lapel-like or super wide wingtip collar.
More on the S18 Shirt:
http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/397057.html#cutid1
More than probably this would have to be custom made or you'd have to take standard dress shirt and re-do the collar to match. It appears like five and Six's shirts- this one doesn't have any breast pockets as well.
For the question marks though we have the graphic files for that- courtesy of the grand skills of Kingfish from the doctorwhoforum.
(4th Doctor Mark Version 1)
(4th Doctor Mark Version 2)
What I would suggest for those starting from scratch is to take your chosen dress shirt and take it to an embroiderer to have the question marks added in red copper-tone (Baker's was a lighter tone than Davison's or Colin's FYI) thread. Bring a lot of ref pics and if possible I'd do up a mock 1:1 scale drawing/pattern to show exactly what you want.
Mr. Stitch in Sherman oaks is great for this - I highly recommend them!
www.mr-stitch.com
http://mrstitch.reachlocal.net/
However digitizing the file and embroidering the shirt will run you $60-$70.
Another spot recommended by the Dragon con folks is:
Wicked Stitches
354 N Broadway
Salem, NH 03079
(603) 890-9601
For the Season 18 shirt from scratch you can also go to Magnoli Clothiers who will do this shirt for the same price as the Six shirt - $195.00 - He already has the above graphics and everything.
http://magnolic.ipower.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=281
The Pants/Trousers:
Baker typically wore gray wool donegal tweed pants. His Season 12 pair was characterized as being especially baggy with large roomy pockets. They're an older Edwardian turn of the century high-waisted style as well having no belt loops and were held up with dark suspenders.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
I started with a grey pair of baggy suit slacks from Jet Rag for about $18. Any grey baggy pants will get you by. If you want to get closer just find a grey tweed with a kind of 'flecked grey' texture to it. Later he wore brown pants and more of a light tartan pattern grey trousers so those are other options to consider. And of course the plum pants from Season 18.
The Season 18 breeches were finewale corduroy, dyed to match the coat. June Hudson briefly considered black cord trousers or breeches at one point, and some swatches of that fabric do survive (again, see drawings shown on Tom Baker's website).
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
My current pair was a custom commission from www.the-magic-wardrobe.com.
And they nailed it- I couldn't be happier with these pants.
I sourced the fabric from B. Black and Sons in Downtown LA- cost around $35 for 3 & 1/2 yards. It's cheaper to buy wool tweed fabrics in the off season-summertime to FYI.
Two places you can have similar pants made or ordered from:
http://www.historyinthemaking.org/catalogue/mencost1885-1910.html
http://www.harristweedshop.com/traditional-trousers.html
UPDATE 1/28/09
I have seen some excellent looking pants for the 4th Doctor- a nice flecked grey tweed in the Men's dept at Macy's by Claiborne. These are currently on sale for $40.
The Sweater:
I really dig that Brown/off-white/yellow argyle cardigan Baker wears but it is a major pain in the butt to find.
(The pullover as it was in 2004)
Since this is a knit item, having one custom made is very cost prohibitive. I got a quote from a couple of people and the cost almost equaled what I spent on the entire costume. So here I don't recommend going the custom route.
Finding and modifying though- by all means.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
What I'd suggest for the budget costumer is looking for a simple black and white argyle cardigan as your starter. Or... find a better color match and get a argyle pullover V-neck as your starter. Either can be had usually for under $50.
Some online options to get you in the range
http://www.paulfredrick.com/catalog/PFProductDetails.aspx?rootcat=11|Knits/Sweaters&Category=KnitsSweaters&ProductId=KFE767V&sc=XBU1NT
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/77217?cm_ven=NewGate&cm_cat=Nextag&cm_pla=Datafeed
J Crew used to offer a decet one.
http://www.jcrew.com/mens-clothing.jsp
As well as Land's End
http://www.landsend.com/ix/mens-clothing/index.html?tab=1&seq=1&page=1&pageSize=12&store=le&cm_re=Men-_-D-4
Target Stores in the USA offered some nice argyle sweaters with long sleeves and a V-neck that would make good Four S12 sweaters in Oct-Dec of 2009/2010 and 2011. They would need to be 'cardigan-ized' but as-is they would have a good read overall. The brown is the best but the black or berry might do as well.
This is the cloest the offer at the moment but it's worth it to keep checking to see if they get something close to the winter season range back in stock
http://www.target.com/Merona-Cardigan-Sweater-Ebony/dp/B003LL9WK4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=argyle%20sweater&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-5&qid=1285180964&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Merona%20Cardigan%20Sweater%20Ebony&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0
And for women crossplayers - a good option:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_007B8067000P?vName=Clothing&cName=Women%27s&sName=Sweaters&sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=007B8067000P
Also Marks and Spencer in the UK (as of 11/16/2009) is offered a Argyle cridgan that is a reasonable match to the Season 12 sweater. Sold out now but her's a general link to keep checking in case they get another in.
http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/search?node=&field-keywords=argyle+sweater&viewID=results&intid=gnav_search
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
I ended up with a pretty close brown/off-white argyle pullover for my first costume. Not finding anything closer pattern/color wise I then had the same argyle pull over 'cardiganized' by The Magic Wardrobe who added the sleeves (which should not match - i.e. the sleeves should be a lighter brown than the shade used in your argyle. More than probably even Baker's original was a custom/customized piece) and shifted the armhole ribbing to the front & adding the buttons. Even though it doesn't have front pockets or the yellow in the argyle it's a pretty darn close match in the end.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
1-24-11: A new cheap option for a ready made cardigan that's nicely in the range:
http://cgi.ebay.com/G044-Mens-casual-v-neck-Argyle-knit-Cardigan-BROWN-/260683595611?pt=US_CSA_MC_Outerwear&var=&hash=item82638ce106
The Season 13-15 Variation Tartan Vest:
For those looking to do the Season 13 & onwards brown/tan/black/ (with hints of red) plaid vest.... I wish you luck. It's an extremely hard tartan to find a match (with a bit of a houndstooth check quality in it - just to make it extra hard to find a match!) for but here's some info and tips for you.
From the Prydon Academy discussion:
"I'm reasonably certain that the tartan on Tom Baker's Season 14 vest is a Stewart Fawn trade tartan, in a houndstooth pattern. Keep in mind that tartans are defined by the colors and order used, but not by shade- so you may find this tartan with the base color anywhere from light taupe to medium brown. The houndstooth check is going to make it more difficult if you're really picky about accuracy.
Stewarts were a huge clan, so lots of tartans, and this is one of the
least commonly used. Similar and possibly easier to find are the Loch
Ness trade, and Burberry Check.
While the Stewart Fawn trade is very close, I suspect that the vest wasn't a proper tartan at all, but just a plaid houndstooth material (not all plaids have a clan or district affiliation.)
Great sources for plaid id by color-
http://houseoftartan.com/house/reverse.asp
and
http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/Site/searchintroc2.asp
House of Tartan doesn't carry waistcoats but they do sell fabric- but it ain't cheap. Do a google search for Highland Games in your area- either go shop there or look at the vendors listed and contact them directly. Try Scots Corner or Scotland by the Yard, I know they have lots of things they don't list on their websites.
http://www.scotscorner.net/
http://www.scotlandbytheyard.com/
Lots of tartan waistcoats at http://www.scotlandshop.net/ or
http://www.shop.com/Scotland_Shop_US-c87264-c!.shtml , "Thomson Camel"
is also very close- email them to see what else they might have not listed."
Another tip is to keep your mind open- check old 70's (to get that vintage color palette) skirts, coats, blazers and of course vests to see if a good fabric donor can be gleaned that way.
Other options are to do as the Doctor says and "improvise." Kenredtail found his tartan Season 13 vest in a green plaid which he then dyed yellow to get it in the range and had his GF make him a vest out of the material. Peter Dummer found his in a thrift/charity shop. Always good to keep the eyes peeled and the mind open.
I've recently found a couple of decent base houndtooth/light checks in the right color palette. One was a cashmier I saw at Mood Fabrics running $70 a yard (yikes!) and the other was a wool with slightly better color mix (but the overall palette a shade or two darker) in the Garment District downtown for a much better $4 per yard. I'm playing around with sewing a sheer black/brown ribbon over the latter to re-create the thick criss-cross stripes the vest had. We'll see how it comes out.
Here's the swatch of the cahsmier fabric
And here's the cheaper wool fabric with some black sheer ribbon to give you an idea of what can be done with it. I'm ruling out the ribbon option now because it's too reflective however I'm looking into airbrushing this fabric with the thick lines (in a gradual fashion to mimic the real deal). If my tests work out- I'll report back here and probably make a post proper on it.
(With extra striping)
(Wool fabric as-is without extra striping)
(Another Season 14 style vest find - photo by Peter Dummer)
The Season 18 Waist Coat:
Tom's S18 waist Coat was single breasted with a shawl collar and made from a maroon/plum Velvet with a floral pattern and a gold undertone which came through in the right light.
For more on this waistcoat please see:
http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/397057.html#cutid1
The Neckerchief:
Thanks to stumpycat and tothgraphics on the Doctor Who Forum I've updated some information on Baker's neck wear:
Baker wore a green and black stripe what appears to be a lightweight or silk neckerchief or long scarf/bandana around his neck. Apparently Baker himself owned this item prior to being on Doctor Who and it fits being the kind of thing many eccentrics of the late 60's-early 70's wore. It's really more of a long, silky striped neck kerchief.
Matching this can be problematic - aside of the usual suspects of where to find a scarf I can tell you how I approached mine.
My first version for a striped tie I bought at Jet Rag in west LA for $8.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
My current version - I found a pretty good fabric match at a stall in the fabric district in Downtown LA with the right looking color and pattern in a light stretch almost supplex-like material. I took the fabric and had it made into the scarf with pointed ends like his at about 4" width and 48" length so it could wrap around my neck wonce and hang low. Seamstress cost was around $35. Fabric per yard was $5.
Update 1/9/09
I recently found another good match for the Season 12 neckerchief fabric for $1 per yard in the Garment District again it's made of a soft stretchy almost supplex material again. If anyone's looking and in need let me know, I might be able to spare some or check back there for more.
(Latest Neckerchief fabric find)
Baker later wore a thick billowy (and later a thinned down version) burgandy cloth neck scarf. This was worn more like a haphazard and hacked off necktie almost, or at times ascot-style and even at times with a stickpin making it appear as a cravat. This was used throughout most of Seasons 13-15. In historical terms this is something men wore in the earlier half of the 19th century (Roughly 1840's-1860's) since as most of Tom's costume during this period in season 13-15 seems to be a playful take on this early Victorian -NOT Edwardian- time period. Although a vintage or 1920's style necktie may get you in the range here.
Also in Talons of Weng-Chiang he seems to have worn a regular modern red
with black polka dot neck tie.
