Raleigh suggested an email list, but I had a better idea, we'll use the forum! It's here and already set up and it will encourage people to visit the wiki (hint, hint).
So, our current idea is to do a group costume of a squad of Browncoats from the 42nd Overlanders Forward Medical Hospital. Emily is thinking about a medic, I believe. The rest of us would probably be soldiers of various ranks. We are thinking of doing real Browncoats, not the tan coats the soldiers in the flashbacks have and the 76th Battalion (http://76thbattalion.dragonfyredawn.com/uniform.html) wear. We are not trying to mimic them directly, but do something similar, unique enough to set us apart but still obviously be Firefly outfits. So, we need:
A Browncoat duster (http://www.spurwesternwear.com/p-1193-rangewear-by-scully-walnut-canvas-duster.aspx) $80
Tan pants that Emily will see about adding stripes to (http://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=CM83&type=store&category=3930) $40
Independent official patch (http://www.westerfieldstudios.com/noname127.html) $7
Boots
Suspenders (varies, $12-15)
Weapon and possibly holster
Web belt, ammo pouch?
Helmet or hat (maybe)
42nd custom patch
rank insignia, either pins or sewn on.
Shirt
So we're looking at around $150 for coat, pants, suspenders, rank and 1 patch. Plus boots, shirt, weapon, second patch, extra gear.
Now, I'm not saying we have to use THIS coat. But it is the cheapest I've found that is a decent dark color. I'm not wild about the style, but it is a BROWNcoat. If someone can do better, please do. Another concern is headgear. The 76th wear old military steel pot helmets, which are A, heavy and B, expensive, $40 and up. Mal and Zoe never wear helmets in any flashback, so we could skip them. Or, we could get plastic helmet liners (http://www.joesarmynavyonline.com/servlet/Detail?no=7082) for about $12 and paint them.