New favorite earrings

It's been a while since I posted, but not for lack of luscious steampunky things in my life.  Case in point--this beautiful pair of earrings:

by ElainaLouise

I've been so pleasantly surprised by how versatile they are--they add a delightful bit of color to my usual darkish and fairly somber wardrobe, and seem to complement almost anything I might put on. Elaina Louise has been my go-to steampunky jeweler on Etsy, and I have yet to be disappointed.

Gorgeous Steampunk Earrings!

Thanks to Jen's Saturday Steam post today at Epbot, I found a new favorite etsy seller:

These and all the following beauties are by Elaina Louise Studios.

These are the earrings Jen featured--adorable, elegant, whimsical, and one of the most effortlessly Steampunk styles I have ever seen.  Usually the harder a jeweler has to work to make a particular piece "steampunk," the less likely I am to like it.  The most perfect Steampunk pieces are those that are the most logical in design, and have an almost organic nature to their construction.

That does not mean Steampunk can't be fancy (that's for another post!); I'm trying to describe an aesthetic that my eyes quite easily catch, but my tongue does not seem to have the right words for.  My favorite Steampunk pieces are subtle, but ingenious--like the genre itself--and simple or fancy doesn't matter as much as a certain rightness. . . . And if I can't describe it, at least I can show you what I mean:

Vaguely reminiscent of industrial bronze lanterns, with a little hint of an iridescent coppery patina--a gorgeous, subtly Steampunk accessory. 

Some of my favorite pieces by this artist are more blatantly Steampunk--but the beauty of the angular copper cogs juxtaposed with the antique shape and sheen of the beads is just so beautiful.  Earrings like this are simple enough to add a little Steam style to T-shirts and jackets, and yet elegant enough to be worn with dresser ensembles:

These last copper-hued earrings are a little Steampunk-Modern--a pairing that is harder to bring together, aesthetically, but this set demonstrates it can be done with grace.  

Of course, the root of Steampunk is Victorian, so any neo-Victorian earring will do--but only certain combinations of color and shape can make me swoon:

The copper and aubergine together are simply gorgeous!   

All of the earrings on this page I would buy in a heartbeat!  It's a good thing I have so much restraint. . . . 

Accessories for the (Steampunk) Lady: for the Neck Pt 2.--the Delicate

As I made that last Steampunk fashion post, I realized there were just too many fun bits I have gathered over the past 6 months for one post.  

So here is Part 2!  Steampunk jewelry for the neck--the usual necklaces and chokers, but with Steampunk icons, or ideas, or materials:

Hot Air Balloon Necklace by chinacherie

Lace Applique Collar in Black Cotton by MaryNotMartha

Romantic Stylish Elegant Ribbon Choker by twoknit

vintage teeny tiny miniature skeleton key necklace by GwenDelicious

Skeleton key necklace by GwenDelicious

oval keyhole pendant by GwenDelicious

black lace nightfall beaded crochet necklace by irregularexpressions

miss prim and proper victorian choker by steamgothneovictoria

fly away pendant by MisfitGirl

bunny and the toy pony round silver pendant by sarahogren

silver bee victorian heart by CosmicFirefly

victorian style filigree pocket watch necklace by lunashineshine

upcycled necktie maria necklace by lilian asterfield

For some reason I absolutely love that last one.  I would wear that necklace with that exact top and shrug in a heartbeat.  If I could afford it, which I can't.  So I'll just enjoy looking, and mentally stick the idea away for sometime when I have the urge to get creative with old men's ties!

Accessories for the (Steampunk) Lady: for the Neck Pt 1.--the Warm

I mentioned earlier that I started noticing there was such a thing as steampunk style last year, when I was doing a lot of clothing searches on etsy, trying to find a couple of new clothing pieces for my wardrobe that were made in the US (to try to put my $ back into our own national economy, and support small industry, and to avoid overseas labor abuses).  If you want cool handmade clothes, etsy is the place to go!  A lot of the stuff there is pricey, but a lot of it is what you would expect to pay at the mall at regular price.  So, no great discounts, but at least you know what your money is supporting.

Hold on--all that is WAY too practical of an introduction for what I want to show you today, which is just pure eye-candy;  in this case, gorgeous pieces for the neck.  Ok, some of them are practical, kinda, if you need your neck really warm.  In fact, I found most of them when I was looking at scarves last year.  But I saved them to show you just because they are so cool, and so beautiful.  And they can be Steampunk, or not, depending on what they are put with. 

rust orange ruffle neck cuff by heldmyhands

Have I mentioned that I love texture?  I think this is one of the main reason Steampunk clothes appeal to me--they usually involve a play of textures:  lace worn with metal grommets, leather and buckles with velvet and brocade, satin with canvas and brass.  In my own wardrobe I have always loved contrasting (yet complimentary) textures, like black velvet against blue denim, nubby wool with wide grograin ribbon.  But thinking about my warbrobe nowadays, it is mainly practical denim and cotton knit--not much texture at all.  I think that is why I was so attracted to this collection of accessories on etsy--the knitted and knotted and felted and beaded stuff--I miss the subtle play of textures in my clothes.

Early Forest Fog neck warmer by VaVaRa

Of course, the best part about that is it will be so easy to add a little bit of texture AND steampunk style to my wardrobe with just a few select pieces!  Hmmmmmmm, I do have a birthday coming up. . . .

Crochet Pretty Flower Neckwarmer by FuzzyLumpkinCrochet

Braided Crochet Neckwarmer by FuzzyLumpkinCrochet

Cotton Spiral Sculptural Necklace by Revisions

I Ching Neckwarmer by Ellita

Fiesta Stole by Ellita

Ok, so some of these are pretty dramatic, and I would not be brave enough to wear them. But boy, are they striking. And so, so beautiful, each in their own way.

Purple Smoke Neckwarmer by WarmFlashes

leaf scarf by deniz03

comfort me with roses necklet by mermaidencreations

But I would wear several of these, including this last one--too bad California does not get cold enough.

gray black boucle capelet by knitsomestudio

And there is so, so much more I am sure I could find on etsy, the treasure-trove of handmade goodness.  But I am just posting the things I have come upon, and try to restrain myself from window shopping for hours and hours, as I am sure someone could easily do.

On the other hand, sitting down to browse with my afternoon cup of tea for a "few minutes" seems perfectly reasonable. . . .