Tom only seemed to wear a "proper" cravat at times in Season 16 (namely, episodes like Pirate Planet and Ribos Operation and in season 15's Invasion of Time.
Coutesy of tothgraphics:
For information on ties and Various knots to use to tie the maroon neck scarf or any Four Neckwear:
"The 85 Ways To Tie a Tie. The Science and Aesthetics of Tie Knots" published in 1999. (ISBN: 1841152498 / 1-84115-249-8)
http://www.amazon.com/85-Ways-Tie-Science-Aesthetics/dp/1841155683/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241457828&sr=8-1
“The Book of Ties: 188 Knots for Necks: History, Techniques and Photographs” by Davide & Villarosa, Riccardo Mosconi - Published in 1985, through their chain of “Tie Rack” shops. Invaluable. On the end-papers alone, it gives detailed diagrams on how to tie 48 different knots. (No not the Boy-Scout kind.) The 190 pages between these covers offer a treasure trove of details about men’s neckwear throughout history, but with special emphasis on the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, whole chapters are devoted to Ties, Bow-ties, Cravats & Ascots and other forms of neckwear. - While long out of print the book can be had for as little as $17.00 on AbeBooks.com, and I’m sure that you can also find it on eBay as well. Rarely has a single fashion subject been dealt with better in print.
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Ties-188-Knots-Necks/dp/B0000EEZHL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241457852&sr=8-1
For cravats I point you back to here:
http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/neckties.php?from=leftnav
Your cheapest option is to find a good satin or stretch cotton burgandy fabric, buy a yard and cut a strip for yourself to wear as a cravat/ascot.
The Jacket/Coat:
Baker's Season 12 coat was a red corduroy hacking or safari jacket with four front pockets and dark grey suede elbow patches. The safari jacket cut/styling was more 60's style than 70's though so FYI. It also has matching faux woven leather shank buttons - 5 for closure, 3 smaller buttons per sleeve (6 total) and also one for all 4 pocket closures. Because this was such a hard coat to find a close match to... I finally bit the bullet and had this coat custom commissioned through the Magic Wardrobe.
http://www.the-magic-wardrobe.com/
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
Wardrobe does fab work, but commissioning this jacket (or any item) from them will be cost prohibitive for most folks. For those looking to make this jacket I'm not sure where to tell you to find a suitable pattern but the corduroy is readily available at most fabric stores including Jo Ann and Michael Levine's. What I tended to run into on the jacket was finding a good deep red but the whales on the corduroy were too big and vice versa so bear that in mind. They need to be thin first and foremost. I went with a cinnamon cord.
For DIY Costumers- here's a good starter sewing Pattern to use for the Safari S12 jacket: http://www.patronsdecouture.com/burda-7523.htm
*Update 9-1-09*
Baron Boutique is now offering the Season 12 Four Safari Coat for $269.
http://www.baronboutique.com/movie_replica_3.htm (Bottom of page)
Baron offers this Four coat. It looks great for the money.
http://www.baronboutique.com/movie_replica/4th_dr_who/pictures/4th_dr_who_coat_pictures.htm
(Baron Boutique Season 12 Four Coat images)
-----------------------------
UPDATE 2-11-11:
CosplaySky.com is also now offering the Season 12 Safari Jacket for $150.00
It's got a few issues but hard to not consider for the price.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64756312/dr-who-4th-doctor-who-tom-baker-red
_______________________________________
If you want to try the thrift store and ebay route look for safari jackets, corduroy coats and more specifically corduroy car coats. I ended up going with the last option as a starter coat and it did the job as a mix between the Season 12 and Season 14 coat. It had the brown color and length/cut of a frock but the corduroy of a 70's coat. I purchased it from this vintage dealer online:
http://www.vintagetrends.com/
Last I checked as of 10/08, they still had a couple that were very close to what I bought in 2004.
Also note this jacket WAS sold off the peg back in the day. I've heard from a few UK fans this was sold at a few shops near the BBC in the mid 70s- though they're not sure if this was in response to Dr. Who or if the BBC simply bought a few for Tom to wear in Season 12. So they're out there.... somewhere.
But there is hope as kenredtail can attest - he was able to score his corduroy blazer with elbow patches from a thrift shop though he found it in yellow and he did have to dye it red, so keep your options open if you go this route.
Pete Dummer in the UK also found a really nice match for the safari Season 12/13 jacket - so the finds are out there! This jacket is a 'safari' corduroy but in beige which he then dyed a few times to get it a nice dark red. He later added elbow patches and he was good to go.
(Peter Dummer's Season 13 Four jacket and costume. Photos by P. Dummer)
The trick as always is timing and finding one in your size. The nice thing is if you have the color and material right then things like pocket detail will be hidden once your wearing the scarf so you don't have to get this right first time out of the gate.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
For the later frock coats Baker wore - I can recommend this site for a custom coat - although not really accurate, it's the best price I've seen for a custom velvet frock:
http://www.baronboutique.com/men_4.htm
(about middle down the page- they do this coat in brown or bugandy)
I'm actually checking with Baron to see if they'll make a screen accurate velvet frock coat like he wore in the Pyramids of Mars. They seem to think this is doable and have even found a good fabric match- I'll update when I have more news here.
FYI on any of Tom's later frocks: Most Edwardian/Victorian jackets have faux pockets. (You can tell because there is not even a slight pocket pucker at the top below the flap usually.) The real, extra-deep pockets seem to be a built-in trademark of the Doctor's coat that you'll never find outside of special order.
But we all wants pockets top pull Doctory-items from so regardless if possible you want the coat pockets to be functional.
Pete Dummer in the UK found a good match on this dark burgandy/wine velvet Frock on ebay. Again the finds are out there if the timing is in your direction.
(Ebay/Thrift found Season 14 Four costume - by Peter Dummer)
Also there's this pattern single breasted done in the grey wool/tweed or brown velvet or beige tweed depending on which coat you want to go with.
http://www.lafnmoon.com/frock_coat.html
Although finding something 'in the range' for a starter coat is much easier for the Grey or Beige tweed coats if you look in the winter/overcoat section of any clothing/thrift/vintage store.
Another good option as a starter coat for the Wine or Brown velvet frocks he wore between Season 13 and Season 16 (and 17 if you count Shada) is at anthony's formal wear.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/anthony-formalwear-clearance
www.anthonyformalwear.co.uk
FYI for those looking:
"edward" jacket in their listings is a good base "Four" style in Brown or Burgandy velvet. Not screen accurate though - the lapels are more standard/smaller (no notches), and it's single breasted. But for the prices they come up on their ebay clearance (starting in the $30 range) section they are hard to beat. Good option to consider.
For a basic rundown on his other coats:
The brown wool knee length overcoat - Sontaran Experiment & Genesis of the Daleks
The wine/burgandy velvet double breasted frock coat - Pyramids of Mars, Masque of Mandragora, The Hand of Fear, The Deadly Assassin, The Face of Evil, The Robots of Death.
The wine/burgandy velvet coat at auction through Bonhams in 2004.
The brown velvet double breasted frock coat (longer past knee length) used in Season 15,16 and 17. Image of the Fendahl, The Invasion of Time, The Ribos Operation, The Pirate Planet, The Stones of Blood, The Androids of Tara, Nightmare of Eden, & Shada.
The Grey flocked Irish tweed double breasted Victorian frock coat with, brown elbow patches, & deep brown corduroy cuffs and collar - Android Invasion, Seeds of Doom, the Brain of Morbius, The Invisible Enemy, The Sun Makers and Horror of Fang Rock. This was designed by Barbara Lane. FYI There are two large dark brown buttons per sleeve on the corduroy cuffs.
The beige/tan tone grey tweed Victorian frock coat with brown piping/edging Seaoson 16 and 17 - Power of Kroll, The Armageddon Factor, Destiny of the Daleks, City of Death, Creature From the Pit, & the Horns of Nimon.
The Plum/burgandy Russian style overcoat with cape-like collar, full skirted calf length and double breasted. - Basically all of Season 18, Leisure Hive, Meglos, FulL Circle, State of Decay, Warriors' Gate, Keeper of Traken, Logopolis.
The plum Norfolk Jacket (worn under the overcoat) - Season 18 (Leisure Hive only)
For more on the Season 18 costume please see this post:
http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/397057.html#cutid1
For the Plum Russian style overcoat from Season 18 you're on your own. Off the top of my head I'd say look for Russian military coats at thrift or army surplus stores that are in a lighter color and can be dyed. Otherwise search out large overcoats in purple or deep red (although this color will be more readily available for women than men so you may have to look for oversized women's coats). It is lined in matyching red/burgundy satin, although due to some lighting in the stories it sometimes appears as a dark green lining.
Or you can simply commission the S18 coat from some of the links I've previously mentioned. Sorry I don't have more info. This is my least favorite version of the Tom Baker outfit so I've never seriously looked into have a replica made.
Update 2011:
Cosplaysky now offer the Season 13/15 Irish Tweed frock and the Season 17 Frock in addition to the Season 12 jacket.
http://cosplaysky.com/ecru-brown-long-trench-coat-suit-costume-custom-made.html
Season 17 Frock $179.00
http://cosplaysky.com/wenge-brown-long-trench-coat-costume-custom-made.html
Season 13/15 Coat $189.00
http://cosplaysky.com/who-is-doctor-dr-red-brown-corduroy-trench-coat-costume.html
Seaosn 12 Coat $150.00
Magnoli also now offers the Season 17 Frock and the Season 18 overcoat.
http://www.magnoliclothiers.com/baker-frock-coat-overcoats-p-396.html
Season 17 Coat- $850.00
http://www.magnoliclothiers.com/baker-great-coat-xl-overstock-p-417.html
Season 18 Coat - $795.00
Baron Boutique now offers the Season 17 Frock as well.
www.baronboutique.com (4th page of movie replicas)
Baron Season 17 coat- $479.00
The Scarf:
Ah Tom and his incredibly long multi-colored Scarf. Is there any other piece of who costuming more iconic? More identifable with the charater?
The original Season 12 scarf was knit by Begonia Pope, and its extreme length resulted from a misunderstanding. The costume designer provided Pope with lots of yarn, and she knit all of it. There is no repeating pattern to the colors or the sizes of the stripes.
For more on the history of the scarf go here:
http://community.livejournal.com/who_knits/1980.html
or here:
http://www.doctorwhoscarf.com/history.php
The Season 12 scarf I wear was actually donated to me by a friend of mine who had it knitted for him by his ex-wife. It's about 25 years old - knitted back in the glory days of Dr. Who fandom when you could walk into a yarn store here in the USA and find a "Dr. Who" yarn section!
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
But for approaching knitting a scarf today:
You first stop is the invaluable website:
www.doctorwhoscarf.com
Where he outlines the different scarves Tom Baker wore and the patterns for each as well as the best yarn recommendations (by brand and exact color/number) for each.
