Steampunk Gone Mainstream--Exhibit A

Found here

Found here

But to give this artisan credit--when my three Mini Minnies just now walked by the computer and saw those images, they immediately started cooing in delight. I hope they give you a smile today too. : )

Steampunk Style for the Mini-Minnie, for March 2014

 OK, so you can probably tell by the pumpkins when these photos were really taken, and thus how long I've taken to post them.  It was a very busy Fall around here, which is why I went through a long silent spell there--but now it's Spring, with more time to sit with my tea and indulge my pseudo-Steampunk imagination. 

My middle mini-Minnie

Top and skirt by Hanna Andersson

Tights by GAP

I showed you all this outfit before, on my eldest mini-Minnie, but since then I found these fabulous striped tights, which really heighten the goth/Steampunk hints. Esp. on my own little Wednesday.

The shoes are not necessarily my favorite--oh, how perfect this look would be with short, button-detailed black leather boots.  But for practicality, almost any pair of black leather mary janes like these will work just fine with pseudo-Steampunk.

Just for fun, I decided to play with different looks in our photo-editing program:

I'm going to remember this one for how it makes the subject stand out and lends a slight ghostly feel to the image.

And here's my mini-Minnie in full Gothic glory. 

Now with a little more breathing room in my days for creativity, I would love to see what little Steampunky bits you have been finding online.  Please do share any in the comments below!

Authentic New Old Suspenders!

There is a seller on eBay selling these beauties as a lot:

Real old-fashioned suspenders, from some old store collection in the Netherlands.

The seller says they are true new vintage, from the 1940's.  Oh, I would love to buy just one pair for my eldest Mini Minnie, whose favorite literary character to dress up as is Dickon, from The Secret Garden, and who has expressed a desire for suspenders.  Too bad they are being sold as a lot. 

If any of you occasional readers happen to own an Etsy store, you should snatch these up!

Oh, wait.  Minnie Zephie owns a currently empty store on Etsy.  (I had visions of steampunky couture for children--but life has not allowed it.)  Hmmmmm.  Maybe this means its time to stock the shelves!

Adorable military style for the Mini-Minnie

By Faded Glory, found on eBay here

if you have a Mini-Minnie, look here!

found here

It looks like it is for a girl somewhere between ages of 3 and 5. . . I'm currently on eBay looking for things for my own eldest Mini-Minnie, and so wish this was her size.  So cute, and effortlessly Real World Steampunk. 

Sunday Pseudo-Steam for Feb.10: Mini-Minnie

The eldest Mini-Minnie, in one of our favorite wintery neo-Victorian looks:

Top, skirt, and tights by Hanna Andersson

Shoes by Naturalizer, found on eBay

Jacket by Monsoon, found on eBay

The jacket is not really light blue, as it looks in these photos, but more of a light slate.  A lovely blue-grey velveteen with satiny trim. 

Cute and comfortable and so practical.  I would love dressing my Mini-Minnies in pseudo-Steampunk clothes all the time, because those looks are just so darned adorable.  But even more important to me is my daughters enjoying what they wear--liking the clothes themselves, and feeling the freedom to play and be little girls in whatever they have on. Esp. this one won't be a little girl for too much longer--so this outfit not only manages perfectly to bridge the stylistic gap between girlhood and being a young lady, but is something she can truly be herself in.  And that last is the ideal of my Real World Steampunk wardrobe--whether for myself or my Mini-Minnies.

Sunday Pseudo-Steam for Dec. 9, 2012: Mini-Minnie

Striped turtleneck by Mini Boden

Overskirt by Jottum, found on eBay

Skirt by Oilily (worn under as petticoat), found on eBay

Tights by Hanna Andersson

Boots (waterproof leather) by Timberland

Jackets for the Steampunk Girl

Such amazing, adorable steampunk potential, for kids.  The famous GAP jackets by Stella McCartney.

It might just be that I am a product of the 80's, but one wardrobe essential for my kids is a good jean jacket.  Denim jackets go with everything, and are my preferred jacket for more dressy outings, like Sunday morning services.  They are good for three seasons of the year, and can be shoved under van seats and into backpacks and come out looking fine.   They are easy to care for, and hide dirt well, and hold up to years of use--which allows me to justify getting the cutest jackets available, since they will be worn by all three of my Mini-Minnies.  

I was ecstatic this past year when my eldest daughter needed a new jean jacket, and I actually found one on eBay that was wonderfully Real-World Steampunk:

Found currently at this listing--but fortunately I found my daughter's NWT for about $40, which is a far cry from the $140 (with ship) this seller is asking!  I would not pay that much for any jacket for a kid--esp. because kids are still kids and sometimes things get lost--but I absolutely love the jacket itself.  So so so cute on.  And even better, my eldest Mini-Minnie now fits adult shoe sizes, so look what boots I also found on eBay for a fraction of the store prices, which she wears with the jacket:

Merrell Tetra Strap--adorable and waterproof leather

 So steampunky together!  

