In Which Minnie Zephie Dresses in a Manner Unseemly to Her Age

This past year was a rather pivotal year for me, fashion-wise.  It was the year I realized that I have reached an age that requires different ways of thinking about myself and the clothes I wear.  It's not that I suddenly started feeling old, or think that I have to follow someone else's Rules for Dressing When You Have Reached Middle Age;  it's that I realized there are things that I see others wearing that I may like very much on them (Lolita skirts! Steampunky hair accessories! Anything baring or calling attention to the midriff!), but which I have never had the urge to buy for myself, because unconsciously I knew they would only look ridiculous on me.  Yes, I'm now of an age to look ridiculous in certain things--hard truth, but one I can honestly say I'm perfectly fine with, esp. since the realization of it came about in a very natural, self-honoring way.

As I started assessing my wardrobe last year for potentially increasing it's Steaminess, I started paying more attention to the things I found myself not wearing.   There were clothes in my wardrobe that had previously been favorite favorites that I just no longer reached for, that I realized I had not worn all season--I kept reaching past them in the closet, choosing other things instead.  Since the closet real-estate is at a premium around here, I took the time to evaluate why I was not wearing them, to decide if they should stay or go.  Some of the things I just did not have the right pieces to wear with--they need different footwear, like the flat-soled tall boots I've been searching for recently, or a different skirt.  Those are "problems" I can (happily) find solutions for. But there were other clothing pieces that I finally decided just seemed too. . . youthful.  They bared too much skin on my chest and upper arms--places I feel actually more youthful if I cover up.  Or they had fabrics or patterns or colors that seemed more appropriate for a 20 year old and not a 40-something.

I'm not ashamed of my age.  I think I'm rocking it quite well!  And I don't feel like I have to kow-tow to the Expectations of Others in Society.  (Clearly, or I would not be regularly sneaking Steampunk into church services.)   But.  One of the good things about getting older is that you start to understand and appreciate yourself better, and I am old enough to know I want to feel good, not only in my own skin, but in what I put on it.  I don't care what others think as much as I care about what *I* think.

And *I* think I am of an age where I want to be attractive, but attractive AS my age, not seemingly trying to be a younger age.  We've all seen older women wearing things that just didn't look right--and it's just because some styles are made for the young, and when an older woman wears them, it looks like she's not happy with her own age.  Or like she's not aware of fashion enough to know what not to wear.

Which leads us to. . . the skinny jeans. 

This is my first (and only) pair of skinny jeans.  I bought them because there were some tops/tunics I had in my wardrobe that seemed to necessitate them, and I thought I was pulling them off well enough.  (At least the teenager who was sharing the changing room mirror with me there at Ross was enthusiastic. ; ) 

I also really wanted to try a pair of skinny jeans because I find that if you want to do "everyday" pseudo-Steampunk, you have to be very careful about the silhouette you create--and as I learned back in this post, the only jean that lends itself well to the more punk aspect of Steampunk is the skinny jean.  So, I tried playing around those skinny jeans and other pieces in my wardrobe that are each vaguely Steampunky, and this is the first look I came up with:

Top by H&M, found at the Salvation Army

Vest by Jones Wear Jeans

Ancient belt, once belonging to my husband's grandpa

Jeans by Rue 21, from Ross

Marin boots by Caterpillar

Seeing as how it was still winter (northern California style), I also tried the look with a favorite Victorian-esque jacket.  But as you can see, the slight peplum shape of the jacket is just. . . odd over the long and lean jeans.  Proportions all out of whack!

Jacket by Ann Taylor LOFT

Earrings by ElainaLouise on Etsy

See--when I crop the image, the jacket over the vest looks just fine.  Picture beneath a long, full skirt in black, or grey, or a brown and color plaid--that's the shape that will look best with this jacket when I am trying to bring out the most Steampunk from it.

So, hit or miss?  I still have not decided.  I'll show you all one more attempt at pseudo-Steampunk with the skinny jeans in my next post--the update on the casual look I linked above--and would so appreciate feedback!

Sweet boot, today only on Ebay

I've never seen this one before, so had to share, even if the listing will probably be over before you see it, even if you do wear the same size of boot as me:

Steve Madden Madelyn, found here

 

Very Steampunk-compatible!

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!

Sunday Pseudo-Steam, March 9, 2014

This particular Sunday I had a little bit of a steampunk Mary Poppins thing going on.  That's an excellent premise for an ensemble, and I might keep that in mind as I finish this particular look.

Blouse by frenchi, bought at the Salvation Army

Skirt by Onanya, on Etsy

Tahra boots by LaCanadienne

Jacket by Ann Taylor

Earrings by Elaina Louise Studios

Flexi-clip by Lilla Rose

I really like all of the pieces of this outfit, and yet, together they were not quite working for me.  I think the problem is the skirt.  I really enjoy this skirt, and find it is so subtly Steampunk--just right for a Real World Steampunk Wardrobe.  But with wintery things, like this corduroy jacket, the skirt is just not quite the weight.  Also, this is just too much brown in this outfit.  And I think the shape of the skirt is flattering with the cut and length of the blouse, but not so much with the skirt.  Finally, looking at this side view, I'm reminded that I must occasionally check the adjustment of the gathers in the back as well as the front when I am wearing it.  Saggy gathers are sad Steampunk. 

 
But still, not a bad try for a late-Winter Sunday. I would love to hear your thoughts--any suggestions for more Steampunky accessories that I could get away with at church?  (The little Mary Poppins fascinator I'm picturing might be just a little much. ; )

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.