I also recommend for further yarn selection and knitting tips:
http://wittylittleknitter.com
and
www.scarffactory.com
I'm having a second one being knitted for me as a back up in the Season 12 pattern (my favorite). Chris (the guy who runs the website) has some new yarn recommendations for this scarf however I really love how his finished scarves in the Jo Sharp wool turned out (check out his finished scarves section to see) so I'm having my new one knitted with that yarn. The trick with Jo Sharp is a lot of the colors he recommended are discontinued but here are some spots if you want to go this route too.
www.tapestrycraft.com.au/catalog/multi_info.php?cPath=1_341_447&osCsid=f2e0e91tgn5urakoduj82itk25&multiID=447
www.handworksgallery.com/jsclasdky.htm
(word of warning, a had a shipment of yarn get lost through these people so FYI)
http://www.yarncountry.com/categories.aspx?catid=304
http://www.yarnatwebsters.com/jo-sharp-classic-dk-wool.html
http://www.threadbearfiberarts.com/yarns/show_yarn.php?vendor=josharp&&yarn=classicdkwool
http://www.the-mannings.com/mannings_catalog.cgi?dct=on&tt=68
And this seller on ebay
search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcam3au
All are great places to find Jo Sharp yarn- even discontinued colors.
The woman who's knitting my second scarf in the correct garter stitch is open to taking other commissions as well. Her name is Kathy Halbisch, she lives in Australia and you can reach her here: kathy.halbisch@bigpond.com. She's willing to be flexible on commission prices as well. Her ebay name is little_fieldmouse.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
He doesn't list it anymore because of the unavailabilty of the colors but FYI the Jo Sharp colors to be used for a Season 12/13 scarf are:
Jo Sharp:
804 "Embers" (Brown) about 2 balls
339 "Smoke" (Gray) about 3 balls
503 "Amethyst" (Purple) about 2 balls
322 "Ginger" (Yellow) about 2 balls
005 "Camel" (Tan) about 4 balls
803 "Lichen" (Green) about 4 balls
326 "Ruby" (Red) about 3 balls
Alt. Yarn color/brands to choose which are more readily available and look just as good for Season 12/13:
Purple - "Red Heart Soft" (3729/Grape)
Red - "Vanna's Choice" (133/Brick)
Yellow - "Cascade 220" (2415)
Green - "Mission Falls 1824 Wool" (07)
Brown - "Cascade 220 Heathers" (2453)
Beige - "Jo Sharp Wool" (005/Camel)
Gray - "Blue Sky Cotton" (625)
2009 Yarn choices from doctorwhoscarf.com for a Season 12-14 scarf:
Red - Nashua "Julia" (0178 - "Harvest Spice")
Purple - Nashua "Julia" (4345 - "Coleus")
Gray - Nashua "Julia" (0122 - "Steel Grey")
Beige - Cascade 220 Wool (8622) -- 2 skeins
Brown - Jamieson's Shetland Aran (1190 - "Burnt Umber") -- 2 skeins
Green - Lion "Cotton Ease" (125 - "Hazelnut")
Yellow - Patons "Classic Wool Merino" (00204 - "Old Gold")
Chris at doctorwhoscarf has further perfected his colors to the following:
* Red - Cascade 220 Superwash (823) Burnt orange -- 2 skeins
* Purple - Cascade 220 (9572) Cabernet
* Gray - Plymouth "Encore" (6001) -- 2 skeins
* Beige - Cascade 220 Wool (1208) Tan -- 2 skeins
* Green - Universal Deluxe Worsted (12181 "Bronze Brown") -- 2 skeins
* Yellow - Universal Deluxe Worsted (12182 "Gold Spice") -- 1 skein
* Brown - Rowan Pure Wool DK (16) Hessian -- 2 skeins
Although TARDIS-Tara had this too add on yarn choices:
"I don't care much for his latest yarn suggestion which combines different fibers and different weight yarns in one scarf. In knitting, this is a big no-no.
My current suggestion for yarns and colors is--
Berrocco Ultra Alpaca (an alpaca/wool blend-- very soft)
6212 purple
6293 brown
6208 tan
6236 red
6272 green
6253 gold
6289 charcoal
or:
Mission Falls 136, !00% washable Merino Wool (very nice)
006 Oatmeal
004 Charcoal
007 Cocoa
110 Russet
113 Curry
014 Dijon
024 Damson (I wish this were more red)
Which are good but no heathers in mission Falls and to have a good Baker Scarf you have to have Heathers in the brown.
Going Cheaper through a Jo-Ann Fabrics in Acrylic for those who are allergic to Wool:
The only yarn I've found in 100% acrylic that has vaguely close colors is Vanna's Choice.
Beige 123
Olive 174
Charcoal 151
Brick 133
Toffee 124
Eggplant 145
Mustard 158
And for the Season 18 scarf (Which was produced under the aegis of June Hudson's principal maker at the time, Roger Oldhamstead) for those who don't want to shell out for the expensive but originally used chenille yarn - try:
Lion Brand, Lion Suede (Michael's, and Jo Anne Fabrics have it-- and when they do sales, you can get it dirt cheap)
147 Eggplant
133 Spice
189 Garnet
It's important to try and have Heathered yearns for this scarf. Heathered yarns are a mottled, softer color. If you look at them up close, it's not one color, it's several and they fade and blend into one another. If you look close, you'll see the different threads of different colors.
Most yarns are a solid color. No mottling.
In the Season 12 through 17 scarves, there's a lot of heathered yarns.
But obviously go with whatever works for you. I suspect the new yarn he recommended will be cheaper than the Jo Sharp which typically runs between $7.00-$9.00 a ball.
Further yarn recommendations and patterns can be found on the doctorwhoscarf.com site for later seasons as well.
UPDATE: Also TARDIS_Tara has pantone matched the original screen worn Season 16/17 scarf! (Although this is really the Season 12 and 14 scarves knitted together). You can find out these colors and her patterns/yarn recommendations base don these colors at: http://wittylittleknitter.com! And yes she does knit scarves on commission.
Her latest yarn choices based on her pantone color matches:
Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport using Size 3 needles
Or Brown Sheep Worsted Weight (closer to the original which was a DK weight) using Size 5 needles.
N465 Red Fox
N065 Chuck Berry
1233 Saddle Tan
1255 Golden Rod
1365 Choclate Kisses
2095 Wood Moss
8805 Charcoal
FYI both these Brown Sheep weights use the same color names and are from the same dye lots.
Cascade 220 using Size 7 needles
9463B Gold
9488 Christmas red
9499 sand
2453 Pumpkin spice
9473 Gris
9459 Yakima heather
8885 Dark Plum
Having looked at the cascade 220 and brown sheep colors i can personally vouch that the Brown Sheep colors look better to me- excellent read to the real scarf pictures!
Just remember the scarf should be roughly 12-13 feet long or at least long enough to reach the ground going around the wearer's neck once. It should be hand knit in garter stitch and about 5-6 inches wide (folded over). The yarn should be DK or sport weight.
For those without the knitting skills or friend's who have knitting skills I recommend ebay or timelord knitwear here:
www.timelord-knitwear.piczo.com
or here:
http://longscarf.winnfreenet.com/time.php
Another spot to order yourself a custom scarf is through ScarfSister (formerly Gocze on ebay)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScarfSister
Also Tara (who runs http://wittylittleknitter.com) will knit scarves on commission. She can be reached through her website.
All 4 versions of the Tom Baker scarf in some fashion pop up on ebay variously- in the $80-$160 range. Usually these copies are stockinette stitch which is smoother and not accurate but usually cheaper. If you're all about accuracy then wait for a hand knitted garter stitch scarf (which has the 'ribs' in it) and is how Tom's were done.
My first 2004 scarf was bought from a woman in IL who sold Dr. Who scarves on ebay under mykraftkorner. Current ebay sellers to look up for the scarf include gocze (who's scarves look the most authentic to my eye), anniesknits, knittertoo, and weesweatpea.
Pics of the 2004 scarf
One can always join in on whoknits Dr. Who Scarf Knit Along too:
http://community.livejournal.com/who_knits/112902.html?mode=reply
New Scarf in 2009!
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
I commissioned this from a woman in Australia named Kathy I did a trade with several months back (for a Dalek Dome!). Overall I'm very pleased with this. It's the Season 12 pattern which one can find at www.doctorwhoscarf.com and knitted in the Jo Sharp wool color in DK or sport weight. The Jo Sharp colors he recommended are mostly discontinued now FYI- I had to do a lot of searching on the secondary market and ebay to find everything I needed. I stuck with these because out of Chris's finished scarves I liked the look of these colors best.
My only concern is that now that the colors are more muted like the original, I'm uncertain it compliments the overall costume the same way as my previously used scarf did. The old scarf, while excellent, was a bit bright in some of the colors. However, this could just be me being far too used to the previous scarf - like Eight's shoes I may just need to "break it in".
FYI - Kathy is open to doing others if anyone is not knitting inclined and wants a Four Scarf - you can reach her at her new e-mail kathymaree@gmail.com.
Another option for the scarf is scarfactory's etsy store where he sells Season 12-Season 14 versions in the $100-$150 range grater stitch.. keep your eyes peeled on his store for his next batch of sales:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cuteorkill
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Old and New - Side by Side
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
New Scarf!
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Old Scarf
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
The Hat:
Tom Baker wore mainly two different hats. His Season 12 Hat is a dark brown wide brimmed floppy hat with a tall crown. Hie later Season 13-14 hat was made in dark bottle green with unfinished long fur with a lightly shorter crown. His Season 18 hat was a plum fedora with a shorter brim size to match that look.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
All three hats (and multiples for shooting) were made by Herbert Johnson hatters in the UK. You can always write Herbert Johnson directly about a copy but they seem like they stick mainly to military headwear now. And they're spotty about returning emails but FYI.
http://www.herbert-johnson.co.uk/
http://www.toddscostumes.com/indy/HJ%20Indiana%20Jones%20Fedora/herbert_johnson_fedora.htm
You can have Tom Baker replica hats made though. I had mine done through Baron hats here in Burbank. http://www.baronhats.com/
They have a lot of experience recreating iconic TV and movie hats and they did a pretty good job. They also do the later dark green hat- since one of the Prydonian members ordered his there.
They can do the hat in rabbit or beaver felt- the latter being more expensive and more durable but both look great. A Rabbit custom will run you about $300-$425. A Beaver custom hat will run you $500-$600.
Another option is http://www.petersbros.com/ - who do good custom work.
(Baron's verson of the Bottle Green Baker Hat in unfinished long rabbit felt)
The budget option on the hat, aside from say a large brimmed safari hat you may find in a hat shop or halloween store, would be the Indiana Jones fedora. My first Tom Baker hat was the Indy fedora that was (and I believe still is) sold at Disneyland.
