Sunday Pseudo-Steam, Feb. 2014

Yes, recently I've been having too many Real World Steampunk Wardrobe near-misses, instead of hits.  But still, I'm getting enough hits to keep me content, and besides--the fun is in the trying.  This ensemble is one of the hits;  it's nothing special, but it makes me happy when I wear it, and I received several compliments at church on the outfit, which is usually a sign I'm pulling it off.

Not sure if I'm pulling off this pose nearly as well, but again--the fun is in the trying.  Now for a more respectable pose, befitting a woman of my age and social standing:

Jacket from Sickonineteen, on Ebay

British Top by Three Dots

Skirt by Garnet Hill

Oh, how I wish I had a black corset belt to wear with this outfit--it seems in the photos like there is something missing there in the middle.  But until I do find a black corset belt I like, I can still wear the outfit as-is.

Black lantern earrings by Elaine Louise, on Etsy

Copper & wood hair sticks by Lilla Rose

Gratuitous beauty shot of the earrings. The glass beads are actually red, but they look black when not in direct sunlight.  That effect, combined with that verdigris-like texture on the unpolished bits, gives such a lovely goth feel to them.

Tights. . .possibly GAP

Mate boot by Kelsi Dagger

Do you have any favorite pseudo-Steampunk clothing bits to show me, on Pinterest or Etsy or anywhere else?  I always love to see your finds!

Steampunky Steve Madden, on Ebay Today

True to my previous boot post, I am keeping my eye on Ebay at the moment, looking to see if a pair of Perrins comes up in my size.  I have realized this one gap in my wardrobe--a casual, fairly flat soled, neutral colored, probably black, tall leather boot--is keeping me from wearing some things I would very much like to be wearing this winter.  Finding a good boot will help me make the most of the clothes in my meager closet; so much as I hate to buy one more pair of boots, it seems the only logical thing to do.

(I know. I sound all facetious, like I'm giggling while I bemoan needing to buy another pair of boots. And I am, kinda.  But if you saw the size of my closet--heck, the size of my house--you would understand that I am also being serious.  The boots I bought last winter are being used and enjoyed--worth buying!--but they are also taking up a lot of precious real-estate in there. And since the space is too small to accommodate organizers, the boots end up being a jumbled mess as well, usually necessitating me pulling out the whole lot just to find the mate of the one I want.  Oh, my first world problems!  And speaking of which, I also feel guilty, having several pairs of boots now, when there are so many other more worthy uses of the $.  So, all this to say, buying a pair of boots is in now way a flippant decision for me.  And yet, with all this in mind, I still want that pair of boots. ; )

And as always, if I see Steampunk compatible boots, I'm going to share them with you.  So here's what I found today in my size on Ebay, by Steve Madden:

Grripp, found here

As far as I can tell from the photo, a lovely texture to the leather.  I also really like the brownish/steel grey color--but who knows if that is true to the boot in person.  The laces up the back are a nice detail, and subtly suggest  the laces of a corset.

Lynet, found here

These are a little more punk, but I really like the military hints on these boots, and that blue and silver stripe made by the zipper.

Streeet, found here

I've now seen several of this style of riding boot--like a man's shoe on the bottom and not laced all the way up the front.  I like the additional buckles on this pair.

Cameronn, found here

A nice play on the prairie boot. I esp. like the two tones of leather together (with the contrast stitching) and the leather laces.

Elivate, found here

I don't know why everyone persists in calling such things "boots"--functionally these are stiletto heels, no getting around it.  But they are also Victorian versions, and so even if I would never, ever wear them, I like them.

Belman, found here

Just the right amount of buckles, and in a nice medium shade of brown too.

I tried to only post boots that I have not already featured previously, and also only the real leather ones. You have to be careful with Steve Madden--he has a higher and lower tier of boots, and the latter are usually synthetic, so if you want real leather you have to read the descriptions carefully.

Real World Steampunk Wardrobe Fail No. 2

So here is my second installment in this series, of Real World Steampunk gone wrong.

This particular Sunday, sometime back in 2013, I was aiming for a kind of Adventuress look. . .

Blouse by Apt 9 at Kohl's

Silk cashmere fine-gauge sweater vest from Goodwill*

Earrings by Elaina Louise on Etsy

Corset belt by Cabi

Black knit skirt by Garnet Hill

Tights I don't remember--GAP clearance perhaps?

