Steampunk and its growing following

[Jon Foster]

Thanks to Sealion our son was able to start off the day in Steampunk style.



Jon.

[Taffy Saltwater]

Start 'em young!  He's sooooo steamy.   Sealion did a nice job.

[Rani Zemirah]

Jon, he looks wonderful, and like he's having a really great time!!!  Are the girls with him also in SteamPunk?

[Jon Foster]

Thanks. The girls behind him are our daughters. They didn't get anything ready Steampunk wise for this weekend but they were both sporting new pirate garb (and a dreaded Mountain Dew bottle). There's a few more details to be done on the girls outfits... It's back to school this coming week for everyone but we're hoping to have more done for next weekend.

Jon.

[Rani Zemirah]

You'll have to get some detail pics and share them with us, then!  I love that SteamPunk is so very multi-generational, and that everyone who gets into it is into interacting with everyone else who's into it, no matter their age or level of involvement!  Some of the kids at our church are really getting involved in S/P, and we all hang out and talk about garb and gizmos whenever we can, and it's just one more way we all connect...  It's all Awesomeness!!!

[Elennare]

Apparently the thrift stores in my area have suddenly gotten a large shipment of fail.

I have now gone to 3 different stores, and all I've been able to find is a ray gun.  Sadly, it's not the style I want with this costume, but it was too cool to pass up.

I did get patterns, though. 
shirt: http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5138.htm?tab=list/tops_vests&page=all
skirt: http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5888.htm?tab=list/skirts_pants&page=all
I'm going to add a flat, wrap pannel in the front.
coat: http://www.simplicity.com/p-1539-costumes.aspx
Think I'll lose the pockets and trim, and probably close it with buckles instead of buttons.
corset: http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M4109.htm?tab=list/evening_prom_bridal&page=all (view A/B)

And I have decided on colors.  Dark khaki for the coat, white for the shirt, rust for the corset, and chocolate brown for the skirt.

[Taffy Saltwater]

Usually the thrift stores are a big washout for me, too.  I like your patterns & colors - also the idea of replacing the buttons w/buckles is genius!

I won a pendant watch on ebay yesterday that is made of win and can hardly wait for that to come in.  I'm just putting together some accessories as the basic outfits are almost ready to go.

One question, punkers:  I've got a fairly formal outfit for WindyCom, black corset, skirt, shrug & top hat.  What kind of blouse do you think should go w/it?  I've got some white blouses, but they're fairly bland & I do have to wear something as the corset is an underbust.  Maybe tart up a plain blouse w/some lace?  I've struck out finding anything dressy at all.  I do have a men's b/w pinstripe that I could mod out to keyhole the top, shorten the sleeves and move the french cuffs up.  The problem is my corset hasn't come in YET, the clock is starting to tick on this, but I really need to corset to dictate the blouse.  ACK!

[SirRichardBear]

Friends of mine a young couple were dressed in steampunk for Animefest When I told them people were talking about doing a steampunk invasion of TRF for halloween they were very excited.  They have never been to faire but wanted to go this seem to push them over the edge and make the commentment to come down to TRF for halloween.   They are now plannng on coming down and camping with us for halloween.  They are also talking about getting grab to do faire in stlye.

[sealion]

Thanks to Sealion our son was able to start off the day in Steampunk style.



Jon.

Jon's whole family is just so freakin' adorable! It was a pleasure to meet them. (And I only loaned his son the goggles, the outfit was his own.)

[sealion]

I had a blast wearing my steampunk outfits this weekend! Lady Ann and flidais joined me in dressy steamy, too! I haven't had a chance to look at the photos yet since I just got home this afternoon and am getting ready to head out of town again tomorrow. I'll share photos in a couple of days.

[LadyAnn]

You looked fabulous all three days! 

[Jon Foster]

Jon's whole family is just so freakin' adorable! It was a pleasure to meet them. (And I only loaned his son the goggles, the outfit was his own.)

Thanks Sealion. Jonathan was crushed when we got to the hat shop to find out everything was sold out. He went straight there when we walked in and really had his heart set on a top hat. The use of your goggles saved the day. Really. He received several nods and high fives throughout the day. We'll get a hat ordered for him and hopefully make the time to get a few new items made too. We got there too late on Monday to get him measured but I'm sure we will get it done this coming weekend.

Jon.

[Rani Zemirah]

I can hardly wait to see those pics, ladies!!!  I'm sure you were all in fine form!  

I have a bit of disappointing news, for me, at least, and it might affect Taffy, also.  I'm finding it impossible to contact the company that is supposed to be actually finished with my corsets by now, and they are not returning either my emails or my phone calls.  They said week before last that the corsets were going to ship last week, but nothing, and no ship date listed on eBay, and I've had to open a dispute with PayPal before the cut-off date passed.  I'm still hoping they'll ship this week, but if they won't even return my communications, then I can't really hold out much hope at this point.  I am so disappointed, and just almost sick over this whole ridiculous process.  I certainly wouldn't recommend them to anyone again, and I'm very upset that Taffy ordered from them because I said they had such high ratings.  Those ratings are dropping now, and it's possible that their original excuse is valid, but they also run a business, and need to honor their contracts.  

It's still only two weeks past when they were supposed to have them ready, so it's possible that they've actually had the disaster they claim, so I'll give them until the end of this week before I escalate my case to a claim.  I sincerely hope they get it together and ship my corsets, though...  

[Taffy Saltwater]

Jon Foster, I have this hat in black & can't say enough about how well made it is:  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26179550

Rani, thanks for the heads up - I'll go open a PayPal case right now.

EDIT:  PayPal case opened & negative feedback left.  After hundreds of purchases over many years, it's my first negative feedback given.  I don't like doing it, but these people have got to pull out the proverbial finger.  I was hoping that this would be my go-to place for leather corsetry.  *sigh*
 
If all else fails I think my black Moresca pirate will be okay - it does give the curvy Victorian figure.

[sealion]

Rani & Taffy- If your ordered corsets do not arrive and you need something in a hurry I suggest that you try Timeless-trends.com. I ordered from them after several live journal steamfashion members reccomended them for inexpensive but well made corsets. They only offer underbust corsets but that means that you only have to worry about your waist measurement when ordering. The corsets are "off the rack" and shipped within 24 hours. Mine arrived in a matter of days and I am extremely pleased with it after wearing it all three days this past weekend.