Stetson are cool!

The start of the new series is soon upon us, and as everyone knows it opens with a special two-part adventure set in America.

From the trailers and publicity still out so far, it appears The Doctor accessorises with appropriate American headwear – a Stetson!

Some more recent candid pictures emerged of the filing for a later episode, and the Stetson seems to crop up again (see left), this time giving us a much better view of it and the chance to find a match.

A bit more classy than the fez from last year, there are a number of places to easily get authentic Stetsons – in screen-accurate designs!

Some eagle-eyed members of the RPF have found out that it’s a Stetson 2X (see right).

OMG -The Doctor has got a new COAT!

Filming on the new series was back on location this week, and we got the very first look at a brand new addition to The Doctor’s wardrobe – a Green Overcoat!

The crew had been filming in a Cardiff department store for what is expected to be an episode from the latter part of Season Six, with James Corden looking like he is returning to play Craig from last seasons The Lodger.

It looks like the Cybermen may be back, with Matt holding what looks like a re-imagining of the cybermat, not seen since 1975.

Luckily some keen Who fans were around to snap some pictures, and these initial images give us the first hint of the rear of the coat, which has a very distinctive yolked back, which seems to hang separate from the body of the coat.

The camera sometimes lies

This coming week is Red Nose Day, and following on for several previous Doctor Who involvements, there is a special mini-episode to be screen as part of the  Comic Relief fund raising entertainment.

This gives the excuse for a Red Nose Day inspired photoshoot. David Tennant had appeared in 2009 to publicise the cause (see left) and this year it turns to Matt Smith to take up the baton.

He was joined in the photocall by Karen and Arthur, and images of them appeared on the cover of this month’s Doctor Who Magazine (see right).

It gives another nice close-up of the new ‘tweed’ jacket Matt wears, as well as the while gridded shirt.

He can also be seen sporting a new bow tie in a midnight blue silk.

Doctor Who Experience preview

Today I went to see the Doctor Who Experience at Olymipa.

It officially opens on Sunday (20th Feb) and there have been test days running for a couple of weeks now, but I opted for one of the preview days, hoping that any problems had been ironed out and going with a heads-up from those who had seen the testers.

I booked my ticket for a 10am entry (the first) and paid a bit extra for a Premium Preview, which includes a number of memorabilia items as well.

The trend towards self-printed e-tickets was a bit disappointing – it’s nice sometimes to come away with your entry ticket to remind you of the date and time you went to this sort of thing.

I got there around 9.30am to find a small queue with a Ten cosplayer, Sam (see left), wearing a Abby Shot coat.

The queue slowly built and on the stroke of 10am the doors opened.

All Saints buses

A little while back I wrote about a spate of Paul Smith Shirts on eBay. Well over the past couple of weeks history has repeated itself – this time though in All Saints Boots!

So far there has been a run of three pairs of boots for sale – and like buses, they al seemed to come at once!

ALL SAINTS BOOTS – UK size 10

First up was a pair in UK size 11. They were erroneously listed as Worker Boots (they should have been Layer Boots).

The boots were in excellent condition, and the heal, despite looking like they had been re-healed (that’s the design of the boots), are original with minimal wear.

This was the description for the boots:

Here for auction we have a 100% genuine pair of All Saints Layer Worker Boots, the exact some ones as worn by Matt Smith as The Doctor in Doctor Who. These are SUPER rare now, and very seldom come up for sale.

This pair are in great condtion, they have only been worn a handful of times and still look great with years of life left in them. The heels, which are the originals, even have hardly any sign of wear! I really doubt you'll find a better pair than these. Remember these were sold out in the shops over a year and a half ago now, so the chance of finding a pair that have this tiny amount of wear is going to be VERY slim.

These really have no problems at all to report.

Not only are these a super rare purchase but they are also super boots to wear, really comfy and have a nice feel and fit to them.

They are a UK 10 44

I am selling these because, as much I like them, I never wear them! And it seems silly to leave them in the wardrobe when someone could be enjoying them.

Thanks for looking and happy bidding.

The starting price was 99p start, and after 9 bidders slugged it out with 18 bids, they sold for £265

Eleven Shirt . . . in green?

To kick off the New Year I thought I’d share with everyone something I made myself late last year.

I had already run myself up a Burgundy and a Blue Matt Smith Shirt, and once they were all done I was itching to make another, but not in the screen-seen colours!

I thought it a bit of fun to make myself on in an imaginary third colourway.

Here it is – let me know what you think!

Merry Christmas to all my readers!

I can’t believe a year has flown by since I last wished everyone a Happy Christmas.

Looking back though, a lot has happened and I’ve completed or started a number of amazing projects.

From updating my Tennant Coat; making a Five Coat or two; starting a replica Tennant suit jacket using original GAP Trousers; making a couple of Inverness Capes (must get round to writing that up!); as well as some smaller item such as Five Hatbands, Six Cravats and Seven Hankies.
However, I think the most exciting has been starting work on a replica Six Frock Coat, which I am so looking forward to getting done next year.

I hope you’ll join me in the following months as it starts to come together.

