Associates of Blayne

steamfashion

Subject:	Yesterday was mad scientist day at work.
Posted by:	stella_twilight.
Time:	5:57 pm.

So since it is October we have started having theme days at work and I chose mad science to be the theme yesterday and altered a sexy chef outfit to something more fitting of the theme. I call my creation Dr Steel A glow glow because the wig glows and I took a lot of inspiration from the good doctor.

( More fun with brains under here )

Comments: Read 18 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Petticoats!
Posted by:	to_rei_shi.
Time:	2:16 pm.
Mood:	creative.
Music:	Beats Antique.

I'm not sure if this is something already done and I'm way behind on this, but I've found a good way to make petticoats that makes it fairly inexpensive.
I was out thrifting the other day and happened upon a very nice dust ruffle/bed skirt(brand new!) that I'm about to turn into a very nice set of petti's and maybe a pair of bloomers. They work perfectly with the embroidery and eyelet lace! Two seams, some elastic, and 15 minutes later you get a nice set of underthings for only $5 :) I've also discovered that scouring the curtain section you can sometimes find some nice fabrics, if that isn't too "Scarlet" for you!
This all makes me very happy! I have a bit of an obsession with vintage unmentionables...

Comments: Read 6 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Casual steam: You're doing it right.
Posted by:	lux_alexander.
Time:	3:24 pm.

So, there's a lot of debate on here on casual steam, and how to put a slight steamy bent on a normal outfit. This young lady, in my humble opinion (which is never humble) has nailed it. And no, I'm not biased, not at all.

( No clicky, no picy. )
EDIT: For the record, this is not me, it's my girlfriend. Also, she wasn't going for steam, I just saw what she threw on and felt a bit of a steam vibe coming off of it.

Comments: Read 27 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	The Gear... a not particularly Dickensian tale
Posted by:	squirrelmadness.
Time:	3:50 pm.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It was recently asked how gears and related clockworks fit into the more general motif of steampunk. While I expect many people out there have a very good sense of the relationship, but it brings up a perfectly valid point. So, I thought it would be fun to briefly examine the place of the gear in the steampunk genre.

In brief, the gear is a very old piece of technology that precedes the development of steam technology (and consequently steampunk) by ages. The gear was known in the ancient world, and consequently were already established by the time mechanical clocks came onto the European scene centuries before the Industrial Revolution. Early weight and spring powered clocks used gears, and during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment gear-driven clocks represented the cutting edge of technology. Why then do we find gears (an "archaic" piece of technology by comparison) still in use during the steam age?

The fact of the matter is that steam power, as revolutionary as it was during the Victorian period, still required the same thing as weights and springs: a means of transmitting the power they produced. Before the advent of widespread electrical power (remember, for a steampunk world the relatively simple telegraph is the cutting edge of electrical engineering) the only way to do this is through mechanical workings, such as flywheels, belts, and of course gears. These fun little bits take the power produced by a steam engine and help transmit it through motion to whatever device the steam is supposed to be powering. The gear is such a magnificent and flexible piece of technology that it remained in use during the steam age, and even into modern day.

The use of gears as a purely aesthetic tool is a matter of personal preference, but the gear itself is a vital part of the inner workings of steampunk technology. What steampunk lacks in electrical power transmission the gear replaces in a mechanical form.

Regards, etc.,
-G. D. Falksen

Consider Babbage's difference engine, a mechanical calculator that used gears in much the same way that modern electrical calculators (or even computers) use circuits.

( Rolling along, singing our song, gear by gear )

Comments: Read 21 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Top Hat Quandry;Resolved
Posted by:	kynth.
Time:	1:58 pm.
Mood:	Cheerful.

Some of you may recall my previous post, concerning the safe transportation of a top hat on a transatlantic flight. (http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/1059671.html)

I'm happy to report that dillgent perusal of Ebay.co.uk provided a reasonably priced answer.

From this supplier: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grooms-Wedding-Top-Hat-Vintage-Style-Box-MANY-SIZES_W0QQitemZ270283636407QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270283636407&_trkparms=72%3A1295%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Both a quality hat, and sturdy box for just over £30 (This includes the cost of delivery within the United Kingdom only, overseas may well be more). Something of a result.

