Okay. So here I am, finally decided on a costume to make. Want to do Harley but a different take on her so am going to do a Steampunkish-slash-sky captain-slash-Victorian take on her. The majority of this will be made by me... well, and the man, while certain other things will be bought and possibly embellished to fit the look. This is a list of what I think I'll be needing:
Costume:
Make - Vest, pants, spats, bomber cap, popgun, sledgehammer (tentatively)
Buy/embellish: Gloves, blouse, pocketwatch, boots
I found the style of pants I want to use - http://www.aradanicostumes.com/image/cache/data/costumes/steampunk/miliarygraypant_web-250x250.jpg
Problem is that I doubt I can really achieve that look with suede. Not cheaply at least and definitely NOT easily. Both are pretty important for a first time costumer. So I think I am going to go and use the same material that those gray pants are made out of and try my hand at a polyester/wool blend in black and red. Will need to decide on if I'm going to make it with an elastic band or not but think I might go for the former and just use a flat elastic band instead of a gathered one and then put in a faux belt to give it the impression that there's no elastic. As for the vest, thinking of either satin or velvet, again having to factor in cost and ease of working with but I'll decide once I can take some prices down. Will be posting as I get my mental ducks in a row.
ETA: Okay. Found some killer boots so don't think I'll need to make spats. Plus I found pattern for an aviator cap. Just need to figure out what to make it out of. Will see.