If you're certain it's a mistake, I'd correct it. You're reproducing a design first, and the error would not have been within the intention of the original design...
Unless the flaw is an intentional character quirk, I'd want to consider carefully if it is a genuine mistake. I think in your example it is, tho, so I'd fix it!
that is my impulse, but by correcting the mistake i would thereby significantly alter the look of the waistcoat by adjusting the pattern of what is (unfortunately) the most visibly prominent part of the garment. hence, my dilemma...
1) how obvious is it? i have no idea. i seem to have developed a reputation for noticing minute details that elude most others. would you notice if the black "wheat heads" of the waistcoat fabric no longer lay in the way they used to? i would, but i don't know if anyone else would...
2) the mistake is purely cosmetic and not structurally significant in any way that i can think of.
If it's cut off grain, that's worth fixing for construction reasons. With regard to the centering, I'd drape and compare to the stills. If centering doesn't make the waistcoat look noticeably different, I'd center it. The error probably is not visible in the show, but might be fairly obvious up close in person, so a properly centered cut might look more true to what people think the real version looks like. It's sort of like having a screen-accurate color versus true-to-reality color, or perfectly screen-accurate props versus more detailed/polished props that look better up close. I'd rather have the outfit appear as it does in the show/film than as the actual costume looks in person; to me the "true" appearance is the one the audience sees in the final product.
perhaps my use of terminology hasn't been correct. the waistcoat fabric has (in effect) a grid of dark dots (the "wheat heads" referred to earlier). on the right-hand panel, that grid is oriented so that the front center-line of the waistcoat falls at the mid-point between two columns of dots. on the left-hand panel, the center-line falls (more-or-less) directly on a vertical line of dots, so the effect is merely optical and not so much structural.
while the left-hand panel is cut off-grain, i estimate that it is not by more than 10 degrees - not ideal, but manageable.
i agree that a "more-polished-than-orthodox-'studio accurate'" look is preferable, i find myself concerned that such a correction might trigger a more subliminal reaction of "something's not right", even if the viewer is not consciously aware of what the actual difference may be.
I would fix it. What if you wanted to use the garment as part of another costume or an original ensemble? Especially something like that waistcoat which is pretty cool and would go nicely in other types of outfits.
in general principle, i would agree, but as this fabric is effectively irreplaceable (unless HonoraryDoctor organizes another run), i'm not inclined to induce any wear-and-tear on the waistcoat not directly related to it being part of the Eighth Doctor costume.
In similar situations I've often decided to do what I think the *character* would wear, not necessarily the actor.
Sometimes this means choosing to go with how something appears on screen instead of in real life, or sometimes making the underlayers more complete without stage short-cuts, etc.
But as the title of your post suggests, this is my philosophical approach to costuming, I don't think there's really an objectively correct answer.
To the average viewer the first glance will tell them its the 8th Doctor. The entire ensemble is what people take in and with a jacket over the waistcoat its not likely to be noticed. Try it and see with the entire outfit. If it still bugs you after first outing then it might be you need to fix it. I'm a little obsessive compulsive about detail but at some point I have to remember its supposed to be fun. Whatever you choose to do own it and have fun wearing it!
I hear you, its a dilemma scarf makers have to cover, do you recreate the colours at the expense of mixing different fibres and fibre weights, or make it all in one type of yarn and limit the colourway.
I tend to use acrylic, admittedly and im told it doesnt matter as much though.
At the end of the day, what makes you happy? Then you do that!
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Unless the flaw is an intentional character quirk, I'd want to consider carefully if it is a genuine mistake. I think in your example it is, tho, so I'd fix it!
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1) how obvious is it to fan and general public alike? If no one would have known unless you told them then correct it.
2) will the mistake decrease the wear life of the outfit or its comfort? If so then certainly correct it.
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2) the mistake is purely cosmetic and not structurally significant in any way that i can think of.
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while the left-hand panel is cut off-grain, i estimate that it is not by more than 10 degrees - not ideal, but manageable.
i agree that a "more-polished-than-orthodox-'studio accurate'" look is preferable, i find myself concerned that such a correction might trigger a more subliminal reaction of "something's not right", even if the viewer is not consciously aware of what the actual difference may be.
or, maybe i'm overthinking this whole thing...
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Sometimes this means choosing to go with how something appears on screen instead of in real life, or sometimes making the underlayers more complete without stage short-cuts, etc.
But as the title of your post suggests, this is my philosophical approach to costuming, I don't think there's really an objectively correct answer.
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maybe, just maybe, i get a little too hung-up on accuracy...
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I tend to use acrylic, admittedly and im told it doesnt matter as much though.
At the end of the day, what makes you happy? Then you do that!
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