Steampunk and its growing following

[Rani Zemirah]

Very nice!  I love the scroll work... 

[The Lady Mercedes]

Happy b-day Nicola Tesla! He would've been 155 yesterday!  
From the Asto Databank

[eloquentXI]

So, I realize I have been absent from this thread FOREVER (considering I was the one who started it...  )

But I got busy with pirate stuff and didn't do much steampunk.
I did however throw some stuff together for Firewater, a steampunk/cowpunk charity event that took place in Dallas this past weekend. Here are some photos from the Dallas Observer-

http://www.dallasobserver.com/slideshow/night-moves-steampunk-and-burlesque-at-firewater-33735576/

Ron caught a photo of my best friend and I here-  I thought we looked rather dashing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronald_the_bald/5924141469/

[Rani Zemirah]

You two look amazing!!!  I LOVE your corset!

[Zardoz]

Here's a couple of thoughts about SP and firearms, based on the idea the when discussing SP things, we are in the broadest sense, basically talking about somewhat advanced technologybeing used in the late Victorian/ age of industry era, usually powered by steam instead of electricity or gasoline etc....

My thing is, gunpowder and firearms predate steam power by hundreds of years. And for hundreds of years gunmakers have been trying to make their arms smaller, lighter, simpler and easier to carry and use. About the only impact steam had on the firearms industry was the use of steam powerplants in the factories.

Now while a SP Raygun could look like anything, when thinking about more traditional arms I think it's funny to see some of the big complicated stuff folks lug around http://www.museumreplicas.com/p-1465-annialator-mk-ii-steampunk-weapon.aspx when I think about the fact that by the mid 1890's some pretty advanced early automatic firearms like the Mauser model 1896 'Broomhandle', or the early Borchardt-Luger pistols were coming along.

[Rani Zemirah]

We should be extremely careful in trying to place our own particular definition on what a "true Rennie" is... I know people whom I would consider true Rennies in every sense of the word who are in no way historically or period accurate... but they are true Rennies, nevertheless.  And someone can be a true Rennie and still enjoy Steampunk, as well, and want to bring it to Faire or anywhere else.  One does not, in any way, preclude the other...

As for the guns, gadgets and goggles, well... bigger is always much more exciting in the movies, right?  It's never the guy with the little bitty pistol who goes in and cleans out the nest of villains, is it?  No... it's the guy with the heavy duty firepower. 

Besides, whoever heard of a miniature death ray?   

[Rani Zemirah]

I think I just have some irresistible urge to drop my 2 cents in, on far too many topics, I'm sure...   


Personally, though, I feel that trying to impose a rigidly interpreted scientific logic onto a purely fantasy inspired cosplay genre seems to me to completely negate the whole aura of fun and over-the-top creative impulse that spawned it in the first place.  I love the fact that everything about Steampunk is overly complicated, super augmented and ornately embellished... and it's precisely all the fine little details and minute touches that make me want to examine things closely, and exclaim over all the hidden little treasures I happen upon. 


Because it FUN!!! 

[Zardoz]

Well, I was not making an indictment about SP in general ,  just posting some thoughts on the firearms thing that popped into my little brain. 

Way back before SP bacame a festive 'purely fantasy inspired cosplay genre', it was a subgenre of Science Fiction literature, and that's where my mind is at when discussing it.  Like most good SF, early SP's speculative fictions had a basis in reality. People always say SP is insired by the work of writers like Jules Verne, and Verne put a lot of "scientific logic" into his work. 

 

[April Marie]

Thank you so much Rani for directing me here!  I am going to put together a steampunk outfit for TRF this year!  I am super excited and have been looking at TONS of stuff online but if anyone knows of plus size steampunk stuff let me know!  here are a couple of things that i have found that peeps might like.  

http://cgi.ebay.com/BELLY-DANCE-RENAISSANCE-STEAM-PUNK-COSTUME-SKIRT-SkS7-/300568755490?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fb4b3d22

http://www.damseldress.com/

[April Marie]

Spats are also a simple and effective accessory.  Following is a free pattern, easily modified to make them knee length or for the fluffier limb.  I think I needed about 3/4 yd each of fashion fabric & lining & two packages of bias tape, and lots and lots of buttons.  I made a toile for future usage.