Comments: Read 4 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Steam Engine Market Survey Help
Posted by:	wackyvorlon.
Time:	4:00 pm.

I'm a long time hobby machinist with an interest in steam engines and steampunk. I'm working on starting a business manufacturing miniature steam engines aimed at the maker/steampunk community. I was wondering I could ask for some help. I'm doing a market survey for the business plan, and I would greatly appreciate it if some here could go fill it out. It's setup here. Thanks.

Comments: Read 7 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Hot weather steamfashion
Posted by:	tattooedwilla.
Time:	4:26 pm.
Mood:	nostalgic.
Music:	Epitaph Medieval Iceland.

I am looking for some ideas for a safari-esque outfit. I live in the hellish San Fernando Valley & since it is sooo hot here I thought safari would be the ticket. Something "Flame Trees of Thika" goes steampunk. The only authentic victorian thing I have is a ladies gold pendant watch with the hanger pin. Any & all ideas & links would be appreciated!
P.S. I am a lady of a certain age...

Comments: Read 29 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Steampunk Club - Starting Saturday, Oct. 13th in Santa Cruz, CA
Posted by:	audreystats.
Time:	6:30 pm.

Club Clockwork opening in Santa Cruz Saturday, October 13th! I imagine a few of you live in the area & may be interested.

( Larger View )

(Flyer says "free in Goth attire" -- Steampunk is included under this umbrella.)

Club Clockwork. Gothic, Steam punk, swirly industrial synth-pop. Clockwork won't be your normal nightclub. We intend to be more community driven, where everyone feels they own a tiny part. What does that mean? We want to hear your requests for music. We want to know what you want to see in the club. Which Dj's you want to hear, and what makes a night special. After all, this is Santa Cruz. ;)

Clockwork on Myspace

Maybe I'll see some of you there!

Comments: Read 25 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	STEAMPUNKS: CALL TO ARMS!
Posted by:	robert_from_ap.
Time:	4:21 pm.

Originally when the MTV news feature on Steampunk came out, we saw it as a mixed blessing, since this was not Abney Park at our best. It rocked to get the exposure, sure, but we were not exposing our best...um...side. (for example: if the wall of your outhouse falls off, sure your more EXPOSED, but is that what you want to show the world?)

However, Dr. Steel made a good point, when he asked his minions to go to the site and blog. It shows MTV the world has interest in Steampunk, which would translate into more media coverage which could eventually lead to more exposure, sales, budjet...Abney Park Movie...our own airship on which would could give AFFORDABLE concerts, the eventual possibility of paying the rent, etc .

For the most part, this was a very good feature, and I think some of the first/best mainstream video to talk about the subculture - not just the industrial design asthetic. Sure, we are all nervous about MTV getting involved in our world. But if its going to happen anyway, wouldn't we rather have some say in it? Or do we just want to blindly wait for The Britney Spheres Steampunk Album?

If your with me, go to

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1595812/20080929/index.jhtml

and post how much you LOVE Steampunk, Abney Park and all!

Comments: Read 37 or Add Your Own.

contrasoma

Subject:	eternal return
Time:	4:28 pm.

"When one is young, one venerates and despises without that art of nuance which constitutes life’s greatest prize, and it is only fair that one has to pay dearly for having assaulted men and things in this manner with Yes and No. Everything is arranged so that the worst of tastes, the taste for the unconditional, should be cruelly fooled and abused until a man learns to put a little art into his feelings and rather to risk trying even what is artificial: as the real artists of life do. The wrathful and reverent attitudes characteristic of youth do not seem to permit themselves any rest until they have forged men and things in such a way that these attitudes may be vented on them:—after all, youth in itself has something of forgery and deception. Later, when the young soul, tortured by all kinds of disappointments, finally turns suspiciously against itself, still hot and wild, even in its suspicion and pangs of conscience: how angry it is with itself now, how it tears itself to pieces, impatiently, how it takes revenge for its long self-delusion, just as if it had been a deliberate blindness! In this transition one punishes oneself with mistrust against one’s own feelings; one tortures one’s own enthusiasm with doubts, indeed, one experiences even a good conscience as a danger, as if it were a way of wrapping oneself in veils and the exhaustion of subtler honesty; and above all one takes sides, takes sides on principle, against “youth.”— A decade later: one comprehends that all this, too—was youth!"
-Nietzche, "Beyond Good And Evil"

...By which I mean to say: I'm gonna dance my ass off at the Cut Copy and Presets show tonight.

