STEAMPUNK LADIES FASHION. VICTORIAN VEIL & BOWLER HAT. GOTHIC LOLITA, STEAMPUNK EVENTS IN VANCOUVER CANADA Carmen Wong.
My Twitter dilemma of the week was… what should I wear to a Steampunk event? One should always avoid the predictable uniform; brown tones and bronze clockwork, in this case. It’s more fun to put your own spin on things and stand out… (Photography by Carmen Wong, real birth name nickname La Carmina Blog)
Purple silk dress: People’s Market. The scowling flapper girl detail is glorious.
Black lace top: Moi-meme-Moitie, from Closet Child. I pinned a little gold heart over the chest.
Fishnet stockings: old ones with a large cross-hatch. I cut more holes into them.
Leather ankle boots with buckles: gifted from London Underground Shoes (buy them here).
Crucifix coffin purse: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Ikebukuro.
Victorian tulip cameo bracelet: gifted from Yifat Aharoni.
I made a couple of items for this outfit…
Veiled Victorian bowler hat: I had the hat since I was about 15 years old. I pinned black net fabric above the brim, using concealed safety pins. On top, I pinned a purple flower decoration that came with a different dress. That’s it. I think the Queen Mother would be proud.
Gold bead bracelet: I found some gold beads at a dollar store and strung them together, using thick, stretchy thread. The beads come in two sizes; I arranged them irregularly for a disjointed effect.
Hair: This is my first attempt at a fishtail braid, also called a herringbone or fishbone braiding. I gathered my hair to one side and divided it in two. Take one small piece from one side and combine it with the other; keep doing this, using different strands each time. It’s not as hard as it sounds.
Eye makeup: I lined the inner corners of my eyes with lime green eyeliner, gifted from Annabelle Cosmetics. Filled in the eyebrows, and swept two shades of burnt rose / brown eyeshadow (gifted from Aromaleigh) up to the browline. With a Japanese liquid eyeliner, I lined the bottom lid and drew downward streaks. Finally, I applied small bottom false eyelashes and mis-matching ones on top: purple ones gifted from Cuberry and blue/black ones from a Japanese dollar store.
Lips: I drew the outline with purple eyeliner. (I wouldn’t worry about it being toxic; the eyes are more sensitive than the stomach, right?) I blended it with a vivid fuschia lipstick from a drugstore.
Rose wore a black and white Gothic Lolita dress, lace-up boots, and a lacy wristband with a silver skull. Her DIY headband got a lot of attention. Rose built it from a dead white mouse (who died of natural causes in a petstore), which she taxidermied on her own. Best of all, the rodent has glittered ears, red gems for eyes, and a crystal heart over his butt!
Rose washed the black dyed section of her hair over the blond, and it changed the color to Lady Gaga blue-grey. A happy accident, I’d say.
The mini-convention was organized by VSteam, a group for the Steampunks of Vancouver. We marveled at the hand-made feathered hats, brass clockwork jewelry, Penthouse high heels and leather corsets.
Rose coveted the hat; I wanted the sci-fi gun. (Does anyone recognize the bunny tattooed on her back?)
Neo-Victorians and Steampunks, young and old, gathered outside Barclay Manor. We watched Victorian swordfighting demo and listened to a singer/guitarist croon about robot love.
There were etiquette and leather-making lessons inside, and tea brewed in a brass kettle. We ended the day with a chu-hi from the Japanese convenience store on Robson Street, and browsed our favorite magazines (Kera, Gothic Lolita Bible, Shoxx, Cure) at Book Off. No need to be in England or Japan to enjoy your favorite neo-Victorian subcultures!
Have you ever attended a Steampunk event? What are your favorite aspects of the culture? (Too bad that there’s very little Steampunk in Japan, as reported by Kenny Creation.)
PS: Surf over to CNNGo to read my latest article, 20 products that could use an eco-friendly facelift. Individually-wrapped Asian pears and double-bottled water… ridiculous.
Japanese Word of the Day: Zoo = Elephant
Song of the Day: D – Hourglass (For those who asked, “PV” stands for “promotional video.” It’s the term used in Japan for music videos.)
SHARE & COMMENT
LA CARMINA
110 Comments
:D awesome report~!
i had so much fun!!
Your head-dress got so much attention! Can’t wait to see more of your work out there. :D
I love it!
<3 Thank you much!
:D awesome report~!
i had so much fun!!
great photos as usual. Love the black veil over your face/hat.