You can buy them in the $30-$60 range here:
http://shop.indianajones.com/catalog/category.xml?category_id=408152&rid=CPC
http://www.villagehatshop.com/indiana_jones_hats.html
http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/category/mens-indiana-jones-hats.html
The reason the Indy hat makes a good budget Season 12 Tom Baker is because the Raiders of the Lost Ark hats were also made by Herbert Johnson. They used the same base style for both hats- the 'Poet' - so it's a close cousin to the Baker hat. Another option is to search ebay for Herbert Johnson hats and specifcally the poet style and you may also get lucky.
In 2009: I technically got a new hat. When I took my custom hat in for a slight rebashing and distressing, they ended up ruining it (TWICE). So they had to order a whole new hat body in each time and they finally got it right. Albeit it's still on the stiff side. But it has the taller crown and a nice "Robot" shape which I'm happy with.
(Goofing off and literally eating my new Four hat - Photo by Vickie Sebring)
(Offering Sarah some Jelly babies - Photo by Vickie Sebring)
Update 2/09/09
Thanks to Captain Threepwood on the DWF- another decent budget-esque hat has been found for the Season 12/Season 13 hat (think Pyramids of Mars). It's overall a better match than the Indy hat (taller crown, wider brim) and worth a look. It's available through Wild West Mercantile (in choclate) for $112.
http://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=A8298&type=store&category=1140
****4th Doctor Hat Tutorial:
For those looking for a cheaper option to a custom hat and don't like the Adventurer/Indiana Jones Hats- here's a brilliant tutorial written by Penwiper on how to go about finding/making your own Four hat!
http://dw-cosplay.livejournal.com/960169.html
------
The TARDIS Key:
In Season 12, Baker used famous Gallifrey "Shovel Wedge" Key that Pertwee used in Season 11 (and later again by McGann in the TVM).
You can get one of these shovel keys usually through ebay. There are fan made copies, the 80's convention Spirit of Light keys, the official BBC slightly more filled out keys from the mid-90s, and the newer more accurate thinner keys I see mostly on the convention circuit (distinguished by a lean black box with unmarked clear top). These generally go for $20-$40 on ebay.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
You can also scour the usual Who online merchants for whenever they might get a small stock of these in through thier acquisitions:
www.doctorwhostore.com
www.whona.com
Most keys come with a chain to hang it on. Baker's Season 12 chain though is exceptionally long - you'll need to find something about 40" to 48" long depending on your torso. Long enough to go around your neck and hang down to your navel or waist. I found mine on ebay- but what you really are after is a simple thin silver chain probably a jewlery making chain.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=TARDIS+key
For Season 14 cosplayers onwards - Baker went back to using the using the Plain Yale key which Hartnell/Troughton/Pertwee used before him for Seasons 1-10. A Yale key can be had through ebay (used key sales), british lock websites, possibly a key making section at your Home Depot or Osh. I find Yale style keys are used mainly for mailboxes and lockers here so FYI.
The Sonic Screwdriver:
The original sonic Screwdriver props originated in the Pertwee era first appearing in the Sea Devils. It was a leftover/modified Thunderbirds Movie prop that got shuffled in use on Dr. Who after they were through with (with some minor painting/re-bashing over the years). The changing look of the prop evolved from repairs and repaints. For instance, the difference between when Pertwee used it and when Baker used it was that the surface decals and rubber O-Rings were removed.
After Tom's departure, Davison used it briefly before it was destroyed on screen in The Visitation. This marks the the only time a stunt prop was created - a crude vac-formed version.
Aside from the original and the 'stunt' prop the only other version used on screen was the new one made for the TVM.
The original metal prop was then kept by Producer John Nathan-Turner where it sat on his desk until the early 1990's when it was stolen and never to be seen again. This is why no good pictures of the original prop have surfaced since then.
However for costuming purposes here's what to do. For a specific Four Sonic one is often sold on ebay through either timelord pocket or Russell's Replicas. Or go direct:
http://www.timelordspocket.com/
I have a modified version of one of these and I'm very happy with it. You can go for any of the minor variations Tom had with the silver or bronze emitter and red or black or bronze emitter rings.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Also Iconic Replicas is putting out a Replica Sonic Screwdriver as well:
www.productenterprise.com/ir/dw_screwdriver.html
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RPDWSS
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Sometimes plastic resin ones are sold (the cheapest option usually $10-$30 ) which will need to be painted. These seem to be molded from the static aluminum Sonics.
And speaking of... those static aluminum ones also crop up - these usually run $75.
(Holding my aluminum static sonic in 2004)
There's also the over-sized 1980's Spirit of Light Sonics that make noise.
update 2010:
You can buy the new Character Options toy! Should Sell between $20 and $40 this is a cheap sonic with SOUND EFX. You can't go wrong with this toy.
http://www.dandbcomics.com/products/498-3rd-doctors-sonic-screwdriver.aspx
This should be availble to buy from other who outlets such as www.whona.com, doctorwhostore.com, bigbadtoystore.com, www.mikescomics.com and www.jrstoyworld.com or of course ebay.
The Wig:
Unless you naturally have dark curly hair that can be grown out into a 70's mop.... you'll have to get a wig. My hair is dark and curly but sadly not *that* curly and it certainly doesn't get to Tom Baker proportions. I ended up picking up my wig for about $65 at Outfitter Wigs in Hollywood. It didn't even really need any styling.
The Wig was by Mystique. Style NOLA. Color #8. (although Color No. 6 would have worked too- it was just a bit darker brown)
I picked up some extra fake lace brown side burns (because I can't grow any good ones to save my life) from cinema secrets in Burbank for about $35 and I was off and running. They have spirit gum as well if needed.
www.cinemasecrets.com
Outfitter Wigs
(323) 462-3088
6626 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
Other props (Courtesy TV episode freeze frames and many suggestions from the community):
Most of these are totally optional!
Jeweler's Eyeglass
Magnifying Glass
Metallic pen or tire gauge
Eaten Apple Core
Yellow Plastic Yo-Yo
Large orange crystal quartz piece
Deck of playing cards (loose/rubber banded)
Large copper tone Time Ring bracelet
An old looking scroll map
1966 style toy batmobile
Coins- preferrably from different countries or 'eras'
Small slinky jr.
Metal Handcuffs
Old ID cards, UNIT etc.
length of string
Upper portion of a recorder (black)
silver dog whitsle (for K9!)
paperback book along the lines of "How to Learn tibetan" or "Everest in easy stages"
yellow ski goggles
A white stuffed bird
A pale blue plastic yo yo
A deed to the city of Skaro
pilots license for the mars/venus rocket run
A galactic passport with lots of things that folded out, like those photo holder things.
A scroll for honourary member of the Alpha Centuri table tennis club.
A telescope
A Magician's Cane (collapsable)
A ratchet handle or Whirl-noisemaker (?)
Not used on screen but well within the kind of thing he'd carry:
Silly putty with red 'egg'
gyroscope
compass
loose keys (differing styles)
allen wrench
loose screws/clips/paperclips/crumpled scotch tape
small scissors
small rock (for testing gravity)
child's toy - small squirt or ray gun perhaps
vending machine capsules with mini-toys
wind-up mouse or USB wireless mouse
white handkerchief
paisley scarf/bandana (any color)
small or piece of circuit board (preferably burnt)
and of course...
Jelly Babies (with trademark white paper bag!)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
I recommend bassett's or norfolk manor.
http://www.wisechoiceuk.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=8336
http://www.dcimports.com/nmjellybabies.html
http://www.britishfoodshop.com/keyword.asp?product=bassetts
And any other fun knick knacks if you want to have them on hand.
Special note on the Season 18 costume:
I'm including the protoype pictures of the Season 18 costume Cloth Ears worked on for future reference only. Unfortunately this was the prototype that caused them to shut down their Dr. Who end of the cusom costuming business so this is not available for sale.
(Cloth Ears Season 18 Four Prototype)
More S18 Cloth Ears pics for reference here:
http://www.clothearscostumes.com/galleries/4dr/
Costume T-shirt
Forbidden planet now offers a 4th Doctor Costume tshirt:
http://forbiddenplanet.com/67582-doctor-who-t-shirts-4th-doctor-costume-forbidden-planet-exclusive/
Fancy Dress Costume:
Forbidden planet now also offers a fancy dress costume which might be a good option for starter/budget costumers 40gbp or $60.00 Med or large:
http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=63269
(FYI there is an accessory pack that is extra needed to complete the costume also for sale on FP).
And that's the Four Costume.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Hope this helps anyone looking to make or upgrade thier own Four.
-honorarydoctor
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
First I have to say that the 4th Doctor is my favorite. Like a lot of Americans, I grew up watching Tom Baker on PBS in the 1980s and to me he was, and in many ways still is, THE Doctor full stop. It took quite a while in the late 80's for me to NOT change the channel when I saw "the old guy in the velvet coat" or "the young blonde dude" or the "three stooges Moe looking guy" or the "rainbow clown Doctor" instead of the Real Deal - Tom Baker. It's kinda like when you're used to the Voltron Lions and then you suddenly see that space car malarky. Ugh. However! I became a full-fledged converted fan around '89 and I have since come to like pretty much all of the Doctors. But I digress...
So roll on the Four breakdown.
More Info and pics
This was the first Who costume I put together for Halloween 2004 and later SDCC 2006-7. it's gone through several upgrades since then. I got pretty crazy and spent an insane amount of time and money on it's current incarnation to get it perfect as possible. But I know not all of us suffer from this level of insanity and I'll be offering the budget alternatives to what I did.
Like Pertwee you need to pick your Baker. He had a lot of variation during his long run: 4 scarves, 5 coats/frocks, 3 hats, 3-4 vests, 3 shirts, cravats, ties, boots/shoes...etc. My all time favorite Baker costume (and overall Doctor costume for that matter) is the Season 12 costume which began hat and long scarf look originally devised by costume designer Jim Acheson. It's so wonderfully bohemian. It embodies the character best IMHO. Because of this it got the most love and cash lavished on it. It's the single most expensive costume in my Who line-up. However, where I can, I'll try and offer tips on some of the other varations too.
(the 2004 initial version of the costume)
The Shoes:
original screen worn shoes on Auction March 2010
Baker wore solid dark brown lace-up wingtip shoes in Season 12. These look black at times so black shoes can work too. You can see a good close up on these when he steps on the landmine in the beginning of Genesis of the Daleks. Also his statue by Iconic Replicas makes a good ref point too.
www.productenterprise.com
http://www.sixteen12.com/dw_dw.html
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
I picked mine up on ebay for $15. But brown/black wingtips are not hard to find at any dept. store, Shoe Pavilion or Shoe store of your choice. You want to avoid a sole that's too thick and the 'squared' toe look. If you need to cut corners - any good black/brown dress shoe you may have in your closet will do.
