Here is a list of how to put together Penny Lane's (played by Kate Hudson) Costume from the Academy Award Winning movie, "Almost Famous".
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Do the best you can to replicate the outfit as close as you can get it.
Requires planning ahead to get these items in season.
The best time to look for a 3/4, or mid-hip (or slightly longer) dress brown coat (no hood) or brown velvet pants is the fall or winter. Velour sweat pants can also be a good choice. A coat with lapels may not matter much since you will be covering these over with the faux fur accessory. You may not find a coat with flounces.
Check out thrift or vintage shops or consignment shops.
Check out cream or white shimmery/silk camisoles at those same places if you don't want to buy a new one.
Prices vary and remember, these shops have totally unique one of a kind items and are busy so if you see something you can work with at the right price, you need to grab it. Stores also will cull their merchandise all at once and just start to restock with whatever they get in.
A simple gold chain or add an amber heart to it (check Marshall's or TJMaxx for a single amber heart charm.)
Now -- you can easily make the fur cuffs and collars/lapels.
First off, you need to think of expense -- how much do you want spend.
To actually replicate (Mongolian lamb fur) -- this could be costly.
We are talking a Halloween costume here.
For an inexpensive version -- check out long strand faux fur at the fabric store. Some Faux fur does not ravel, ask. This means you can have a cheap no sew costume.
Nearly No sew: just get two of those popular funky fiber "eye lash, eyelash" scarfs (instructions here for 7 inches by 60 inches, or here with size variations). One can act as the collar and the second one, you would have to cut up and sew with similar yarn the ends to create the cuffs. If you know someone who knits, maybe they can make them for you in the right shade. (Yarn is expensive so try the Dollar Store, Big Lots, or WalMart.)
Figure out how much you will need, BEFORE buying. Use a coupon (Joanne's has 40% off coupons) to save money.
Faux fur comes in 44/45 inch wide (1 1/2 yards) OR 60 inch wide (1 yard), depends.
Sometimes it can come in a smaller width depending on how it was manufactured. Check the cleaning instructions, dry cleanable faux fur is more expensive.
Make sure the lining is the same washability as the faux fur.
Depending on the coat -- there are three easy versions.
From the pictures, the width of the collar is about 6-8 inches and the length is from the shoulder to the waist. You would have to adjust the width depending on how broad you are across the front.
The length of the full collar would depend on how tall you are or how long your body is. On me, 52 inches long is a perfect full length.
Choose one:
1. Create two rectangles using your measurements, and two back linings. Sew together the wrong sides on three sides, then turn inside out, and finish sewing.
2. Make one long rectangle that wraps around the neckline.
You can line this also.
OR, you can just fold over the fabric and sew the long side, turn rightside out, then finish the two ends, folding the edges in and topstitching them.
Attach these to the coat so they are removable:
1. Tack or baste it down.
2. Use pins in strategic places.
3. Use self adhesive velcro in strategic places, matching the velcro up accurately. (I put them together, then apply to the second item, EX: attach them hooked to the collar, then put on the coat and add on the velcro opposite onto the coat. Remove gently.
To make the cuffs:
The cuffs are 3-4 inches high.
You will need to measure the outside cuff of the coat you got.
Add on an extra inch or so, so that the cuffs meet when fitted to the coat. You can make a faux cuff template our of muslin or paper towel to check size. Experiment but measure twice and cut once.
Add a lining to the fur cuff.
Whip stitch the ends together.
Add to the cuffs.
Attach as suggested for the collar.
There you have it.
Several ways to achieve the Penny Lane look.
A few visuals from the movie where you can see the coat.
Good luck.
(picture credits: oscar.org and flickr)