Comments: Read 1 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Potentially silly question
Posted by:	blondeamazon.
Time:	4:55 pm.
Mood:	contemplative.

I was talking about steampunk fashion w/ my SO and he made the statement that he was tired of all the clocks and gears (particularly the non functioning) associtated with it and that he thought it was overdone. It got me to thinking. How did clocks and gears become part of the steampunk style? Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but I was thinking of how it is mostly about Victorian inspired style of dress, combined with a "found" object astetic that is both "punk" and mixing "advanced" technology, i.e. steam tech w/ Victorian era (or earlier) style and aged objects. Is it the idea of "clockwork" "steam driven" tech?
I am not saying it is bad to include or exclude it in anyone's outfit. Just curious of origin. :)

Comments: Read 16 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Posted by:	aliyna.
Time:	3:06 pm.

I finally decided, after much deliberation, that my Steampunk character/persona is a Bat Handler.

...Yes, like from World of Warcraft.

But not because I'm a nerd, I just think it would be pretty fantastic, in my dream Steampunk setting, if they not only had airships, but also BATS YOU COULD FLY ON. Because I like my Steampunk with some Gothic onto it. ...

Work with me. Anyway! ( First pair of modded goggles, you don't say! )

Thanks to the community for help and inspiration, as always!

Comments: Read 40 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	A comment and some "find" pics
Posted by:	kmckiernan.
Time:	12:35 pm.
Music:	office hum.

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genoochy's recent post on "Thrift Store Finds," where he asked for feedback on a lovely waistcoat he recently aquired, got me to thinking. (Ruht roh...) As always, our community was supportive and thoughtful, (something I adore about this group) but in pondering it later, it seemed many of us were getting hung up on whether it achieved the "classic" period look. I know for myself, I often find it super easy to settle on familiar "purest" ground, if there is such a thing in Steampunk, and I am guilty of sometimes looking past or glazing over the "Punk" element of Steampunk.

That said, I guess this is a reminder to myself (and to those of us in our community who find it useful) to embrace the "Punk" side of Steampunk. Don't get so hung up on sticking strictly to a period "look" if at the expense of creativity or fun!

( And now for the fun... )
Have a great day, everybuggy!!

Comments: Read 15 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	The Great Dickens Xmas Fair
Posted by:	professorotto.
Time:	2:41 pm.
Mood:	happy.
Music:	Cake.

http://www.dickensfair.com/welcome.htm

I found this while surfing the web. The Great Dickens Xmas Fair!! This looks like it would be a fun time and unique way to celebrate the holiday season. I am going to see if I can work this into my schedule, when I visit my family in California during the holidays.

Celebrate the Holiday Season in Victorian London!

The bustling streets of London, immortalized for all time by the mighty pen of Charles Dickens, form the living backdrop of your excursion into Christmas Past. You are a living part of a Victorian Christmas card come to life!

A Bay Area tradition for 29 holiday seasons, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair returns to the San Francisco Cow Palace Exhibition Halls for four weekends , including the Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008, from Friday, November 28 through Saturday, December 21st from 11am 'til 7pm.

Enjoy!!

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steamfashion

Subject:	Brooklyn Indie Market Steampunk Day
Posted by:	squirrelmadness.
Time:	1:37 pm.

Ladies and gentlemen,

On October 25th, the Brooklyn Indie Market (http://brooklynindiemarket.com/events.php) will be holding its Steampunk and Vintage Day event in New York City, from 11am to 6pm. The Steampunk Day will host a number of very talented steampunk artists and craftspeople who will be purveying their wares, and there will be a 2pm fashion show displaying all matter of visual goodies.