Here's a pair Paul Smith makes
http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/shop/paul-smith-mens-shoes-390/paul-smith-shoes-brunswick-shoes-scxd-f236-buf-s25/product.html
He usually wore white or tan socks with these. I opted for the tan socks - again any good shoe store should have these. I actually got mine in the women's section since I couldn't find the right color in the men's.
Season 18 he wore Argyle Socks. Corgi Knitwear made the knee-length Argyles which Baker wore in the first three recorded serials for S18 ("Hive," "Decay," "Meglos"), to June Hudson's specifications.
Another tip is to pick comfortable shoe for all day con going. Rockport brands are very good for this but if you find a can't-miss style in a less comfortable shoe then do yourself a favor and get some foam or gel cushions for your shoe - you can get them at any Target, shoe store or drug store usually for $8-25. You'll thank me later.
Tom's original Buccaneer style boots he later wore on action May 2010
Later Baker got into the Buccaneer style leather boots, the brown suede boots he wore in Face of Evil, the swamp bamboo boots in Power of Kroll and the full brogue Oxford Shoes (from Lobb, in dark tan suede) that he wore in Season 18. Although he later went back to the buccaneer boots in later Season 18. So you have other options for later variations.
The Shirt:
The Season 12 shirt was a light plaid-on-white shirt. These kinds of shirts are still around so you can scour thrift stores, ebay as well as standard clothing outlets like Banana Republic, The Gap, Old Navy etc. for this. I found some decent matches at JC Penny and It's a Wrap in Burbank.
My first version came from Jet Rag in West LA. The one I currently use is a great match I found at Hollister. Technically called a Daily Ranch shirt (in Grey). Although it doens't look like they sell this one anymore.
Update 1/7/09- Hollister is currently offering another shirt with a similar criss-cross pattern in a blue on white that's another pretty good match for the season 12 shirt. Check them out or keep an eye on ebay where these tend to turn up.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
His later shirts are the mid-19th Century standing collar shirts although the one he wears in the Ribos Operation is yellow-tinted. He wears more a modern collar shirt (usually open with no tie) by Season 17.
Budget Option- Any white standard dress shirt (preferrably without the collar buttons) you may already own or can purchase at any Dept Store or Suit outlet.
Season 18 Shirt - This one is tricky. It's got a very specialized double collar- both a very wide almost lapel-like or super wide wingtip collar.
More on the S18 Shirt:
http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/397057.html#cutid1
More than probably this would have to be custom made or you'd have to take standard dress shirt and re-do the collar to match. It appears like five and Six's shirts- this one doesn't have any breast pockets as well.
For the question marks though we have the graphic files for that- courtesy of the grand skills of Kingfish from the doctorwhoforum.
(4th Doctor Mark Version 1)
(4th Doctor Mark Version 2)
What I would suggest for those starting from scratch is to take your chosen dress shirt and take it to an embroiderer to have the question marks added in red copper-tone (Baker's was a lighter tone than Davison's or Colin's FYI) thread. Bring a lot of ref pics and if possible I'd do up a mock 1:1 scale drawing/pattern to show exactly what you want.
Mr. Stitch in Sherman oaks is great for this - I highly recommend them!
www.mr-stitch.com
http://mrstitch.reachlocal.net/
However digitizing the file and embroidering the shirt will run you $60-$70.
Another spot recommended by the Dragon con folks is:
Wicked Stitches
354 N Broadway
Salem, NH 03079
(603) 890-9601
For the Season 18 shirt from scratch you can also go to Magnoli Clothiers who will do this shirt for the same price as the Six shirt - $195.00 - He already has the above graphics and everything.
http://magnolic.ipower.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=281
The Pants/Trousers:
Baker typically wore gray wool donegal tweed pants. His Season 12 pair was characterized as being especially baggy with large roomy pockets. They're an older Edwardian turn of the century high-waisted style as well having no belt loops and were held up with dark suspenders.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
I started with a grey pair of baggy suit slacks from Jet Rag for about $18. Any grey baggy pants will get you by. If you want to get closer just find a grey tweed with a kind of 'flecked grey' texture to it. Later he wore brown pants and more of a light tartan pattern grey trousers so those are other options to consider. And of course the plum pants from Season 18.
The Season 18 breeches were finewale corduroy, dyed to match the coat. June Hudson briefly considered black cord trousers or breeches at one point, and some swatches of that fabric do survive (again, see drawings shown on Tom Baker's website).
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
My current pair was a custom commission from www.the-magic-wardrobe.com.
And they nailed it- I couldn't be happier with these pants.
I sourced the fabric from B. Black and Sons in Downtown LA- cost around $35 for 3 & 1/2 yards. It's cheaper to buy wool tweed fabrics in the off season-summertime to FYI.
Two places you can have similar pants made or ordered from:
http://www.historyinthemaking.org/catalogue/mencost1885-1910.html
http://www.harristweedshop.com/traditional-trousers.html
UPDATE 1/28/09
I have seen some excellent looking pants for the 4th Doctor- a nice flecked grey tweed in the Men's dept at Macy's by Claiborne. These are currently on sale for $40.
The Sweater:
I really dig that Brown/off-white/yellow argyle cardigan Baker wears but it is a major pain in the butt to find.
(The pullover as it was in 2004)
Since this is a knit item, having one custom made is very cost prohibitive. I got a quote from a couple of people and the cost almost equaled what I spent on the entire costume. So here I don't recommend going the custom route.
Finding and modifying though- by all means.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
What I'd suggest for the budget costumer is looking for a simple black and white argyle cardigan as your starter. Or... find a better color match and get a argyle pullover V-neck as your starter. Either can be had usually for under $50.
Some online options to get you in the range
http://www.paulfredrick.com/catalog/PFProductDetails.aspx?rootcat=11|Knits/Sweaters&Category=KnitsSweaters&ProductId=KFE767V&sc=XBU1NT
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/77217?cm_ven=NewGate&cm_cat=Nextag&cm_pla=Datafeed
J Crew used to offer a decet one.
http://www.jcrew.com/mens-clothing.jsp
As well as Land's End
http://www.landsend.com/ix/mens-clothing/index.html?tab=1&seq=1&page=1&pageSize=12&store=le&cm_re=Men-_-D-4
Target Stores in the USA offered some nice argyle sweaters with long sleeves and a V-neck that would make good Four S12 sweaters in Oct-Dec of 2009/2010 and 2011. They would need to be 'cardigan-ized' but as-is they would have a good read overall. The brown is the best but the black or berry might do as well.
This is the cloest the offer at the moment but it's worth it to keep checking to see if they get something close to the winter season range back in stock
http://www.target.com/Merona-Cardigan-Sweater-Ebony/dp/B003LL9WK4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=argyle%20sweater&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-5&qid=1285180964&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Merona%20Cardigan%20Sweater%20Ebony&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0
And for women crossplayers - a good option:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_007B8067000P?vName=Clothing&cName=Women%27s&sName=Sweaters&sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=007B8067000P
Also Marks and Spencer in the UK (as of 11/16/2009) is offered a Argyle cridgan that is a reasonable match to the Season 12 sweater. Sold out now but her's a general link to keep checking in case they get another in.
http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/search?node=&field-keywords=argyle+sweater&viewID=results&intid=gnav_search
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
I ended up with a pretty close brown/off-white argyle pullover for my first costume. Not finding anything closer pattern/color wise I then had the same argyle pull over 'cardiganized' by The Magic Wardrobe who added the sleeves (which should not match - i.e. the sleeves should be a lighter brown than the shade used in your argyle. More than probably even Baker's original was a custom/customized piece) and shifted the armhole ribbing to the front & adding the buttons. Even though it doesn't have front pockets or the yellow in the argyle it's a pretty darn close match in the end.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
1-24-11: A new cheap option for a ready made cardigan that's nicely in the range:
http://cgi.ebay.com/G044-Mens-casual-v-neck-Argyle-knit-Cardigan-BROWN-/260683595611?pt=US_CSA_MC_Outerwear&var=&hash=item82638ce106
The Season 13-15 Variation Tartan Vest:
For those looking to do the Season 13 & onwards brown/tan/black/ (with hints of red) plaid vest.... I wish you luck. It's an extremely hard tartan to find a match (with a bit of a houndstooth check quality in it - just to make it extra hard to find a match!) for but here's some info and tips for you.
From the Prydon Academy discussion:
"I'm reasonably certain that the tartan on Tom Baker's Season 14 vest is a Stewart Fawn trade tartan, in a houndstooth pattern. Keep in mind that tartans are defined by the colors and order used, but not by shade- so you may find this tartan with the base color anywhere from light taupe to medium brown. The houndstooth check is going to make it more difficult if you're really picky about accuracy.
Stewarts were a huge clan, so lots of tartans, and this is one of the
least commonly used. Similar and possibly easier to find are the Loch
Ness trade, and Burberry Check.
While the Stewart Fawn trade is very close, I suspect that the vest wasn't a proper tartan at all, but just a plaid houndstooth material (not all plaids have a clan or district affiliation.)
Great sources for plaid id by color-
http://houseoftartan.com/house/reverse.asp
and
http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/Site/searchintroc2.asp
House of Tartan doesn't carry waistcoats but they do sell fabric- but it ain't cheap. Do a google search for Highland Games in your area- either go shop there or look at the vendors listed and contact them directly. Try Scots Corner or Scotland by the Yard, I know they have lots of things they don't list on their websites.
http://www.scotscorner.net/
http://www.scotlandbytheyard.com/
Lots of tartan waistcoats at http://www.scotlandshop.net/ or
http://www.shop.com/Scotland_Shop_US-c87264-c!.shtml , "Thomson Camel"
is also very close- email them to see what else they might have not listed."
Another tip is to keep your mind open- check old 70's (to get that vintage color palette) skirts, coats, blazers and of course vests to see if a good fabric donor can be gleaned that way.
Other options are to do as the Doctor says and "improvise." Kenredtail found his tartan Season 13 vest in a green plaid which he then dyed yellow to get it in the range and had his GF make him a vest out of the material. Peter Dummer found his in a thrift/charity shop. Always good to keep the eyes peeled and the mind open.
I've recently found a couple of decent base houndtooth/light checks in the right color palette. One was a cashmier I saw at Mood Fabrics running $70 a yard (yikes!) and the other was a wool with slightly better color mix (but the overall palette a shade or two darker) in the Garment District downtown for a much better $4 per yard. I'm playing around with sewing a sheer black/brown ribbon over the latter to re-create the thick criss-cross stripes the vest had. We'll see how it comes out.
Here's the swatch of the cahsmier fabric
And here's the cheaper wool fabric with some black sheer ribbon to give you an idea of what can be done with it. I'm ruling out the ribbon option now because it's too reflective however I'm looking into airbrushing this fabric with the thick lines (in a gradual fashion to mimic the real deal). If my tests work out- I'll report back here and probably make a post proper on it.