I forgot that I had the veil — I’m glad I found it at the last moment! xd
I love it!
You both look glorious ! ^^
#^___^#
great photos as usual. Love the black veil over your face/hat.
i love the hat
Oh ! I have the same hand bag XD (Or almost, mine is a copy from BodyLine… But they look the exact same o_o) The shoulder strap broke, though…
I don’t know why, but the girl on your dress’ print made me think about Dada from Velvet Eden oO..
And I absolutely love the hat ! Somewhat Lareine-ish, eheh ♥
I love the whole outfit, actually… You look great in violet !! ♥
Lareine = ohhh! perhaps it was a subconscious influence ;)
nice picture :)
I like how creative you are; its inspiring. You are (to me) a fashion icon no matter the different styles. :D Yay for La Carmina!
Gothic and very elegant. Beautiful!
merci beaucoup :D
I’m currently putting together a Steampunk outfit or two for ACEN next year. A have to credit this man for introducing me to the subculture. I absolutely adore it. Check out the Myspace page he has linked on there. It’s for a crazy-cool comic he makes. There’s all sorts of subcultures referenced–including Steampunk. I was so shocked to hear in your last blog that it hasn’t really taken off in Japan. I would have thought otherwise. I think my favorite aspect is the line it walks between past and present. Just such a classy idea to me.
Hehe we’re friends on Twitter! :3 Great stuff!
I love the outfits! =D
<3 thank you dear!
lol u would not believe it but me and that Rose girl have the same lolita dress
it’s not really that uncommon to own the same dress as someone else if this said dress is available online. Thus, nice Coord and Look Carmina
well yah i think it is awesome
It’s a gorgeous dress!
There are of course loads of SP events here in the Uk, but ive only been to a few. One is a fantastic event called the Asylum, as its held in a former Asylum! I enjoy SP because of the creativity within it, the elegance of victorian styles and the fun of the people who also enjoy it (everything is slightly toungue in cheek!)
oh im curious is the japanese for elephant is ‘Zoo’ what is the japanese for zoo?
Haha great question! It’s doubutsuen. Doubutsu = animal. En = space/area, like how Kouen is the word for a park.
Oh WOW that sounds amazing… Asylum! I really wanted to be in London for a visit this summer, but it didn’t work out ;__;
lol..well if you ever decide to come over this is the link to the event –
http://steampunk.synthasite.com/
a great forum to see steampunk events and such is Brassgoggles –
http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/board,13.0.html
Someone needs to build me an HG Wells time travel machine and I’m there!
love your outfit~so beautiful! ♥
oh!! i love love LOVE! your hair and hair color!!!
thats an awesome hat!
I love the shoes and the little jacket thing :) so cute. . .I hope it wasn’t too warm for you though! (* _ *) going on packed transit was the worst! DX
-_- not a fan of her hat
You both look glorious ! ^^
Steampunk’s alive and kicking in the bay area. I’ve had the privilege of going to one or two events, and meeting a few characters
Out for a bit of ultraviolence with Alex and the Droogs? ;p
After I eat me lomticks of toast, O my brothers!
Definitely interesting
sorry, someone might have pointed this out already, but isnt elephant ZOU? (definitely not pronounced like the english zoo with all the animals)
You’re absolutely right. There should be a straight dash across the second “o” in Zoo so that it sounds more like zou.
You’re absolutely right. There should be a straight dash across the second “o” in Zoo so that it sounds more like zou.
I loved the hat, is cute.
You look great!
i love the hat
Oh ! I have the same hand bag XD (Or almost, mine is a copy from BodyLine… But they look the exact same o_o) The shoulder strap broke, though…
I don't know why, but the girl on your dress' print made me think about Dada from Velvet Eden oO..
And I absolutely love the hat ! Somewhat Lareine-ish, eheh ♥
I love the whole outfit, actually… You look great in violet !! ♥
nice picture :)
I like how creative you are; its inspiring. You are (to me) a fashion icon no matter the different styles. :D Yay for La Carmina!
Gothic and very elegant. Beautiful!
I'm currently putting together a Steampunk outfit or two for ACEN next year. A have to credit this man for introducing me to the subculture. I absolutely adore it. Check out the Myspace page he has linked on there. It's for a crazy-cool comic he makes. There's all sorts of subcultures referenced–including Steampunk. I was so shocked to hear in your last blog that it hasn't really taken off in Japan. I would have thought otherwise. I think my favorite aspect is the line it walks between past and present. Just such a classy idea to me.