I will be attending as well. They have me slated to give a brief talk on steampunk, its background, and the growing trend. It will be on a similar vein to those I have already given at events such as Saloncon, which theoretically means that people find them to be entertaining (though it's probably because my voice sounds funny or something). In addition, I may be doing some selected readings from my steampunk fiction.

There will be a photographer there doing a vintage photo booth, so be sure to come dressed to the nines. That way you can get high quality professional pictures taken in period style with a period camera of you in your best steampunk or vintage outfits. More evidence to support your claims of time travel, I say.

All in all, it should be a great deal of fun, and a good way for people in the New York area (and beyond, if you feel like traveling) to meet up, say hello, take some pictures, and have a jolly good time. Also, there will be food.

Regards, etc.,
-G. D. Falksen

Comments: Read 11 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Steampunk Twelfth Night
Posted by:	imightbite.
Time:	12:18 pm.

Hi! I'm stage-managing a steampunk Twelfth Night that opens on Saturday. Besides the shameless plug for the show (details below), I wanted to share promo photos to show off some of the costumes! Note that they aren't totally finished.

(bigger version of the teaser, plus more, under the cut.)

( Shipwrecked on a strange shore. Lost your twin brother in the storm. A woman in a man's world. What do you do? Why, dress in men's clothing, fall in love with the local duke, and woo his lady, of course! )

Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Directed by Cat Parker
Featuring a soundtrack by Cloud Cult

October 9 - November 23, 2008
Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.,
Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

T. Schreiber Studio
151 West 26th Street, 7th Floor
NYC

For tickets and more information: http://tschreiber.org/theatre/index.htm

xposted

Comments: Read 50 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Posted by:	ladycoldfire.
Time:	11:18 am.

Good Day All,

My first non-response oriented post to this group. Just looking to bounce an idea off of you kind folk. I'm participating in a circular swap of sorts and my victim...er swapee mentioned in her questionaire that she was fascinated by steampunk/goth/gypsy. This got me to thinking of something that could be both wearable as costume and decorative when not being worn.

I was driving home and heard a Stevie Nicks song. That got me to thinking that Stevie was goth and gypsy....and to some extent, steampunk. So I got a black bowler/top hat from the local halloween store and about 3 yards of deep burgandy fine netting and wrapped the netting around the base of the hat and knotted and let the ends dangle down the back. In front in the center I'm using an old antiqued brass base pin with a picture of the Mona Lisa on it to tack the netting in place and I'm also sending an antiqued silver tone pin with a portion of a map of Paris on it.

I was thinking that a hat would be a lovely begnning to a steampunk/gypsy/goth style costume and something that could be kept on an old hatstand or the wall as decoration when not in use.

What do you all think? Good Idea? bad Idea? Could I make it better idea? I'm shipping this off to her as a surprise soon.

Thanks

Coldie

Comments: Read 5 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Slightly Steamy Fabric
Posted by:	purpura.
Time:	8:43 am.

Fabric.com has a small, very small, selection of ever so slightly steamy fabrics.
They can be found here: http://www.fabric.com/warehouse-sale-the-circus.aspx

They are basically of an 18th century circus theme. The one I think is the steamist is on the bottom. The Circus Posters could make for some interesting outfits.

They are discounted town to 3.74 a yard, but the sale ends on the 13th.

Comments: Read 2 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	It's in May, but...!
Posted by:	pervert_m.
Time:	2:24 pm.

Hullo Steamlovers~! ;D

I'm all excited because I've been told I'm allowed to not only wear my prom dress to an animecon, but wear it around the train station in london! I designed and made this dress with some help from my dress-maker-friend (*cough*She seriously did all the work *cough*) and it's sort of.. sort of Edwardian style!

See? So I'm planning it out already and gathering the SP items I already have (that pocket watch hanging from the waist-strap-thing!)
And I really don't like how I made the waist/underbust area, in fact it's rubbish. I wish I hadn't made it that way, so then lightening struck me and I thought I could just make a corset/belt/thing to go there and hide the disgrace!

