Steampunk? Why Not?

While catching up on my emails this morning I happened across the cute critter I'm featuring below. He's the inspiration for today's romp through creative speculation. This wonderful guinea pig is dressed in a custom-made steampunk harness with wings. The perfect accent for his trip to the nearest guinea pig con and get-together. I had to laugh, and then I had to follow the thread to see where it might lead me. So here we go on a journey through steampunk.

Is he not adorable? The artist does custom orders because each
one needs to fit your fuzzy little critter exactly. Too cute! 

Steampunk is a mix of Victorian English-styled clothing blended with industrial overtones and mechanisms based on steam power instead of other power sources such as gasoline or solar. The style has been around for quite a few years now and has planted some deep roots. I feel like wandering through the possibilities for new costumes with all of you today.

Steampunk fashion is based on leatherwork with gears and
brass accents. My friends and I fell in love with belt-carried
tea sets, a new item at one leather purveyor at Renaissance
Fest this year. Each delicate china cup and saucer was accompanied
by a lace serviette and hung from the belt so as to be easily
accessible for 4:00 o'clock tea time.  

Many outfits feature goggles. Goggles, made from leather and brass
 (or sometimes plastic - not a good material choice) are worn on the head,
around the hat, or even actually over the eyes. Why wear goggles? All I
can think of is protection from industrial waste and air pollution. The
more important question is "What can you see through them?" To
paraphrase Howard Carter, "I can see wonderful things."  

The gears and enhancements to the lenses of each unique set of goggles allow the user to see in different ways - through dimensions, into the molecular level, beneath the surface, telescoped or microscoped. A good set of goggles can be key to an effective steampunk presentation.

Steampunk bandolier pouches are often worn across the chest or
as belts. They often have tools attached - tweezers, sewing thread,
flares, or medicine bottles, and they feature a variety of pouches.
Essentially, the steampunk bandolier is the Victorian equivalent
of Batman's utility belt. 

Here is an especially nice leather corset with the
bottom rings acting as a type of bandolier for the
pouch and bottle that are hanging loose. 

Of course, steampunk is a grand opportunity to work with leather and make something really customized and unique. Take a look at these examples of some amazing and beautiful leatherwork.

This really fabulous pouch carries the clockwork gears motif
into the leather. The back has a strap where a belt can be passed
through and the top fastens with a back snap, allowing the front
design to be unsullied. Very nice! 

I love the embellished interleaved gears stamped into this leather
top hat. The decorative lacing at the top is a nice addition as well. 

Are you a reporter in the world of steampunk? This pouch may be
for you. This is a journalist's pouch with paper and pencil along with
a lower pouch featuring a plasma disc. This is made to hang down
from a belt. 

Here's a small steampunk belt box featuring a turn
latch (I sell these and love them) and a wonderful
octopus (or Cthulu) below. Yeah! I want! 

And finally, because I'm getting closer to making myself a set of grieves, here's a steampunk take on a pair with brass, leather, and a wonderful pocket watch.

This grieve, or bracer, features a brass top, some embellished
tubing, a leather body and a chained and pouched pocket watch. A very
nice design. 

So there you have it. New outfit ideas and some wonderful examples to build from. Have a wonderful Tuesday and dream on!