Steampunk

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:18 pm

So, I guess this is the appropriate place to put this. I've just recently begun to get interested in the whole Victorian/Steampunk style of dressing, after being introduced to the stuff through another forum.
I've got alot of really modern clothes in my closet, and I don't want to throw them out, just to find that I've made a style decision that doesn't look good on me. Unfortunately for me, I am at a loss for how to combine my modern clothes, with more Victorian pieces, and tie it all together with the steampunk ascetic.
Ideas, suggestions, etc. would be helpful.

ZKitten · Post by **ZKitten** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:34 pm

if i knew what steam puink wasi'd try to help,
altering clothing is a fav pasttime of mine

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:59 pm

Well, steampunk is aesthetic based on the ideas of Victorian. It is a grittier, dirtier form, in which gears and goggles and many things are added in. I have several people I could use as examples, if you'd like, but the easiest way to explain it is a mixture between cyberpunk and victorian.

And for visuals, here are a few links 8-)

:
http://www.frillyshirt.org/Portraits/
http://community.livejournal.com/anachr ... 21552.html

ZKitten · Post by **ZKitten** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:08 am

ahhh i get it :

karlaBOO · Post by **karlaBOO** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:13 am

Just an opinion, but I don't feel steampunk has very many cyber elements. Although, I must admit that "cyber" is a little too shiny to my tastes anymore, so I could be biased.

The technology side of it to me, resembles more modern technology built with antique......materials. The only exception to that that I have seen is Kit's hair falls, but some of them still have a kind of gritty, old feel to them. Or, it could just be because of how he wears them.
http://www.anachronaut.com/

To me it seems that the accessories are what can change a lovely victorian outfit into an amazing steampunk outfit. Take any nice jacket/pants or jacket/long skirt combination and add the correct accessories and there you go. The alternate route seems as though it would be the correct shapes, for that period, made in modern "tech" fabrics, or vice versa.

I think that what you want to do with mixing what you have can work, you just have to do bits of it in moderation. If the Steampunk aesthetic is really what you are after, then look for your accessories on ebay or in antique stores. Then you will have some old bits to mix with your newer bits, and it will get you started.

BTW, I LOVE the whole steampunk thing. Movies that give me ideas are Steamboy, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Wild, Wild West (yes, I know), and for the medical aspect Sleepy Hollow.

ebay keywords:
category: ANTIQUES
Search: medical
doctor
science
eyeglasses

You get the picture.

karlaBOO · Post by **karlaBOO** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:15 am

Dur, I just saw that Kit posted on that LJ post.

me=goof

Post by **Bone** » Wed May 24, 2006 6:15 pm

Yeah think a world where computers are mechanical rather than electronic. Post Apocolypse with a VERY Victorian flair rather than mad max. Old world meets new.

Shadow of the Fox: you should talk with One Silver Hand, if I can get her to get online here (she had some very serious health issues recently which has had her taking it pretty easy as late and not spending as much time online).
You might try PMing her here on the forum. She is a wearable art fashion designer who has been bit by the steam punk bug.

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Wed May 24, 2006 6:20 pm

I tend to disagree with the amount of cyber that is actually in steampunk, but I think that's just a matter of philosophy, instead of of a hard-and-fast rule. I think, in the same way cyberpunk is a future version of the modern world, steampunk is the extension of the Victorian world.

I mean, certainly, some of the things may be related to modern ideas (like submarines and steam engines), but I think some of them are unique technologies that cannot exist in the modern world, even just in the fantastical mind of writers & artists (such as the steam-powered replacement hands or gatling guns or metal hands).

From what I understand about Kit, his falls are antiqued to fit with his whimsy that a tribesman from one of the "colonized" countries made, when steam technology (and all of the dirt and grime it entails), was introduced. I think his falls and just general style are a great idea of how to take an individual idea, stretch it, and form it into something more than a style; something that is a unique persona one establishes.

I think that the persona I'm developing is a slightly cocky "air corp" pilot, who is living off a good-sized family inheritance, and takes frequent trips along the "timelines" in the slightly cliched timemachine. I think, in that way, I can take the Victorian sensibilities I appreciate and apply them to new fabrics, patterns, and styles, but maintain the aura of an eclectic traveler.