(With extra striping)
(Wool fabric as-is without extra striping)
(Another Season 14 style vest find - photo by Peter Dummer)
The Season 18 Waist Coat:
Tom's S18 waist Coat was single breasted with a shawl collar and made from a maroon/plum Velvet with a floral pattern and a gold undertone which came through in the right light.
For more on this waistcoat please see:
http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/397057.html#cutid1
The Neckerchief:
Thanks to stumpycat and tothgraphics on the Doctor Who Forum I've updated some information on Baker's neck wear:
Baker wore a green and black stripe what appears to be a lightweight or silk neckerchief or long scarf/bandana around his neck. Apparently Baker himself owned this item prior to being on Doctor Who and it fits being the kind of thing many eccentrics of the late 60's-early 70's wore. It's really more of a long, silky striped neck kerchief.
Matching this can be problematic - aside of the usual suspects of where to find a scarf I can tell you how I approached mine.
My first version for a striped tie I bought at Jet Rag in west LA for $8.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
My current version - I found a pretty good fabric match at a stall in the fabric district in Downtown LA with the right looking color and pattern in a light stretch almost supplex-like material. I took the fabric and had it made into the scarf with pointed ends like his at about 4" width and 48" length so it could wrap around my neck wonce and hang low. Seamstress cost was around $35. Fabric per yard was $5.
Update 1/9/09
I recently found another good match for the Season 12 neckerchief fabric for $1 per yard in the Garment District again it's made of a soft stretchy almost supplex material again. If anyone's looking and in need let me know, I might be able to spare some or check back there for more.
(Latest Neckerchief fabric find)
Baker later wore a thick billowy (and later a thinned down version) burgandy cloth neck scarf. This was worn more like a haphazard and hacked off necktie almost, or at times ascot-style and even at times with a stickpin making it appear as a cravat. This was used throughout most of Seasons 13-15. In historical terms this is something men wore in the earlier half of the 19th century (Roughly 1840's-1860's) since as most of Tom's costume during this period in season 13-15 seems to be a playful take on this early Victorian -NOT Edwardian- time period. Although a vintage or 1920's style necktie may get you in the range here.
Also in Talons of Weng-Chiang he seems to have worn a regular modern red
with black polka dot neck tie.
Tom only seemed to wear a "proper" cravat at times in Season 16 (namely, episodes like Pirate Planet and Ribos Operation and in season 15's Invasion of Time.
Coutesy of tothgraphics:
For information on ties and Various knots to use to tie the maroon neck scarf or any Four Neckwear:
"The 85 Ways To Tie a Tie. The Science and Aesthetics of Tie Knots" published in 1999. (ISBN: 1841152498 / 1-84115-249-8)
http://www.amazon.com/85-Ways-Tie-Science-Aesthetics/dp/1841155683/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241457828&sr=8-1
“The Book of Ties: 188 Knots for Necks: History, Techniques and Photographs” by Davide & Villarosa, Riccardo Mosconi - Published in 1985, through their chain of “Tie Rack” shops. Invaluable. On the end-papers alone, it gives detailed diagrams on how to tie 48 different knots. (No not the Boy-Scout kind.) The 190 pages between these covers offer a treasure trove of details about men’s neckwear throughout history, but with special emphasis on the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, whole chapters are devoted to Ties, Bow-ties, Cravats & Ascots and other forms of neckwear. - While long out of print the book can be had for as little as $17.00 on AbeBooks.com, and I’m sure that you can also find it on eBay as well. Rarely has a single fashion subject been dealt with better in print.
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Ties-188-Knots-Necks/dp/B0000EEZHL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241457852&sr=8-1
For cravats I point you back to here:
http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/neckties.php?from=leftnav
Your cheapest option is to find a good satin or stretch cotton burgandy fabric, buy a yard and cut a strip for yourself to wear as a cravat/ascot.
The Jacket/Coat:
Baker's Season 12 coat was a red corduroy hacking or safari jacket with four front pockets and dark grey suede elbow patches. The safari jacket cut/styling was more 60's style than 70's though so FYI. It also has matching faux woven leather shank buttons - 5 for closure, 3 smaller buttons per sleeve (6 total) and also one for all 4 pocket closures. Because this was such a hard coat to find a close match to... I finally bit the bullet and had this coat custom commissioned through the Magic Wardrobe.
http://www.the-magic-wardrobe.com/
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
Wardrobe does fab work, but commissioning this jacket (or any item) from them will be cost prohibitive for most folks. For those looking to make this jacket I'm not sure where to tell you to find a suitable pattern but the corduroy is readily available at most fabric stores including Jo Ann and Michael Levine's. What I tended to run into on the jacket was finding a good deep red but the whales on the corduroy were too big and vice versa so bear that in mind. They need to be thin first and foremost. I went with a cinnamon cord.
For DIY Costumers- here's a good starter sewing Pattern to use for the Safari S12 jacket: http://www.patronsdecouture.com/burda-7523.htm
*Update 9-1-09*
Baron Boutique is now offering the Season 12 Four Safari Coat for $269.
http://www.baronboutique.com/movie_replica_3.htm (Bottom of page)
Baron offers this Four coat. It looks great for the money.
http://www.baronboutique.com/movie_replica/4th_dr_who/pictures/4th_dr_who_coat_pictures.htm
(Baron Boutique Season 12 Four Coat images)
-----------------------------
UPDATE 2-11-11:
CosplaySky.com is also now offering the Season 12 Safari Jacket for $150.00
It's got a few issues but hard to not consider for the price.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64756312/dr-who-4th-doctor-who-tom-baker-red
_______________________________________
If you want to try the thrift store and ebay route look for safari jackets, corduroy coats and more specifically corduroy car coats. I ended up going with the last option as a starter coat and it did the job as a mix between the Season 12 and Season 14 coat. It had the brown color and length/cut of a frock but the corduroy of a 70's coat. I purchased it from this vintage dealer online:
http://www.vintagetrends.com/
Last I checked as of 10/08, they still had a couple that were very close to what I bought in 2004.
Also note this jacket WAS sold off the peg back in the day. I've heard from a few UK fans this was sold at a few shops near the BBC in the mid 70s- though they're not sure if this was in response to Dr. Who or if the BBC simply bought a few for Tom to wear in Season 12. So they're out there.... somewhere.
But there is hope as kenredtail can attest - he was able to score his corduroy blazer with elbow patches from a thrift shop though he found it in yellow and he did have to dye it red, so keep your options open if you go this route.
Pete Dummer in the UK also found a really nice match for the safari Season 12/13 jacket - so the finds are out there! This jacket is a 'safari' corduroy but in beige which he then dyed a few times to get it a nice dark red. He later added elbow patches and he was good to go.
(Peter Dummer's Season 13 Four jacket and costume. Photos by P. Dummer)
The trick as always is timing and finding one in your size. The nice thing is if you have the color and material right then things like pocket detail will be hidden once your wearing the scarf so you don't have to get this right first time out of the gate.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
For the later frock coats Baker wore - I can recommend this site for a custom coat - although not really accurate, it's the best price I've seen for a custom velvet frock:
http://www.baronboutique.com/men_4.htm
(about middle down the page- they do this coat in brown or bugandy)
I'm actually checking with Baron to see if they'll make a screen accurate velvet frock coat like he wore in the Pyramids of Mars. They seem to think this is doable and have even found a good fabric match- I'll update when I have more news here.
FYI on any of Tom's later frocks: Most Edwardian/Victorian jackets have faux pockets. (You can tell because there is not even a slight pocket pucker at the top below the flap usually.) The real, extra-deep pockets seem to be a built-in trademark of the Doctor's coat that you'll never find outside of special order.
But we all wants pockets top pull Doctory-items from so regardless if possible you want the coat pockets to be functional.
Pete Dummer in the UK found a good match on this dark burgandy/wine velvet Frock on ebay. Again the finds are out there if the timing is in your direction.
(Ebay/Thrift found Season 14 Four costume - by Peter Dummer)
Also there's this pattern single breasted done in the grey wool/tweed or brown velvet or beige tweed depending on which coat you want to go with.
http://www.lafnmoon.com/frock_coat.html
Although finding something 'in the range' for a starter coat is much easier for the Grey or Beige tweed coats if you look in the winter/overcoat section of any clothing/thrift/vintage store.
Another good option as a starter coat for the Wine or Brown velvet frocks he wore between Season 13 and Season 16 (and 17 if you count Shada) is at anthony's formal wear.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/anthony-formalwear-clearance
www.anthonyformalwear.co.uk
FYI for those looking:
"edward" jacket in their listings is a good base "Four" style in Brown or Burgandy velvet. Not screen accurate though - the lapels are more standard/smaller (no notches), and it's single breasted. But for the prices they come up on their ebay clearance (starting in the $30 range) section they are hard to beat. Good option to consider.
For a basic rundown on his other coats:
The brown wool knee length overcoat - Sontaran Experiment & Genesis of the Daleks
The wine/burgandy velvet double breasted frock coat - Pyramids of Mars, Masque of Mandragora, The Hand of Fear, The Deadly Assassin, The Face of Evil, The Robots of Death.
The wine/burgandy velvet coat at auction through Bonhams in 2004.
The brown velvet double breasted frock coat (longer past knee length) used in Season 15,16 and 17. Image of the Fendahl, The Invasion of Time, The Ribos Operation, The Pirate Planet, The Stones of Blood, The Androids of Tara, Nightmare of Eden, & Shada.
The Grey flocked Irish tweed double breasted Victorian frock coat with, brown elbow patches, & deep brown corduroy cuffs and collar - Android Invasion, Seeds of Doom, the Brain of Morbius, The Invisible Enemy, The Sun Makers and Horror of Fang Rock. This was designed by Barbara Lane. FYI There are two large dark brown buttons per sleeve on the corduroy cuffs.
The beige/tan tone grey tweed Victorian frock coat with brown piping/edging Seaoson 16 and 17 - Power of Kroll, The Armageddon Factor, Destiny of the Daleks, City of Death, Creature From the Pit, & the Horns of Nimon.
The Plum/burgandy Russian style overcoat with cape-like collar, full skirted calf length and double breasted. - Basically all of Season 18, Leisure Hive, Meglos, FulL Circle, State of Decay, Warriors' Gate, Keeper of Traken, Logopolis.
The plum Norfolk Jacket (worn under the overcoat) - Season 18 (Leisure Hive only)
For more on the Season 18 costume please see this post:
http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/397057.html#cutid1
For the Plum Russian style overcoat from Season 18 you're on your own. Off the top of my head I'd say look for Russian military coats at thrift or army surplus stores that are in a lighter color and can be dyed. Otherwise search out large overcoats in purple or deep red (although this color will be more readily available for women than men so you may have to look for oversized women's coats). It is lined in matyching red/burgundy satin, although due to some lighting in the stories it sometimes appears as a dark green lining.
