Sunday Pseudo-Steam for Dec. 31, 2012

What a great way to finish 2012--with the assemblage of my best Real World Steampunk outfit to date:

~Jacket by Sickonineteen, found on eBay

~Blouse by Apt. 9, from Kohls

~corset belt by Cabi, found new on eBay

~skirt by Onanya, on Etsy

~Tahra boots by La Canadienne

Finally, a Real World Steampunk outfit I am happy with, just as it is.  But the best part of the outfit for me was how it all came together so effortlessly.  I bought all these things separately, just because I liked them so much, not purchasing them to necessarily go together--but when they all arrived I had a hunch they would go together nicely.  

 The jacket I bought for myself on eBay a few weeks before Christmas, so my Dear Husband said I should put it under the tree and wait to wear it.  Sigh.  Well, if I must. . . .  When I finally opened it, I was so pleased with the fit and look.  The only thing I'm not thrilled about is the button detail, which proudly declares "Sickonineteen" over and over and over down my front.  Since I have no desire to be celebrating "sicko" youth culture, and since I am quite a bit past 19 (and don't want to be insecure that the jacket is too youthful for me), I at least turned all the buttons so that the words are upside down and might not be as noticeable.

~The famous and fabulous golden "hot air balloon" glass bead earrings by Elaina Louise Studios, on Etsy, which were my self-picked birthday present.  Good consolation for turning one year closer to ancient.

The corset belt was under the tree too; I had been looking for a good steampunky belt online for about a month, and was so excited to find this one:

(this is the seller's photo from eBay--I don't have a better close-up myself)

The belt is real leather, and has four functional buckles in a lovely bronze--not only beautifully steampunk, but highly adjustable!  I have a naturally long torso, so the cut of the jacket would likely not look right without that wide belt, which visually bridges the gap.

The skirt is the one I have blogged about previously, and used to wear with only the front gathered up.  But after seeing the skirt in the photos from that day's Pseudo-Steam photo shoot, I decided I liked it much better gathered in both front and back.  I have been wearing that skirt for years, but this is the first time I think I have done its subtly steampunky nature justice.  And I really like the tones of brown in the belt and skirt and boots together. 

The blouse I have had tucked away in my closet for years--further proof that my neo-Victorian leanings began long before I ever heard about Steampunk.  It was exactly right under the jacket.  So, all the pieces seemed to come together on their own, and this is what I wore to church yesterday morning.  Something about the juxtaposition of the anacronistic and Divine never fails to make me smile inside.  There's nothing sacrilegious about it--how fitting to dress creatively when going before the ultimate Creative Mind, the original Maker, who is simultaneously in and out of Time.

Happy New Year to all of you who stop by, and I hope this next year brings you plenty of Good and Satisfaction, Steampunk or otherwise. : )