Esp. if you are trying to assemble a pseudo-steampunk wardrobe for kids, it is definitely worth keeping an eye on the offerings on eBay.  You can often find excellent pieces that are sold out elsewhere, and at great prices, too.  My daughters don't need another denim jacket at the moment--but I am keeping a lookout for a great jacket for the next size up, since my eldest is shooting up like a reed. 

Another cute denim jacket, also by GAP.  I much prefer copper/brass/antique metal tones for steampunk, but since brass buttons on dark denim look as much 1970's as anything else, the silver tones of these are crisp and attractive.  Found on eBay here.

This one is on the sugary end of the spectrum, but the coppery-toned buttons and stitching, the distressed edging, and the shaped waist and peplum suggestion in the back all lend themselves well to steampunk.  By Hillary Duff, found on eBay here.

Very cute denim jacket by Ralph Lauren, found on eBay here.

Adorable military/band style from The Children's Place, on eBay here.  If all those big buttons were on a women's jacket, it would be too much--too clownish.  But on a little girl's jacket, the effect is whimsical, and I approve.

Victorian-esque denim jacket by Limited Too, found on eBay here.

This one I am not linking because the eBay listing is over.   It is also by GAP and is just too adorable.

Grey denim, and lovely military feel, found on eBay here.  I enjoy the shaped hem, and the tone of the buttons.

Of course, a cute and practical jacket for a steampunky girl does not have to be denim.  There are some excellent jackets in twill and other jean-weight fabrics.  This grey one is by GAP, found on eBay here.

And it looks like the same jacket comes in brown corduroy too.  Found on eBay here.

And this one is a fine-wale corduroy.  I just love those buttons, and it has very cute peplum detail in the back.  Such a cheerful mint green would not be ideal for a woman's steampunk look, but on a girl it is sweet.  By GAP, found on eBay here.

A knit version, found on eBay here. For a steampunk jacket, this is pretty boring. But a boring steampunk jacket is still more interesting to me than any other style!

This knit jacket is not nearly the quality I would normally buy my kids (as far as I can tell from the pics) but it is so adorable!  Even the silver zipper does not hinder the look overmuch. So if you need a light-weight, will-show-dirt-easily, likely-won't-last-through-three-girls steampunk jacket, here you go!

A cute khaki version.  The ruffle detail around the bottom (which extends all the way around the back) is just the right amount of girlie. Like the brass toned snaps too, and that high collar.  Found on eBay here.

You can even find such adorable little steampunky jackets for babies and toddlers!  Look at this wonderful camel jacket--I so wish that was in the next size up I need for my eldest.  I'll keep a look out!  Found here.

And here is another sweet little baby jacket.  If I had a little little one again, it would be so hard to resist!  Another listing that ended, so no link.

Sunday Pseudo-Steam for Oct. 7, 2012: Mini-Minnie

Blouse by George

Skirt by Oilily

Today's Sunday Pseudo-Steam features my eldest daughter, who also loves the Steampunk aesthetic, and who provides me with more outlet for my Real World Steampunk Wardrobe hunting--Mini-Minnie style.  She is 11 and shooting up like a reed, which means she is outgrowing all her clothes, which necessitates Mommy going shopping for her.  Well, if I must shop for my daughter, of course I'm going to see if I can find comfortable, practical neo-Victorian pieces.

I'm finding it is even harder to find neo-Victorian pieces for older girls than it is for women, which is a shame because girls are just so sweet in them.  I think eldest daughter looks just the right amount of grown-up and girlish at the same time.  This is another outfit that is just beginning; can you see it this fall with bone striped tights and black granny boots and a big bow in her hair?  The Victorian-esque aspect is coming along nicely; how to make such clothes Steampunk without making them look costumey, or forced is another matter.  I think for kids, the color palate becomes so much more important, if you want the look to be the least bit Steampunk.  If this same blouse and skirt were, say, copper and dark grey, it would immediately suggest Steampunk.  If I find pieces like that, I'll buy them!  But so far, my online options (well, that don't cost an arm and a leg) have been limited.  Please let me know in the comments if you have sources for kids' Steampunk clothing--that is actually clothing, and not costumes.

I'll also welcome suggestions for what accessories/elements can be worked into a girl's Steampunk wardrobe without them looking too adult, too outlandish, too pretentious, too pretend-ish.