Boots by La Canadienne

*if the vest looks swirly, it's just your monitor flipping out over the ribbed texture.  Click on the photo to enlarge and it should look fine. 

 . . . and as you can see, pieces that seemed like potential friends just ended up not playing together nicely.

Some individual parts of the look I like, and some I don't; but unlike my previous Real World Steampunk Wardrobe fail, which at least had a certain cohesive retro flair, this is just too. . . incohesive.  I'm finding it hard to choose the right words for what exactly is wrong with this ensemble, but it's all just a little. . . off.

And I wore it in public, taking the photos after I was back home.

Ah, well, these are the realizations that keep me humble.    

So, let's see if we can't disscect this look and figure out where it went awry. . . .  I think the vest over the blouse is the first problem, for two reasons: first, stylistically I thought the sweater vest could be a comfortable, practical way to get a very subtle corset look.  While I think this is still true in theory, this particular vest is just ending up looking more 1960's mod than anything else--esp. when taken together with the belt and boot height and skirt length.  I do like the belt over the vest--but just not when I'm trying to channel Steampunk.  The other problem with the vest over the blouse is that the blouse has a kind of ruffle placket down the front, and it was way too lumpy under this fine-gauge of a sweater.

The hem of the blouse and the hem of the sweater vest were also pulling up as I moved, and not even nicely in unison, so I ended up with even more bunching, and unevenness, and overall awkwardness.   I don't think tucking the blouse in would have worked either, as it does not have that long of a tail.

I do like the skirt and tights together. . . and the tights and boots together. . . but the three are not just working.  See, I'd really like a fun short bustle skirt, but am afraid a) it would look too costumey and not enough "real world," and b) I am too old to get away with it.  So I love this skirt, as a subtle nod to that kind of skirt, and have worn it with other steampunky things with success--just not on this day.

In fact, now that I think about it, a different colored skirt would have made a huge impact on the success of this particular look.  If I changed only that and the bunching of the blouse, this would be a fine look--just perhaps not as pseudo-Steampunk as it was in my mind's eye.

Comments?  Suggestions?  I'd love to hear them.

In Which Minnie Zephie Demonstrates Her Success at Failure

So, it seems like a very long time since I posted any pseudo-Steampunk Sunday looks.

It's not for lack of trying.

Over the past year and a half I have been slowly acquiring new clothing items, mostly secondhand, and then trying them out in various combinations, looking to create outfits that are comfortable, practical, weather-appropriate, and just Steampunky enough to satisfy my style hankerings.

It's been easy enough to find clothing pieces that might work in a Real World Steampunk Wardrobe, like the things I find and share with you here often enough from Ebay and other places--but it is much harder to then put those gathered odds and ends into combinations with the other things I have, and get them to turn out on my body the way they look in my imagination.

Let's just say, my imagination is not the issue.  Some of the pseudo-Steampunk ensembles I have put together have made my heart sing, like this one, and especially this one. Even this one keeps turning up on Pinterest, so I know there are others besides me who can see the outfit through rose-tinted goggles.  Those are my best Real World Steampunk successes thus far--imperfect as they are--and they have only whetted my appetite for more.

But for every one outfit that has made me happy, there are likely several more that were total pseudo-Steampunk fails.

The camera is the ultimate mirror, and it does not lie.

So I thought you all might enjoy seeing some of the outfits I have tried putting together this past year that did not work.  It's a little embarrassing to show you these outfits that I tried--and, much as I hate to admit, actually wore in public. To church, no less.  But, it's all part of the learning curve, right?  Maybe you'll see in these outfits a glimpse of what I was going for, and can even offer helpful suggestions on improvements in the comments.  Or maybe you'll just think What the. . ?! and get a good chuckle at my expense.  Either way, thanks for stopping by to share in my failure.

Real World Steampunk Wardrobe Fail #1, December 2013:

Linen dress by Land's End. I realize now this might have been a red flag.

Leather belt by Cabi

Scarf I've had so long I don't remember

Earrings by Elaina Louise on Etsy

Boots by Miz Mooz

Okay then.  This would be one of those times when I tried to stretch pieces past what they were able--although they did admirably work together in a completely unintended way.  Here I was going for a steampunky "Citizen/Adventurer" kind of look, and thought I could start with a dress that was close enough and then elevate it to pseudo-Steampunk with accessories.