Grov, full steam ahead!

http://www.thankyoufornotbeingperky.com/spatspattern/spatsPattern2008.pdf

Thank you so much for this! I dont sew but I have a cousin who does and she is already making me a cute chemise so I will hit her up for this too!

THanks

[Taffy Saltwater]

Since Steam punk is nothing but PURE FANTASY (and so is ren faire, if you're honest), the only limits are the wearer's imagination.  Personally I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist if there is no way in Hades that a firearm has ever, would ever, could ever, operate.  I just like how it looks.  Give me a 2nd hand store, some bits pulled from here & there, paint, glue, a semi-solid plan of action & I am in business.  Never mind the fact that the gun is Nerf, the paint is enamel, the shiney is from ca. 1980's earrings, the strap is from a belt that last fit in 1990.

Getting on a soap box about how steam punk (guns/clothing/hats/blahblahblah) is inaccurate historically is a waste of time and energy because, again, it's FANTASY.  It never happened.  It is set in a loose time frame - Victorian England, because that's when there was a lot of scientific/mechanical breakthroughs going on.  The Vic clothing is elegant and looks good on just about anyone.  There was also a strong sense of wanting even every day things to be beautiful.  At least if you could afford it.

Steamers, because they know it's fantasy and has little historical basis, tend to be more open in what's acceptable to them as "steamy".   We don't have to be HA because it's FANTASY.  Yeah, there's stuff out there that makes me cringe.  Same at ren fest, same in my mundane life.  Meh.  It's not my place to judge.  If I had a lab/studio/smithy where I could make X, I would.  Since I don't, I does the best with what I gots.

EDIT:  I look back at any of my early attempts at costuming and die a little.  But even if what I made was gawd-awful, at least I made the effort.  I don't wear the same thing every day (including to events) and complain that other people's efforts are not up to my standards.

[April Marie]

The Aristocrat

71% Elegant, 48% Technological, 47% Historical, 48% Adventurous and 14% Playful!

The Aristocrat

You are the Aristocrat, the embodiment of steampunk elegance and poise.  For you, dressing steampunk is first and foremost about simply looking good, with accessories and details to follow.  However, this does not mean that you ignore the demands of creating a "steampunk look." Your outfits weave together a balance between technology and style, and between period accuracy and beautiful anachronism.  While your fashion inspiration may come from anywhere across the Victorian social spectrum, you always find a way to make your outfit beautiful.  You will probably be found in the clothes of the steam age elite simply because of the greater elegance available to them.  Chances are you dress this way because you like it, and you would still dress in this manner even if steampunk was not a popular interest.

Taffy you and I have something in common! I got the same!

[Taffy Saltwater]

Mistress April, you'd laugh if you could see me in my everyday uniform of jeans & a t.  But I do love to dress up and totally adore the curves you can only get from a good Victorian corset.  I'll never wear another non-Vic bodice or corset again.

[April Marie]

Mistress April, you'd laugh if you could see me in my everyday uniform of jeans & a t.  But I do love to dress up and totally adore the curves you can only get from a good Victorian corset.  I'll never wear another non-Vic bodice or corset again.

I bought my first corset (see profile pic) at CastaDiva at the first year of Sherwood and have been in love with corsets ever since.  I have decided to purchase a new one this year, probably from Damsel in the Dress and maybe one from Scarlett's Corset!

And I am sure you look fab in yours!

[Taffy Saltwater]

Mistress April, you'd laugh if you could see me in my everyday uniform of jeans & a t.  But I do love to dress up and totally adore the curves you can only get from a good Victorian corset.  I'll never wear another non-Vic bodice or corset again.

I bought my first corset (see profile pic) at CastaDiva at the first year of Sherwood and have been in love with corsets ever since.  I have decided to purchase a new one this year, probably from Damsel in the Dress and maybe one from Scarlett's Corset!

And I am sure you look fab in yours!

I'm so hippy I either have to have them custom made or make them myself.  I've finally gotten to the point where my underbust corsets are coming out well-made, but haven't had the brass ones to make an overbust one yet.  Much less one w/a busk -- those things scare me!