Any Assitance Would Be Just Lovely :)

I've always enjoyed Steampunky things, books and films being at the forefront.

This weekend I went to the MCM Expo in London, and thought I would try to do something Steampunk, and wound up just going in a suit.
I did manage to buy some goggles whilst I was there, which did make me look a little less bland. Overall though I did feel rather silly.

I was wondering how you guys started off? I've looked at lots of blogs, and to be honest I look at all the things that people make in awe.
The problem is I can not work out where to start. I suppose part of the problem is, I am unaware of where I can find any parts anyway, then if I ever did I wouldn't know what to buy and when.

Any helpful advice would be amazing. I really do want to get into this, it's something that really appeals, the problem is I have hit a wall as how to actually begin

Thanks to anyone that can help.

(On a side note; one of the large stalls at the MCM Expo in London this year had a small six barrell pistol, we did ask where it was from, and we were told something like Tinkers Emporium. The only problem is this takes us to a site that is not a store of any kind. Anyone have any ideas what else it could of been? Thanks guys.)

Well, I started out by finding borderline steamy clothing at second-hand shops, and then altering it. For instance, I found a lacy cream colored skirt, altered the skirt and added a bustle of sorts to the back. Just recently I finished a utility belt made out of an old leather belt I had, some vials and pouches and metal pieces. As long as you have a creativity bone in you, it all works! If you have to, take influence from others and then change it the way you'd prefer. I'm more into the Victorian revivalist movement, so I plan on adding authentically made pieces of clothing to my wardrobe and then adding slightly steamy accessories, as in jewelery, a monocle, and such. It depends on your tastes. What era do you prefer? Do you like authenticity or the futuristic view? Punk or Victorian gentleman/lady? If you need any other help, feel free to send me a PM on here or the BG forum. I'm happy to help with anything. :3

Most of my problem comes from not being able to really find any bits and peices. I mean a lot of the tutorials I have found for example, seem to think that Clockwork peices are easy to come by, but I am really struggling to find any at all. I can't even find watches with clockwork peices any more.

I have found a nice shop nearby though that sells a lot of older fashioned clothing, including Victorian style wear.

There are tons of threads - mostly on BG, which is down right now - of how to go about starting as far as clothing goes. One doesn't have to get all posh to reflect one's steamishness, though, so here are a few suggestions, found at car boot sales, charity shops, or in your closet - this is for a base tinkerer's outfit:

Cargo trousers or similar; blue jeans are fine, of course, but fairly common.

Work boots

A long-sleeved henley shirt

Braces (what we would call 'suspenders' in the States)

Flat cap.

Dress it up with goggles and whatever you want - perhaps a workbelt with some useful tools and pouches. As far as 'bits' - don't worry about that too soon. Better to think of what you want to make and go looking for parts for that than simply breaking up the clockwork in hope of finding inspiration (though that CAN work!)

Good luck, and Welcome Aboard!



Cheers

Chas.

Pretty much what Chas said. For a variation, you can wear a regular button down (mandarin collar if you can find it! If you're handy with a needle, you can rip out the turndown collar, and resew it to a mandarin), rather than the Henley (I find them uncomfortable). If you want goggles, you can pick up a pair of welder's goggles at most ANY hardware store (at the one I work at, they're down Asile 71! ).

Shoot, for goggles, if you're on a REALLY tight budget (like me!), then you can just chop up some TP rolls, pick up a can of Rust-O-Lium (however it's spelled), and a bit of string/twine/crafting leather strips and have at it!

I myself am actually in the process of making a pair of leather based goggles, but hit a small snag: I forgot the eyelets!... AND I need some 6 gauge copper wire, but otherwise, I'm off to a riproaring good start!

As far as BITS are concerned, just look around antique shops, thirft stores, hardware stores, all that good stuff. Yardsales are another good source! Shoot, even around your own house! I've got an old lamp (beyond restoration) I'm turning into a prop! You are only limited by your mind!

Step One: Banish all thoughts of randomly stitching gears to things. Unless they're there for a reason, (functional or "character" -- maybe you're a scavenger, or something...) it just looks silly.

Step Two: Choose a *type* of look you want to create. Are you a nobby Victorian aristocrat? An alternate-future-to-a-Victorian-past engineer? A time traveller/century scavenger, (example: Captain Robert from Abney Park)? I'm not (neccessarily) talking about creating a character. I'm talking about creating a feel.