Well.  As you can see, the accessories were not enough.  Even my oh-so-Steampunky hot air balloon earrings could not save me.  The overall look was quite cohesive and even attractive, but much less Steampunk and way more late 70's Lady Stetson.  I had pictured the scarf wrapped around my neck as a kind of Victorian cravat, but I think it turned out to be the wrong shape for that.  I may also have been running late to church and thus may have haphazardly flung it around my neck, mistakenly assuming it's a scarf, what could go wrong.

Also, I was so excited when I found this really nice quality, like-new dress on Ebay for a reasonable price, because it is linen, which is a fabric authentic to the Victorian times. I am a texture girl, and absolutely love fabrics that lend the heft and drape and visual appeal of older times.

Well.  As you can see, the main issue with the linen is the extensive wrinkling.  I was prepared for that when I purchased it--but that particular Sunday I ended up holding my young son in my lap for quite some time, and the warmth from our bodies together practically ironed a huge mark there across the front of the dress where the belt rode up under my ribcage while I was sitting.  Quite unattractive. 

Still, the look was not completely a loss. . . but I am also a little unsure how to salvage it.  The belt might work fine next time if I'm not planning on holding kids in my lap. . . and I could get a different scarf and tie it better next time. . . .  But maybe the cut of the collar will never quite look right, even if I get the scarf right. . . and maybe the hem length is just too modern. . .

At least that Sunday I had a hip and artistic young college woman compliment me on my outfit; she said the whole thing made her happy.  But I think she was clearly enjoying me being playful in a  retro kind of way--and that's just not the vibe I was after.

So there you have it--when good ideas go awry!  Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions, links to your own favorite Real World Steampunk clothes, or personal tales of fashion fails.  I'd love to hear from you.

More Military Cardigans

Cardigans are one of my favorite wardrobe staples--comfortable, practical, so easy for layering during transitional seasons, and so warm for winter. I had several cardigans I wore pretty much non-stop for years, and just this winter retired, because they had grown pretty baggy and worn.  If they were my favorite cozy sweaters, they might still be worth keeping just for around the house; and yet, I am getting of an age where it's too easy to feel frumpy, so even around the house I would prefer to wear only things that make me feel good.

Of course, anytime I need something new in my closet, I always first check to see if I can find it the least bit Real World Steampunk!  Pseudo-Steampunk to enliven an otherwise boring jeans outfit--perfect.

Here are some things I saw on Ebay today:

by Free People, found here

I love the texture, color, buttons and angled front.  Not so crazy about where the sweater would fall on my own midriff, but it would still work over a tunic dress and tights.  The overall look would not be neo-Victorian, but would be cute, and a nod towards Real World Steampunk if paired with steampunky accessories and tall boots.

by Rubbish, for Nordstrom, found here

Again, just a basic little sweater for layering.  This is the kind of thing that would be useful when you are going to be wearing jeans but want to have a vaguely steampunky vibe otherwise.  I can see this with a brown and white skinny stripe top over dark denim or brown skinny jeans, with steampunky tall boots.

by Love Culture, found here

The sweatshirt fabric of this one is not ideal, but again--a fine choice for an otherwise boring jeans day.

 Marc by Marc Jacobs, found here

I featured this one in the last cardigan post, in a mossy brown.  The same sweater in black is much more formal, and would look equally good with jeans or skirts.

by Free People, found here

Now, if you are like me and would prefer to wear tops and cardigans that de-emphasize hips when in skinny jeans, this is a nice option.  I'm not crazy about the neckline, however, which is a little too slumpy--a more fitted or stand-up collar like most of the previous cardigans have would not only be more flattering, but more neo-Victorian.

by Leifsdottir, found here

This one has a lovely drape--which is, alas, quite modern in look.  However, I love the ruffly millitary-esque detail down the front, so feminine and a little edgy.  This one too would look really good with skinny jeans over a tunic-length top.

by Bravo New York, found here

Oooooooh, so lovely!  What a flattering, ultra-feminine shape--I almost can't believe it is a sweater and not a jacket.  And it is a beautiful shade of brown, and is cashmere to boot! This one would look great with jeans and really dress them up, but I would like it best with a long skirt in some kind of stripe pattern, with little black granny boots peeking out underneath.

by Roz & Ali, bidding ended

Talk about ultra-feminine!  This is so over-the-top luxe, and so darn pretty.  I am not a fan of faux fur, but this is the way to do it--the color and texture really work well together. This would be so flattering on the right woman, and could be worn with all manner of clothes, from jeans to long Victorian style skirts, to knee-length knit dresses, and could be dressed up or worn casually. So fun!  The right woman could really play up the punk in this cardigan too--if she swapped out the buttons for something dark metal toned.

