New Wardrobe?

I have officially reached the point where I hate nearly everything in my closet, mostly because it reminds me of thinner times passed.

HATE that!

So to honor my newly found shapeliness (Not quite Rubenesque, but not too far from it), I picked a new wardrobe out for myself. Mind you, this is a fantasy wardrobe because:
1) I have no place to wear most of this.
2) The shoes will almost certainly kill my poor feet.
3) I haven't yet hit the massive Lotto win, and clothing made custom for me is likely to be pretty spendy.
4) Mr. ShellHawk would probably not want to be seen in public with me anymore, which would make me a sad panda.
Be that as it may, here are my offerings:

These hand-painted steampunk heels from Crafttastrophe, which I'm certain I can't live without. Simple, elegant, absolutely yummy.









This "Skullduggery" underbust corset (pray, ignore the size) from Luxuriawear. I'm certain I could wear it out to a job interview or something like that. Wouldn't it make a statement?





This corset from damselinthisdress looks great, and I could even wear it with jeans.Divadivine777 made this Victorian bustle skirt, which I'm certain would be just the thing for those boring trips to the grocery store.I really should have bought techdragon's Ladies Traveling Skirt for my recent European adventure. Paris may not have been ready for it, but I sure was!
And lastly, these lovely goggles from steampunk22. Surely, I can't be expected to read the fine print on the Nutritional Facts labels without them.

Maker Profile-Jake Von Slatt

Last year, I did an entry on Steampunk, a neat combination of art and fabrication, and a re-imagining of modern contraptions into a Victorian sensibility.

Most agree that Jake Von Slatt is one of the more visible steampunks. I ran across a video featuring him on "Maker."

Gad! I wish I had all those nifty power tools! And the goggles. Must... Have... The... Goggles!

Steampunk

ShellHawk may seem like a cutting edge gal sometimes, but honestly, it just ain't so. In fact, I remember an entire decade (the '90s, I think) when I didn't listen to anything but Irish and Irish traditional music. Trends find me late (if at all), more often than not. Mr. ShellHawk is constantly amused by this and I get that indulgent smile a lot.

So, color me surprised that Steampunk started its movement in the late '80s, alongside other 'punk movements I still just heard about two or three days ago.

I really gotta get out more.

For those of you like me, who only drag yourselves out of The Pit of Despair to get snacks in between building new torture devices and creating new monsters, I'll give you the Cliff's Notes.

Steampunk is what "experts" call retro-futurism. Steampunk deals in the, "what-ifs," of the alternate reality. If you need a visual, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a perfect example of this kind of speculative fiction. Very influenced by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, a look and lifestyle have grown from this movement, as well as literature and a fantastic re-imagining of our own time's everyday technology. There are many websites and fanfic to peruse.

For instance, this iPod skin by artist Colin Thompson allows you to see a steampunk version of the inner workings of your favorite toy.

A well-written steampunk how-to blog and website can be found here at The Steampunk Workshop. Run by Jake Von Slatt (not his real name), this site is filled with clear pictures and directions. It looks like a great website for ideas for your next Mad Scientist's Laboratory.

Here's a PC keyboard he made, too. Gorgeous, isn't it?

Datamancer, purveyor of "Prestidigital Datamancery and Paraphranalic Technofetishism," has re-made the humble laptop into a work of art. I want one. Badly.

And for those of us who treasure the return of '80s fashion (That's 1880s, by the way. Big hair need not apply), there are haberdashers online to outfit us for that lovely Victorian New Year's party.

You can find some steampunk fashion stores at Etsy.

Louise Black custom makes this x-ray corset. Clever girl!

I wonder if it's too late to put this on my Christmas list? Maybe for my birthday...