Or you can simply commission the S18 coat from some of the links I've previously mentioned. Sorry I don't have more info. This is my least favorite version of the Tom Baker outfit so I've never seriously looked into have a replica made.
Update 2011:
Cosplaysky now offer the Season 13/15 Irish Tweed frock and the Season 17 Frock in addition to the Season 12 jacket.
http://cosplaysky.com/ecru-brown-long-trench-coat-suit-costume-custom-made.html
Season 17 Frock $179.00
http://cosplaysky.com/wenge-brown-long-trench-coat-costume-custom-made.html
Season 13/15 Coat $189.00
http://cosplaysky.com/who-is-doctor-dr-red-brown-corduroy-trench-coat-costume.html
Seaosn 12 Coat $150.00
Magnoli also now offers the Season 17 Frock and the Season 18 overcoat.
http://www.magnoliclothiers.com/baker-frock-coat-overcoats-p-396.html
Season 17 Coat- $850.00
http://www.magnoliclothiers.com/baker-great-coat-xl-overstock-p-417.html
Season 18 Coat - $795.00
Baron Boutique now offers the Season 17 Frock as well.
www.baronboutique.com (4th page of movie replicas)
Baron Season 17 coat- $479.00
The Scarf:
Ah Tom and his incredibly long multi-colored Scarf. Is there any other piece of who costuming more iconic? More identifable with the charater?
The original Season 12 scarf was knit by Begonia Pope, and its extreme length resulted from a misunderstanding. The costume designer provided Pope with lots of yarn, and she knit all of it. There is no repeating pattern to the colors or the sizes of the stripes.
For more on the history of the scarf go here:
http://community.livejournal.com/who_knits/1980.html
or here:
http://www.doctorwhoscarf.com/history.php
The Season 12 scarf I wear was actually donated to me by a friend of mine who had it knitted for him by his ex-wife. It's about 25 years old - knitted back in the glory days of Dr. Who fandom when you could walk into a yarn store here in the USA and find a "Dr. Who" yarn section!
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
But for approaching knitting a scarf today:
You first stop is the invaluable website:
www.doctorwhoscarf.com
Where he outlines the different scarves Tom Baker wore and the patterns for each as well as the best yarn recommendations (by brand and exact color/number) for each.
I also recommend for further yarn selection and knitting tips:
http://wittylittleknitter.com
and
www.scarffactory.com
I'm having a second one being knitted for me as a back up in the Season 12 pattern (my favorite). Chris (the guy who runs the website) has some new yarn recommendations for this scarf however I really love how his finished scarves in the Jo Sharp wool turned out (check out his finished scarves section to see) so I'm having my new one knitted with that yarn. The trick with Jo Sharp is a lot of the colors he recommended are discontinued but here are some spots if you want to go this route too.
www.tapestrycraft.com.au/catalog/multi_info.php?cPath=1_341_447&osCsid=f2e0e91tgn5urakoduj82itk25&multiID=447
www.handworksgallery.com/jsclasdky.htm
(word of warning, a had a shipment of yarn get lost through these people so FYI)
http://www.yarncountry.com/categories.aspx?catid=304
http://www.yarnatwebsters.com/jo-sharp-classic-dk-wool.html
http://www.threadbearfiberarts.com/yarns/show_yarn.php?vendor=josharp&&yarn=classicdkwool
http://www.the-mannings.com/mannings_catalog.cgi?dct=on&tt=68
And this seller on ebay
search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcam3au
All are great places to find Jo Sharp yarn- even discontinued colors.
The woman who's knitting my second scarf in the correct garter stitch is open to taking other commissions as well. Her name is Kathy Halbisch, she lives in Australia and you can reach her here: kathy.halbisch@bigpond.com. She's willing to be flexible on commission prices as well. Her ebay name is little_fieldmouse.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
He doesn't list it anymore because of the unavailabilty of the colors but FYI the Jo Sharp colors to be used for a Season 12/13 scarf are:
Jo Sharp:
804 "Embers" (Brown) about 2 balls
339 "Smoke" (Gray) about 3 balls
503 "Amethyst" (Purple) about 2 balls
322 "Ginger" (Yellow) about 2 balls
005 "Camel" (Tan) about 4 balls
803 "Lichen" (Green) about 4 balls
326 "Ruby" (Red) about 3 balls
Alt. Yarn color/brands to choose which are more readily available and look just as good for Season 12/13:
Purple - "Red Heart Soft" (3729/Grape)
Red - "Vanna's Choice" (133/Brick)
Yellow - "Cascade 220" (2415)
Green - "Mission Falls 1824 Wool" (07)
Brown - "Cascade 220 Heathers" (2453)
Beige - "Jo Sharp Wool" (005/Camel)
Gray - "Blue Sky Cotton" (625)
2009 Yarn choices from doctorwhoscarf.com for a Season 12-14 scarf:
Red - Nashua "Julia" (0178 - "Harvest Spice")
Purple - Nashua "Julia" (4345 - "Coleus")
Gray - Nashua "Julia" (0122 - "Steel Grey")
Beige - Cascade 220 Wool (8622) -- 2 skeins
Brown - Jamieson's Shetland Aran (1190 - "Burnt Umber") -- 2 skeins
Green - Lion "Cotton Ease" (125 - "Hazelnut")
Yellow - Patons "Classic Wool Merino" (00204 - "Old Gold")
Chris at doctorwhoscarf has further perfected his colors to the following:
* Red - Cascade 220 Superwash (823) Burnt orange -- 2 skeins
* Purple - Cascade 220 (9572) Cabernet
* Gray - Plymouth "Encore" (6001) -- 2 skeins
* Beige - Cascade 220 Wool (1208) Tan -- 2 skeins
* Green - Universal Deluxe Worsted (12181 "Bronze Brown") -- 2 skeins
* Yellow - Universal Deluxe Worsted (12182 "Gold Spice") -- 1 skein
* Brown - Rowan Pure Wool DK (16) Hessian -- 2 skeins
Although TARDIS-Tara had this too add on yarn choices:
"I don't care much for his latest yarn suggestion which combines different fibers and different weight yarns in one scarf. In knitting, this is a big no-no.
My current suggestion for yarns and colors is--
Berrocco Ultra Alpaca (an alpaca/wool blend-- very soft)
6212 purple
6293 brown
6208 tan
6236 red
6272 green
6253 gold
6289 charcoal
or:
Mission Falls 136, !00% washable Merino Wool (very nice)
006 Oatmeal
004 Charcoal
007 Cocoa
110 Russet
113 Curry
014 Dijon
024 Damson (I wish this were more red)
Which are good but no heathers in mission Falls and to have a good Baker Scarf you have to have Heathers in the brown.
Going Cheaper through a Jo-Ann Fabrics in Acrylic for those who are allergic to Wool:
The only yarn I've found in 100% acrylic that has vaguely close colors is Vanna's Choice.
Beige 123
Olive 174
Charcoal 151
Brick 133
Toffee 124
Eggplant 145
Mustard 158
And for the Season 18 scarf (Which was produced under the aegis of June Hudson's principal maker at the time, Roger Oldhamstead) for those who don't want to shell out for the expensive but originally used chenille yarn - try:
Lion Brand, Lion Suede (Michael's, and Jo Anne Fabrics have it-- and when they do sales, you can get it dirt cheap)
147 Eggplant
133 Spice
189 Garnet
It's important to try and have Heathered yearns for this scarf. Heathered yarns are a mottled, softer color. If you look at them up close, it's not one color, it's several and they fade and blend into one another. If you look close, you'll see the different threads of different colors.
Most yarns are a solid color. No mottling.
In the Season 12 through 17 scarves, there's a lot of heathered yarns.
But obviously go with whatever works for you. I suspect the new yarn he recommended will be cheaper than the Jo Sharp which typically runs between $7.00-$9.00 a ball.
Further yarn recommendations and patterns can be found on the doctorwhoscarf.com site for later seasons as well.
UPDATE: Also TARDIS_Tara has pantone matched the original screen worn Season 16/17 scarf! (Although this is really the Season 12 and 14 scarves knitted together). You can find out these colors and her patterns/yarn recommendations base don these colors at: http://wittylittleknitter.com! And yes she does knit scarves on commission.
Her latest yarn choices based on her pantone color matches:
Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport using Size 3 needles
Or Brown Sheep Worsted Weight (closer to the original which was a DK weight) using Size 5 needles.
N465 Red Fox
N065 Chuck Berry
1233 Saddle Tan
1255 Golden Rod
1365 Choclate Kisses
2095 Wood Moss
8805 Charcoal
FYI both these Brown Sheep weights use the same color names and are from the same dye lots.
Cascade 220 using Size 7 needles
9463B Gold
9488 Christmas red
9499 sand
2453 Pumpkin spice
9473 Gris
9459 Yakima heather
8885 Dark Plum
Having looked at the cascade 220 and brown sheep colors i can personally vouch that the Brown Sheep colors look better to me- excellent read to the real scarf pictures!
Just remember the scarf should be roughly 12-13 feet long or at least long enough to reach the ground going around the wearer's neck once. It should be hand knit in garter stitch and about 5-6 inches wide (folded over). The yarn should be DK or sport weight.
For those without the knitting skills or friend's who have knitting skills I recommend ebay or timelord knitwear here:
www.timelord-knitwear.piczo.com
or here:
http://longscarf.winnfreenet.com/time.php
Another spot to order yourself a custom scarf is through ScarfSister (formerly Gocze on ebay)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScarfSister
Also Tara (who runs http://wittylittleknitter.com) will knit scarves on commission. She can be reached through her website.
All 4 versions of the Tom Baker scarf in some fashion pop up on ebay variously- in the $80-$160 range. Usually these copies are stockinette stitch which is smoother and not accurate but usually cheaper. If you're all about accuracy then wait for a hand knitted garter stitch scarf (which has the 'ribs' in it) and is how Tom's were done.
My first 2004 scarf was bought from a woman in IL who sold Dr. Who scarves on ebay under mykraftkorner. Current ebay sellers to look up for the scarf include gocze (who's scarves look the most authentic to my eye), anniesknits, knittertoo, and weesweatpea.
Pics of the 2004 scarf
One can always join in on whoknits Dr. Who Scarf Knit Along too:
http://community.livejournal.com/who_knits/112902.html?mode=reply
New Scarf in 2009!
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
I commissioned this from a woman in Australia named Kathy I did a trade with several months back (for a Dalek Dome!). Overall I'm very pleased with this. It's the Season 12 pattern which one can find at www.doctorwhoscarf.com and knitted in the Jo Sharp wool color in DK or sport weight. The Jo Sharp colors he recommended are mostly discontinued now FYI- I had to do a lot of searching on the secondary market and ebay to find everything I needed. I stuck with these because out of Chris's finished scarves I liked the look of these colors best.