Any idea's? Or, any ideas to how I could use this dress+a parasol, + the watch + anything else I could buy/make to look Steampunk and Edwardian? Help is appreciated!

Comments: Read 3 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Free gun!
Posted by:	sola.
Time:	9:04 am.

As it turns out, silly "executive toys" are one of the specialties of my new office. Just yesterday, i got one of these:

It shoots the disks a surprising distance, makes absolutely ghastly noises, and may or may not flash lights. It's a perfectly horrible toy, but would make a fantastic steamy weapon. (That clear tank! The gaping mouth of the ammunition slot!)

Sadly, while i love modded guns, i don't currently have any interest in doing one myself (too many projects on the plate, dear lord.) So - who wants this one? Totally free, but if you're outside of the US, please split the shipping with me.

If lots of people want it, i'll assign numbers and pick one with a number generator. I might be able to nab a few more, with or without ammo; we'll see.

Edit: All right, i'll give out numbers until, say - noon EST on October 9th (tomorrow), and in the meanwhile scrounge for more of them.

Edit-edit: New rule as suggested by

eris_star: you have to post pictures of your mods. Beg or borrow the photos, hold it up in front of a traffic camera; no excuses. xD

Comments: Read 31 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	I found this old photo from late 03 or early 04
Posted by:	jaborwhalky.
Time:	6:57 am.
Mood:	awake.

It amused me and thought it would do the same for you

taken in 03? 04? The web site is now .net!

The dress in the photo is this one
http://recollections.biz/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=790-791&Category_Code=FancySuits&Product_Count=0
It was a gift at the time from a pal..
I would not advice spending that much on the outfit (we like to call that dress my "Floppy big green dress ) as it needs to be tailored to me as its way to big in many spots still even after all these years,but I would say get it if its a gift .
The top under the dress came from goodwill
Pin some cheep shop in the NYC mall.
The glasses from ebay dirt cheep and are over 130 years old (I have many pairs of glasses that are older then any ones grandparent and then some)
Silly dragon sword cain that kicks ass from ebay..
(Do not ask me how I remember where everything came from years latter thats just how my memory works)

Comments: Read 5 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Goggles of Brotherhood.
Posted by:	lux_alexander.
Time:	2:25 am.

There seems to be a series of posts on strange goggles on here lately, so I thought I'd bring up another category of them, the Paukbrille.

Paukbrillen are the special protective steel mesh goggles used to protect the eyes and nose of the combatants in a Mensur - the very specific type of duel fought by the elite and highly secretive German Student Corps. It is these duels, fought with Schlager, that are responsible for the dueling (bragging) scars that were popular with the upper echelon of the German intelegencia in the 19th and early 20th century.

( More info and some big pictures here... )

Comments: Read 38 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	List of Gun Mods
Posted by:	dr_lenville.
Time:	12:54 am.
Mood:	working.

I just felt like i should do this,a list of all the gun mods I could find on steamfashion, enjoy!!!

http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/1114602.html

http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/554034.html

http://christiangraves.livejournal.com/43720.html

http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/539834.html

http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/426623.html

http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/405763.html

http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/134001.html

Comments: Read 2 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Hoodwinks
Posted by:	wed_mourning.
Time:	8:34 pm.

I see that a member has just posted a link to a pair of hoodwinks found on Ebay.
According to what I have learned they were used to mask certain lodge members from seeing "hidden" rites. Thus the term hoodwinked :)

And here is me wearing a pair for a shoot a few years ago:

Sorry had to share... I got all excited seeing them:)

Comments: Read 27 or Add Your Own.

steamfashion

Subject:	Steampunk movie?
Posted by:	naomi_de_plume.
Time:	6:37 pm.

I'm going slightly nuts here... a while back someone mentioned a film that was unexpectedly steamy. I remember checking it out on IMDB after reading the posting: something about a professor who goes to another world. I recall the film name having 'nowhere' or something close in the title? Any ideas? Anyone? If not, can you give me your favorite Steampunk movies?

Comments: Read 59 or Add Your Own.

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