OK, it's a
little off topic, but I finally figured out what's been bothering me about the "fancy dress" sequences. It's the hats! Not the women's hats, they looked great, it's the men's hats. The brims are too small!
Now, before everybody starts calling me a costume Nazi, it's really just an aesthetic thing. I only mention it because I know Jeph is continuously trying to improve his art. Of course, I doubt he reads much of this...
Back to the hats... a bowler/Derby like Will was wearing needs to have a wider brim that curls up on the sides. The same is true of the top hats, and the body of a top hat should curve in a bit on the sides. The stovepipe style was out of fashion when Lincoln wore one, but even it had a wider brim!
Here are a couple of references...
http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/hats.php - Has some excellent derbies and a few "standard" top hats.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_hat - A few pictures of "the real deal".
I know, I know, it's nitpicky. It just took me a while to figure out why I found those panels jarring. I've been involved in the theater and historical recreation for way too long not to spot when an historical costume looks off, destroying the illusion. Hell, my wife was a professional costumer for over 10 years! You can't live with someone like that without
some of it rubbing off...
And by the way, I thought Dora's hat was cute! I think Jeph might've been going for the pseudo-military cloth caps that are all over the place now, but it reminds me of a slightly floppy knit cap with a flat top and a brim that I had when I was a kid. It was olive colored, too.
Just the sort of thing you'd spot in a vintage clothing store / thrift shop! Makes me wonder where mine wound up...