Step Three: Assess what you already have. Perhaps you have cargo pants, a waistcoat, a button-down shirt, or whatever. Start building a base from your existing wardrobe.

Step Four: Consider what you would like to add to what you already have.

Step Five: Take clothing out of context. Just 'cause something's sold on the high street doesn't mean it can't be shanghai'd into steampunk service. In this way, try to find those things you want to add to your outfit, and let yourself be inspired by other bits and bobs you find.

Step Six: Army disposal and thrift shops. Have a look in 'em from time to time. Again, consider all the stuff you're looking at separate from its context. That jacket may look like it belongs to an old man, sitting there in Vinnie's, but when it's part of an outfit on a young man or woman, it becomes a completely different jacket.

Step Seven: Look for trinkets and clothing on the internet. Don't use "steampunk" as a search term on sites like eBay: things deliberately labelled as steampunk are often overpriced. For example, unmodified welding goggles for up to or over $50, when you can get the identical pair for less than $10 at your local hardware.

First of all, please don't feel intimidated and secondly, don't feel you have to make everything yourself, by hand! It's a shame I feel that needs to be stated, but sometimes, just a handful of people seem to imply that's what should be done when obviously that's just utterly unrealistic! As long as the ideas are your own, you will make any apparell/accessories your own anyway.

The first steampunk meet I ever attended, I went as an engineer (hence the name, Steamblast Mary), the idea was she'd just stepped out of the boiler room of the airship so first step was to cover my face in soot! (well, eyeshadow actually, but hey). Rolled up the sleeves on a bog-standard shirt, wore a denim corset inside out so the seams showed and several borrowed belts cross-ways to look like bandoliers, a basic long skirt & various leather wristbands (leftovers from my metalhead days). WW2 Russion pilot's gogglers were borrowed from the Significant Other who's an Army Surplas fiend anyway and I was good to go. OK, it wasn't *stunning* but for a first attempt, I was pretty pleased & got photographed a lot (this was at Whitby) and most importantly...IT WAS FUN!!!

The best thing about dressing for a steampunk gig is that once you get there, you find everyone is so encouraging that you don't worry about what you are wearing.

I agree with the shirt and braces advice, a wastcoat always looks the part, best thing to add is a good period style hat.

Top hat, bowler, homburg or peaked cap - a hat will finish off an outfit just so.

And a sturdy full length umbrella makes a good accessory - gives you something to swagger with too.

Remember. The great Fred Dibnah and Abraham Lincoln were both Steampunks

Kindest regards

A Cog

Just for information, Tinker's Emporium is a store but we have just had such a spectacularly successful year that we are almost totally out of stock.

Restocking feverishly (pistols etc arriving the week after next) so the store should be back up and running at the end of the month.

Tinker wrote:Just for information, Tinker's Emporium is a store but we have just had such a spectacularly successful year that we are almost totally out of stock.

Restocking feverishly (pistols etc arriving the week after next) so the store should be back up and running at the end of the month.

Huzzah! just in time for the Christmas Rush

There's a few things that are a bit more steamunk than others.
Grandad collar shirts. Try Ebay.

Waistcoats (especially waistcoats with lapels)

It's easier to look SP in a shirt and waitcoat than in a jacket because most jackets are quite a modern cut, where waitoats all tend to look the same through the ages. (well, sort of)

A length of white cloth tied around the neck and tucked into the neck makes for a simple functional cravat – Victorian gents rarely left their neck uncovered.

Pocketwatch… or, just a pocketwatch chain. B&Q sells loads of different chain for a few £ per meter. Buy a length, chop to size and tuck into your waitcoat – if you don’t have a pocketwatch just attach it to an old keyring.

For trousers a pair of high fronted dress trousers can work, or perhaps just look for some brown straight cut trousers in a cheap shop.
Straight cut legs and high waists look the part.
Use braces rather than a belt, this actually helps you wear the trousers high too.

A good pair of brown leather shoes or boots – or a cheap pair, just give them a polish and they'll work for a few costume events.

A hat can make a huge difference too.
A nice topper, or bowler or a fedora or leather. There's loads of different styles and you can put some goggles on them.. it's a bit clichéd, but it works.

Try a bit of jewellery.Some military wings, a zeppelin badge on the lapel.

If you wear a utility belt then don't try and put it through the trouser loops, wear it on top. A sam brown belt works nicely to give a military touch, or look for a leather tookbelt.