Today I will share with you the beginning of my journey into creating a steampunk wardrobe! Or at least how I, a poor writer of steampunk/paranormal romance creates a wardrobe! The upcoming year holds many conferences, steampunk and writing alike and I need an extensive wardrobe to cover the many themes and days and events, etc, etc… Not being loaded with money and clearly being a toy short of a happy meal
I am going to make my wardrobe….and make it on a treadle sewing machine none the less! Now I love my sewing machine it is beautiful and fun and it was free….but moving along…. until now I have only created one outfit at a time with many months in between, but now I am going to be cramming ten different outfits into the next couple of months and I am going to bring you along for the fun…aka …insanity! Have I also mentioned I will be doing edits and working on a new manuscript during all of this? I also don’t like to buy new fabric, I prefer to repurpose old clothing into something new and useable. So I have a mountain of old stuff that I need to transform into steamy goodness that I can be seen in public in! An impossible task? I think not!
There are corsets, bustles, utility belts and short skirts in the works! So hold on to your top hats and fasten your garter belts because here we go! Stay tuned for Phase One, tackling the corset, next week! ~Elizabeth
A glimpse….
January 27, 2010 by elizabethdarvill
7 Responses
Yeah Darlin’ — but you didn’t tell people you wear like a size 2!
And you cut your skirts a bit high on the thigh… so you don’t need as much fabric to cover yourself as SOME of us do.
I have a Victorian outfit for my Valentine’s Day Tea that will go Steampunk for Steamcon.
I have one of those machines too, but mine doesn’t work.
It’s going into my office when it’s remodeled.
Huggems…
I love this. I look forward to seeing your wardrobe. Some of the older styles mixed with modern, huh? I am not sure what you are aiming to capture in your wardrobe, but good luck and happy sewing.
I mix steampunk and goth and whatever else I feel like.
I am also creating some pieces after what my heroine wears in my steampunk/paranormal romance, “Spirit Born”.
Sounds like a great idea, Elizabeth! Hope it all works out for you!
I love to “refurbish” vintage clothing, too…
… I used to make all my clothing from either vintage clothes or materials I found at Goodwill, antique shops, and a variety of charity shops. The money, in most cases, went to a good cause, and I got something awesome out of it. Found a poet shirt once, made from this excellent dark purple/black material that I still adore… Added a sewn-on leather corset fastening (it’s hard to describe, sorry), and now I just wish I had a lot more places to wear it to!
Is SPIRIT BORN available for sale? I’m always looking for new Steampunk and paranormals to read…
Thanks Esther! “Spirit Born” isn’t available yet, but hopefully very soon!
Hey Elizabeth, too bad we don’t live cloaser, we could take turns being the dress form, lol. Have fun! Want to borrow my fabric glue?
Oh what fun! I can’t wait to see your creations!