The Monkeysuits Ebay store has a batch of 5-button mandarin/Nehru collar jackets, ex-rental, for about $37 plus shipping.

I have one, but the conversion is somewhere down in my queue behind work and income tax records. I'll report back, when and if.

Probably I won't try to add the tashes and tail. The buttons are functional, so i'll either have to keep the buttonholes and the cut of the front, or be a little creative. It's a tad big on me, so might be able to chop it back, or taper at the side seam.

piperdbh that first photo you linked looks like it'd be a winner!