I don't mind getting responses from people on the same topic. It's half the fun of developing my style. The search criteria are really helpful, as I've been having difficulty in trying to effectively search for such accessories. Also, from reading through here, I've gotten the idea that many of my shirts could simply be retailored to fit with the tuxedo or even work shirts of the time. Was even thinking that a WWII era Boy Scout shirt could be altered into a very nice work vest; it's been a major help, and I definitely appreciate it.

So, ZKitten, still feel up to the challenge?

Thanks, Bones. I'll certainly send a message to her. I definitely sympathize with the health issues. It's part of why I haven't been on the forum much, as of late. *hehe* Glad to see that there are others in the area who have gotten bitten. One nasty little clockword bug, it is.

karlaBOO · Post by **karlaBOO** » Wed May 24, 2006 7:07 pm

Shadow Of The Fox wrote:
I think that the persona I'm developing is a slightly cocky "air corp" pilot, who is living off a good-sized family inheritance, and takes frequent trips along the "timelines" in the slightly cliched timemachine. I think, in that way, I can take the Victorian sensibilities I appreciate and apply them to new fabrics, patterns, and styles, but maintain the aura of an eclectic traveler.

I LOVE that idea. Sounds awesome. Just a month or so ago there was a vintage aviation cap(leather) and goggles on e-bay. ACKKKKKK!

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Wed May 24, 2006 8:16 pm

No worries. I keep seeing them everywhere. In fact, there's a new one listed every couple months. No biggie. 8-)

I've also come to the idea that he's become obsessed with the timetravel machines and has spent alot of his inheritance (and sold off alot of his clothes) to pay for his indulgence. Explains why he has all these modern clothes in his wardrobe, and why alot of them [will be] modified to fit to the body in a Victorian style.
For example, I've got the idea of taking a WWII-era Boy Scout shirt I have, and having it altered to make a mechanic's vest.

I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, yes?

ZKitten · Post by **ZKitten** » Fri May 26, 2006 5:13 pm

i have an old leather aviators cap, its somewhere in my box of stuff to put on ebay when i remember,
i'll get arund to finding it later this week,

and yes,
i'm alwyas up for a challange

jjenisis · Post by **jjenisis** » Fri May 26, 2006 5:36 pm

I have a set of falls made by Kit they are really light weight and well made

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Sat May 27, 2006 4:21 am

Zkitten
Ooh. :shock:

I'd love to take a look at that cap for sure. It sounds ace. 8-)

*hehe*

Well then, I guess I've got a partner in crime (by the by, did I happen to run into you at the masquerade tonight? :-?

Cause I could have sworn there was a girl who looked like the image you've got posted and had the same hair).
jjenisis
I'm really glad to hear someone owns a pair of his falls, and that they're not heavy. Certainly, I theorized as much, but it's glad to know that they're really wearable pieces.

The Fallen · Post by **The Fallen** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:59 am

For an interesting twist on steampunk I'd recommend Phil Foglio's Girl Genius

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Sat May 27, 2006 12:06 pm

Thank you very much. I'd actually heard a bit about it and looked at it once, but the more I see it, the more it grows on me.

ZKitten · Post by **ZKitten** » Sat May 27, 2006 5:25 pm

the only picture on my camera,

if we did run into eachother, i dont remember,
but then i was sorta crunked.

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Sat May 27, 2006 9:42 pm

Unfortunately, we did not. :-(

I saw you once, but I was so ingrained into a conversation, I wasn't able to get your attention in time. Hopefully, some pictures of me will get posted up.

If you happened to see a brown top hat and a pair of goggles anywhere in the crowd, then that was me.
:shock:

I can't believe how well the costume actually came together.

Shadow Of The Fox · Post by **Shadow Of The Fox** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:06 pm

Sorry to awaken a dead beast, but I felt it was fitting. :roll:

Besides the obvious zombie-like humor in watching it ressurect, I've got some good news! 8-)

After alot of looking and searching, I'm starting to get a few ideas for some outfits. Not much, mind you. Really, only about 10, and they're based off of designs and items that I've seen on websites, and they're just written short-hand.

I've also come to the conclusion that many of my more modern shirts could be retooled with a couple of patterns and some help from someone experienced in seamstressing (to make said alterations, if they're possible). That will not only save on budget, but also keep on going with the anachronistic side of things.

Sorry for the rambling. Not sure whether this one was a request for help, a sharing of news and excitement, or maybe a mixture of both. :-?