I love the outfits! =D
lol u would not believe it but me and that Rose girl have the same lolita dress
it's not really that uncommon to own the same dress as someone else if this said dress is available online. Thus, nice Coord and Look Carmina
There are of course loads of SP events here in the Uk, but ive only been to a few. One is a fantastic event called the Asylum, as its held in a former Asylum! I enjoy SP because of the creativity within it, the elegance of victorian styles and the fun of the people who also enjoy it (everything is slightly toungue in cheek!)
oh im curious is the japanese for elephant is 'Zoo' what is the japanese for zoo?
well yah i think it is awesome
Haha great question! It's doubutsuen. Doubutsu = animal. En = space/area, like how Kouen is the word for a park.
Oh WOW that sounds amazing… Asylum! I really wanted to be in London for a visit this summer, but it didn't work out ;__;
Haha great question! It's doubutsuen. Doubutsu = animal. En = space/area, like how Kouen is the word for a park.
Oh WOW that sounds amazing… Asylum! I really wanted to be in London for a visit this summer, but it didn't work out ;__;
Haha great question! It's doubutsuen. Doubutsu = animal. En = space/area, like how Kouen is the word for a park.
Oh WOW that sounds amazing… Asylum! I really wanted to be in London for a visit this summer, but it didn't work out ;__;
Your head-dress got so much attention! Can't wait to see more of your work out there. :D
Your head-dress got so much attention! Can't wait to see more of your work out there. :D
Your head-dress got so much attention! Can't wait to see more of your work out there. :D
Your head-dress got so much attention! Can't wait to see more of your work out there. :D
<3 Thank you much!
<3 Thank you much!
<3 Thank you much!
<3 Thank you much!
I forgot that I had the veil — I'm glad I found it at the last moment! xd
I forgot that I had the veil — I'm glad I found it at the last moment! xd
I forgot that I had the veil — I'm glad I found it at the last moment! xd
I forgot that I had the veil — I'm glad I found it at the last moment! xd
#^___^#
#^___^#
#^___^#
#^___^#
Lareine = ohhh! perhaps it was a subconscious influence ;)
Lareine = ohhh! perhaps it was a subconscious influence ;)
Lareine = ohhh! perhaps it was a subconscious influence ;)
Lareine = ohhh! perhaps it was a subconscious influence ;)
<3 thank you dear!
merci beaucoup :D
Hehe we're friends on Twitter! :3 Great stuff!
It's a gorgeous dress!
love your outfit~so beautiful! ♥
oh!! i love love LOVE! your hair and hair color!!!
thats an awesome hat!
lol..well if you ever decide to come over this is the link to the event –
http://steampunk.synthasite.com/
a great forum to see steampunk events and such is Brassgoggles –
http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/board…
I love the shoes and the little jacket thing :) so cute. . .I hope it wasn't too warm for you though! (* _ *) going on packed transit was the worst! DX
-_- not a fan of her hat
Steampunk's alive and kicking in the bay area. I've had the privilege of going to one or two events, and meeting a few characters
You always put such gr8 outfits 2gether! Love the look!
Out for a bit of ultraviolence with Alex and the Droogs? ;p
Definitely interesting
After I eat me lomticks of toast, O my brothers!
Someone needs to build me an HG Wells time travel machine and I'm there!
sorry, someone might have pointed this out already, but isnt elephant ZOU? (definitely not pronounced like the english zoo with all the animals)
I loved the hat, is cute.
You look great!
You're absolutely right. There should be a straight dash across the second “o” in Zoo so that it sounds more like zou.
You're absolutely right. There should be a straight dash across the second “o” in Zoo so that it sounds more like zou.
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loved it….
You always put such gr8 outfits 2gether! Love the look!
loved it….
ahhhhhhh ur so cute
ahhhhhhh ur so cute
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If time were of all things the most precious, wasting of time must be the greatest prodigality.
I… don’t see how the first outfit is steampunk. It looks just plain gothic/gothic lolita to me.
Wow…….. her hat is really looking so impressive. And the existing design and concept of this hat are really looking most rocking about it. And this one is really looking so classy and sophisticated. Thanks for sharing some incredible designed hat in this post. And the regarding pictures and information are rally looking so awesome.
I loved that dress you wore but the Neo-Victorian seems to be an interesting style. I love that Steampunk is a throwback to the Victorian era and you can be creative with it.