Radio Times - Christmas Doctor Who cover

Since 2006, the penultimate issue of the Radio Times before Christmas has had a Doctor Who themed cover, and this year is no exception.

In previous years it has been robot Santas (see below, far left), as well as Kylie (see below, left) and David Morrissey (see below, right), before David Tennant bowed out with a solo portrait last year (see below, far right).

This year’s cover show matt Smith in his revamped costume, with Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins sharing a ride in his shark-drawn (!!!!) sleigh.

SFX Magazine Special - bow ties are COOL!

Today saw the publication of the SFX Magazine, Doctor Who: A Celebration.

I particularly wanted to grab a copy as I knew it was to contain a number of costume related items and articles, and it hasn’t disappointed.

While I was on my way to Forbidden Planet to pick up my copy, it occurred to me that the free bow tie could turn out to be some cardboard thing with elastic at the back!
Luckily it is a pukka clip-on bow tie, though a cheap one (hey! what do you expect for a giveaway?)

Only downside is that it’s a child-sized one! (see right, top).

The magazine comes in a large card envelope (see left) which also holds the bow tie and two badges (see above).

From the costume point of view, there are a couple of highlights.

First up as a feature interview with Series Five costume designer Ray Holman.
The best part of this is a discussion on the matt Smith costume, and a reproduction of the design itself! (see below - click to enlarge and read)

Radio Times - first good look ofMatt’s refreshed costume

Today a new copy of the Radio Times dropped through my letterbox (see left).

With Christmas coming soon, this was not actually next weeks issue (that arrived on Tuesday), but the one after, covering the 4th to 10th December.

Right at the very back is a preview of the following issue, being the week before Christmas itself (see right).

Part of the features in that will be inevitable coverage of the Doctor Who Christmas Special, and it’s accompanied by a nice festive portrait of Matt in costume.

As far as I am aware, this is one of the clearest photos I have seen to date, showing the refreshed costume (the paparazzi photo taken during filming were distant and blurred, and official stills to date have been equally unclear).

Eleven TARDISES for Eleven Doctors

If you’ve been reading my other blogs, you’ll have seen that I’ve met up with a number of fellow Who fans and taken them on guided tours of London and the sights to see Who-related.
Amongst my regular stop-off points are the Earls Court Police box and the two Police Posts at Picadilly Circus and St Martin Le Grand.

I always knew of the Picadilly one, but it was some time before I found out about the one near St Pauls. With little other information, I always assumed (the eighth deadly sin) that that was that was left.

But following my latest write-up about the tour with Mark Ferris, a friend contacted me to let me know he had spotted another one, this time in Grosvenor Square, a stones throw from the current American Embassy. What?? There’s THREE? Sure enough, after looking it up on Google Street View I found it.

That got me thinking and so I did some digging on the net and discovered - to my amazement - there are actually ELEVEN surviving Police Posts in the Greater London area. This needed further investigation, so I have been to visit all of them, and here ther are:


View London POLICE POSTS in a larger map

SFX Magazine in free cosplay giveaway!

This posting is quite timely, following my write-up on accessorising your Eleventh Doctor cosutme with Bow Ties and Braces.

I just got my latest subscriber’s issue of SFX Magazine (with a free Tron Legacy Video-CD - YES, video CD - I didn’t think anyone made them anymore!!!!)

Anyway, hidden away on page 113 is a full page advert (see below) for a forthcoming SFX Special Issue, called Doctor Who: A Celebration.

I’m looking forward to getting it when it is out on November 30th, but what caught my eye was the fact it comes with a free Bow Tie!!!

Not only that, it is the blue one (see right) rather than the more obvious burgundy version.

Nice one SFX!

Further details of the speical will be posted on the SFX website, though at time of writing the page istn’t live as yet.

Doctor Who: A Celebration

Accessorise!

I’ve been asked by a number of people recent, “Where is the best place to get my bow ties and braces?”

Well, after hunting around a bit, I have found that it is possible to get everything from a single source, at a good price – and pretty screen accurately too!

Swagger & Swoon, from where I recommended an Alternative Tennant Tie, also stock bow ties and braces.

Their bow ties are £12.99 for the burgundy, and £16.99 for a navy one (see below).

Burgundy Narrow Bow Tie

Post Series Five costume index

With filming well underway for Series Six, I thought it was time to catch up on a couple of Eleventh Doctor appearances which have happened since the end of Series Five.

Doctor Who BBC Prom

Jacket Harris Tweed in Mackenzie two-by-two dogtooth weave

Shirt Burgundy Paul Smith

Trousers Dogtooth design skinny jeans from TopMan
NB. These jeans can be quickly identified by the visible metal waistband button at the top of the fly (see left)

Boots All Saints Layer boots

Paul Smith reissue shirt - the review

Well, my reissue shirt arrived yesterday, and I’ve now had a good chance to look it over and can venture some opinion on how it looks, and it’s not entirely positive I’m afraid.

I had high hopes for the shirt, and to be honest I’ve been left a little disappointed. If someone knew the exact cut and details of the shirt, it would be Paul Smith, but sadly they seemed to have missed a trick here.