My only concern is that now that the colors are more muted like the original, I'm uncertain it compliments the overall costume the same way as my previously used scarf did. The old scarf, while excellent, was a bit bright in some of the colors. However, this could just be me being far too used to the previous scarf - like Eight's shoes I may just need to "break it in".
FYI - Kathy is open to doing others if anyone is not knitting inclined and wants a Four Scarf - you can reach her at her new e-mail kathymaree@gmail.com.
Another option for the scarf is scarfactory's etsy store where he sells Season 12-Season 14 versions in the $100-$150 range grater stitch.. keep your eyes peeled on his store for his next batch of sales:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cuteorkill
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Old and New - Side by Side
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
New Scarf!
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Old Scarf
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
The Hat:
Tom Baker wore mainly two different hats. His Season 12 Hat is a dark brown wide brimmed floppy hat with a tall crown. Hie later Season 13-14 hat was made in dark bottle green with unfinished long fur with a lightly shorter crown. His Season 18 hat was a plum fedora with a shorter brim size to match that look.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
All three hats (and multiples for shooting) were made by Herbert Johnson hatters in the UK. You can always write Herbert Johnson directly about a copy but they seem like they stick mainly to military headwear now. And they're spotty about returning emails but FYI.
http://www.herbert-johnson.co.uk/
http://www.toddscostumes.com/indy/HJ%20Indiana%20Jones%20Fedora/herbert_johnson_fedora.htm
You can have Tom Baker replica hats made though. I had mine done through Baron hats here in Burbank. http://www.baronhats.com/
They have a lot of experience recreating iconic TV and movie hats and they did a pretty good job. They also do the later dark green hat- since one of the Prydonian members ordered his there.
They can do the hat in rabbit or beaver felt- the latter being more expensive and more durable but both look great. A Rabbit custom will run you about $300-$425. A Beaver custom hat will run you $500-$600.
Another option is http://www.petersbros.com/ - who do good custom work.
(Baron's verson of the Bottle Green Baker Hat in unfinished long rabbit felt)
The budget option on the hat, aside from say a large brimmed safari hat you may find in a hat shop or halloween store, would be the Indiana Jones fedora. My first Tom Baker hat was the Indy fedora that was (and I believe still is) sold at Disneyland.
You can buy them in the $30-$60 range here:
http://shop.indianajones.com/catalog/category.xml?category_id=408152&rid=CPC
http://www.villagehatshop.com/indiana_jones_hats.html
http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/category/mens-indiana-jones-hats.html
The reason the Indy hat makes a good budget Season 12 Tom Baker is because the Raiders of the Lost Ark hats were also made by Herbert Johnson. They used the same base style for both hats- the 'Poet' - so it's a close cousin to the Baker hat. Another option is to search ebay for Herbert Johnson hats and specifcally the poet style and you may also get lucky.
In 2009: I technically got a new hat. When I took my custom hat in for a slight rebashing and distressing, they ended up ruining it (TWICE). So they had to order a whole new hat body in each time and they finally got it right. Albeit it's still on the stiff side. But it has the taller crown and a nice "Robot" shape which I'm happy with.
(Goofing off and literally eating my new Four hat - Photo by Vickie Sebring)
(Offering Sarah some Jelly babies - Photo by Vickie Sebring)
Update 2/09/09
Thanks to Captain Threepwood on the DWF- another decent budget-esque hat has been found for the Season 12/Season 13 hat (think Pyramids of Mars). It's overall a better match than the Indy hat (taller crown, wider brim) and worth a look. It's available through Wild West Mercantile (in choclate) for $112.
http://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=A8298&type=store&category=1140
****4th Doctor Hat Tutorial:
For those looking for a cheaper option to a custom hat and don't like the Adventurer/Indiana Jones Hats- here's a brilliant tutorial written by Penwiper on how to go about finding/making your own Four hat!
http://dw-cosplay.livejournal.com/960169.html
------
The TARDIS Key:
In Season 12, Baker used famous Gallifrey "Shovel Wedge" Key that Pertwee used in Season 11 (and later again by McGann in the TVM).
You can get one of these shovel keys usually through ebay. There are fan made copies, the 80's convention Spirit of Light keys, the official BBC slightly more filled out keys from the mid-90s, and the newer more accurate thinner keys I see mostly on the convention circuit (distinguished by a lean black box with unmarked clear top). These generally go for $20-$40 on ebay.
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
You can also scour the usual Who online merchants for whenever they might get a small stock of these in through thier acquisitions:
www.doctorwhostore.com
www.whona.com
Most keys come with a chain to hang it on. Baker's Season 12 chain though is exceptionally long - you'll need to find something about 40" to 48" long depending on your torso. Long enough to go around your neck and hang down to your navel or waist. I found mine on ebay- but what you really are after is a simple thin silver chain probably a jewlery making chain.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=TARDIS+key
For Season 14 cosplayers onwards - Baker went back to using the using the Plain Yale key which Hartnell/Troughton/Pertwee used before him for Seasons 1-10. A Yale key can be had through ebay (used key sales), british lock websites, possibly a key making section at your Home Depot or Osh. I find Yale style keys are used mainly for mailboxes and lockers here so FYI.
The Sonic Screwdriver:
The original sonic Screwdriver props originated in the Pertwee era first appearing in the Sea Devils. It was a leftover/modified Thunderbirds Movie prop that got shuffled in use on Dr. Who after they were through with (with some minor painting/re-bashing over the years). The changing look of the prop evolved from repairs and repaints. For instance, the difference between when Pertwee used it and when Baker used it was that the surface decals and rubber O-Rings were removed.
After Tom's departure, Davison used it briefly before it was destroyed on screen in The Visitation. This marks the the only time a stunt prop was created - a crude vac-formed version.
Aside from the original and the 'stunt' prop the only other version used on screen was the new one made for the TVM.
The original metal prop was then kept by Producer John Nathan-Turner where it sat on his desk until the early 1990's when it was stolen and never to be seen again. This is why no good pictures of the original prop have surfaced since then.
However for costuming purposes here's what to do. For a specific Four Sonic one is often sold on ebay through either timelord pocket or Russell's Replicas. Or go direct:
http://www.timelordspocket.com/
I have a modified version of one of these and I'm very happy with it. You can go for any of the minor variations Tom had with the silver or bronze emitter and red or black or bronze emitter rings.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Also Iconic Replicas is putting out a Replica Sonic Screwdriver as well:
www.productenterprise.com/ir/dw_screwdriver.html
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RPDWSS
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Sometimes plastic resin ones are sold (the cheapest option usually $10-$30 ) which will need to be painted. These seem to be molded from the static aluminum Sonics.
And speaking of... those static aluminum ones also crop up - these usually run $75.
(Holding my aluminum static sonic in 2004)
There's also the over-sized 1980's Spirit of Light Sonics that make noise.
update 2010:
You can buy the new Character Options toy! Should Sell between $20 and $40 this is a cheap sonic with SOUND EFX. You can't go wrong with this toy.
http://www.dandbcomics.com/products/498-3rd-doctors-sonic-screwdriver.aspx
This should be availble to buy from other who outlets such as www.whona.com, doctorwhostore.com, bigbadtoystore.com, www.mikescomics.com and www.jrstoyworld.com or of course ebay.
The Wig:
Unless you naturally have dark curly hair that can be grown out into a 70's mop.... you'll have to get a wig. My hair is dark and curly but sadly not *that* curly and it certainly doesn't get to Tom Baker proportions. I ended up picking up my wig for about $65 at Outfitter Wigs in Hollywood. It didn't even really need any styling.
The Wig was by Mystique. Style NOLA. Color #8. (although Color No. 6 would have worked too- it was just a bit darker brown)
I picked up some extra fake lace brown side burns (because I can't grow any good ones to save my life) from cinema secrets in Burbank for about $35 and I was off and running. They have spirit gum as well if needed.
www.cinemasecrets.com
Outfitter Wigs
(323) 462-3088
6626 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
(Photo By Scott Sebring)
Other props (Courtesy TV episode freeze frames and many suggestions from the community):
Most of these are totally optional!
Jeweler's Eyeglass
Magnifying Glass
Metallic pen or tire gauge
Eaten Apple Core
Yellow Plastic Yo-Yo
Large orange crystal quartz piece
Deck of playing cards (loose/rubber banded)
Large copper tone Time Ring bracelet
An old looking scroll map
1966 style toy batmobile
Coins- preferrably from different countries or 'eras'
Small slinky jr.
Metal Handcuffs
Old ID cards, UNIT etc.
length of string
Upper portion of a recorder (black)
silver dog whitsle (for K9!)
paperback book along the lines of "How to Learn tibetan" or "Everest in easy stages"
yellow ski goggles
A white stuffed bird
A pale blue plastic yo yo
A deed to the city of Skaro
pilots license for the mars/venus rocket run
A galactic passport with lots of things that folded out, like those photo holder things.
A scroll for honourary member of the Alpha Centuri table tennis club.
A telescope
A Magician's Cane (collapsable)
A ratchet handle or Whirl-noisemaker (?)
Not used on screen but well within the kind of thing he'd carry:
Silly putty with red 'egg'
gyroscope
compass
loose keys (differing styles)
allen wrench
loose screws/clips/paperclips/crumpled scotch tape
small scissors
small rock (for testing gravity)
child's toy - small squirt or ray gun perhaps
vending machine capsules with mini-toys
wind-up mouse or USB wireless mouse
white handkerchief
paisley scarf/bandana (any color)
small or piece of circuit board (preferably burnt)
and of course...
Jelly Babies (with trademark white paper bag!)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
I recommend bassett's or norfolk manor.
http://www.wisechoiceuk.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=8336
http://www.dcimports.com/nmjellybabies.html
http://www.britishfoodshop.com/keyword.asp?product=bassetts
And any other fun knick knacks if you want to have them on hand.
Special note on the Season 18 costume:
I'm including the protoype pictures of the Season 18 costume Cloth Ears worked on for future reference only. Unfortunately this was the prototype that caused them to shut down their Dr. Who end of the cusom costuming business so this is not available for sale.
(Cloth Ears Season 18 Four Prototype)
More S18 Cloth Ears pics for reference here:
http://www.clothearscostumes.com/galleries/4dr/
Costume T-shirt
Forbidden planet now offers a 4th Doctor Costume tshirt:
http://forbiddenplanet.com/67582-doctor-who-t-shirts-4th-doctor-costume-forbidden-planet-exclusive/
Fancy Dress Costume:
Forbidden planet now also offers a fancy dress costume which might be a good option for starter/budget costumers 40gbp or $60.00 Med or large:
http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=63269
(FYI there is an accessory pack that is extra needed to complete the costume also for sale on FP).
And that's the Four Costume.
(Photo By Vickie Sebring)
Hope this helps anyone looking to make or upgrade thier own Four.
-honorarydoctor