If you have a favorite cardigan that would work in a Real World Steampunk Wardrobe, please do share in the comments!   This was a fun, quick search today, but so far nothing perfect for my own wardrobe.  I always welcome your ideas!

Steampunky Boots by Matisse--Until 1/21/14

Zulily's current deals include a couple of excellent pseudo-Steampunk boots:

Matisse Saddle Blakely, regularly $247, available through Zulily for $105.

Matisse Outlawed, regularly $248, available through Zulily for $70

The discount on this last boot is unreal.  Seventy dollars, new.  There are no returns at Zulily, so make sure of your size before you order--and customer reviews at other sites seem to recommend ordering a half-size up from your normal show size.  But if you have tried on Matisse boots before and are pretty sure this will work for you, then you can't beat the price.

Use this link to sign up for Zulily (it's free) if you never have before.  If you order anything through the link, I think I might get a kick back. : )

I also found this other pair of potential Real-World Steampunk boots, by a brand called Vestiture:

Chocolate Zeila Extra Wide Calf Buckle Boot by Vestiture, regularly $110, available through Zulily for $45.

That pair above is not real leather, however--normally I only show you real leather boots, because that is what I am personally shopping for, but these do look pretty nice for faux (as best I can tell in the photo) and they are supposedly wide calf, which is a real bonus for some of us.

I don't care for most of the clothes on Zulily, but when they do have something I like it is at a fantastic price, so well worth keeping an eye on.

In Which Minnie Zephie Finds Herself Chagrined

It's been a while since I posted here--too much other life happening, and not enough Steampunk in my life to write about!  The latter I hope to remedy this year. But tonight, I am prompted to make a quick post because of some beautiful bits of pseudo-Steampunkery I cannot believe I somehow missed:

the Steve Madden Perrin boot

The most Real World Steampunky black leather lace-up boot I have seen all year!  Look at the height on this boot, and the sweeping lines, but how it still keeps from leaning too far on the piratey end.  Look at the coppery-toned grommets!  Look at the vintage menswear cut of the toe and the material of the sole and heel!  What is not to love?!

But alas, this boot has just broken my heart. Because somehow, I missed it.  The boot is nowhere to be found in my size tonight--at least with my cursory searching.  This boot did not exist last Spring when I was scouring the web for such delights--it must be a new boot for the Fall or Winter.  But it is so gorgeous, I guess it sold out everywhere.  (wah waaaaah)

Why was I looking for boots again today?  Because I have come to realize that I need a casual pair of tall black boots--there are just too many things in my closet that I'm not reaching for because I don't have any footwear that looks with with them.  These boots--these boots--would have been so perfect.

side view--ahhhhhhh, shape, and the zipper detail!!!

If that was not bad enough, I found another pair tonight, also by Steve Madden, that is equally as unique and Steam-worthy:

Steve Madden Miidori

I love buckles. But I am really picky about size, shape, placement, finish, etc. I have never seen this particular combination on a boot, and it really works, esp, in this lovely ruddy leather.  And again, these seem to be almost impossible to find already, even though they must be new this Winter.

(Except believe it or not, I just checked eBay, and found my size of the Miidori.  Except, I'm not actually sure if they are my size or not--oh, the pain!  Do I buy boots I am not sure will fit?  Wisdom says no--but the so far bidding rate of $30 whispers take a chance!)

I've learned my lesson:  never stop looking for Steampunky boots.  One never knows what wonderful boots might yet be found.

Do any of you have any favorite Steampunky boots to share?  I'd love to know what else I might have been missing!

*UPDATE: Further searching revealed the answer to why I had not seen either boot before. The Perrin was out in 2010, and the Miidori must also be an older style. Why they suddenly showed up in my searches this past week and not last year when I was much more thoroughly scouring the web, I don't know. But the good news about this is that now I know to keep my eyes out on Ebay for them!