Livibelle, the Animal-Talent Fairy Part 1

You can probably guess what this post is about.  That's right, it's Halloween costuming time again and this year Liv finally decided on a fairy.  Last year she'd wanted to be Coraline since pretty much the moment she watched the movie, but this year there was a lot of indecision.  She was thinking about Velma for the longest time, especially after we got her hair cut, but I reminded how much she'd wanted to be a fairy after her friend Talia was one last year, and we set about deciding which kind of fairy from the Disney Fairies of Pixie Hollow she wanted to be.  It came down to water- or animal-talent, and taking our new puppy, Kiera, and a stuffed animal got her set on animal.  So now comes the fun part, where I look for her costume pieces.  Yay.

So far, these are my favorite wings:

These come in a close second:

Realistically, however, I'll probably wind up just picking some up locally on the cheap.  But I like to make my ideal costume first, then budget it down as I go.  

Liv's hair is fine the way it is, so no need for a wig or anything.  If she wants some sort of hair accessory, then that's bonus.  Her outfit will be in forest colors, and I'm going to try to find things with a leaf or animal motif.  

Belated Steampunk Update

Never posted pics of my steampunk gun.  Got a Nerf Maverick and painted her, renamed her Lady Maverick, a.k.a. the Sarah Palin Special.  I don't recall if there are any pics of my outfit, but it involved pinstripes, ruffles, a top hat and a purple lab coat.

Steampunk Update

So, shirt found, and not only is it ruffled, but it's pinstriped.  Squee!

Toy guy bought; now I just need to get paint.  I can't wait to post pics of what it'll look like when I'm done.  It'll be pimp.

I've decided on wearing braces (suspenders) as well.  I just love them, and I can clip stuff to them.  The downside is they make my already huge boobs look...huger.  Darn it.  I've also decided to go with an ascot-style cravat and found the most PERFECT and awesome brooch to pin it.  Apparently it's an older Miracle piece, so not super glamorous or anything, but still pretty.  If I could find the camera, I'd show you.

Tomorrow I'll head over to Leo's and see if I can find a top hat.  They were closed today.

Note to self: Do I want to include a fan?  Or shirt-sleeve garters?

Also: Damion's antique light meter thing is neat and comes in a pimp lil' leather case.  Yoink.

Places to look for gears/cogs: old machines!  Old walkmans, VCRs, anything.  Looky looky. Flea market much!

Steampunkery

I just like to make up words.

Anyway, I'm going to a steampunk party in a couple of days and I am suck at ideas, so while I surf around on the interwebs for other people's ideas, I will post the ones I like or that simply occur to me as I look at stuff.  If you're wondering what I'm talking about...well, you suck.  It's kind of like the new Sherlock Holmes movie: Victorian-style dress with lots of cool steam-era mad science happening all over the place.  Think of it that way, more or less.  If you have not seen that movie...er, who are you and why are you bothering to read this blog?  Read this first.

Really good examples of steampunk costumes!

1. Get thyself a toy ray-gun or some such and some copper/brass/bronze-lookin' paint.  Paint gun in old-timey fashion.  Make sure to get a little tarnished feel in it.  Zap your friends while going "whoosh!"

2. Leather straps and metal bits (buckles, grommets, buttons, etc.) should go on EVERYTHING.

3. HATS! (Top hats, aviator caps, bowlers, bonnets, page boy, who cares?!  Everyone wore hats back then.)

4. If it looks even vaguely Victorian, use it.

5. Girls apparently can NEVER go wrong with garters.  I mean, never.  Wow.

6. Guys totally can.  Don't do it.

7. Lab coats are part of the mad science element that creeps into steampunk.  Exploit it.

8. Gears and cogs are a common motif. Find a way to incorporate it.  Embellish outfits with bits of copper wire/wing nuts, that sort of thing.
Link to steampunk accessory creating ideas.

9. If you're a girl who wants to go old school with the accessories, think about finger-less gloves, cameo brooches or pendants, lace additions to cuff/hems/neckline, a small drawstring purse, or antique-looking lockets.  Also, jet beads and rows of tiny little black buttons were popular for women back in the Victorian era.  The buttons can be a bit of a bother, but if you make them superficial/cosmetic, then the look pays off without the hassle of fastening each and every one.

10. Eyewear can be useful, too.  Lab goggles for the mad scientist, aviator goggles for the aspiring pilot, monocles for the aristocrat/villain, or those neat specs that have several different lenses that can be swiveled/clicked interchangeably over one or both eyes.
Click here for a how-to on making some "brass goggles"!

11.  For the really, really, really hardcore, steampunk embroidery! 

12. Don't be afraid to get a little wild and let some oriental influences creep in; remember, the Far East was influencing aspects of Victorian culture, and thus can be a part of the steampunk image.

13. For the ladies, a parasol is always a classic touch, or perhaps one of those little hats with a modest veil.  Remember, Victorian ladies avoided too much sun.

14. I haven't quite figured out why yet, but kilts seem to be a popular look for dudes in steampunk fashion.  Any guy who can pull off a kilt, should.  Seriously.  They're awesome.

15. Vests!  Especially if they be pinstriped.  If you're a guy, wear them.  If you're a girl going for the racey no-skirts look, also wear them.

16. If you're a girl, corsets also seem to be necessary, but with any fantasy cosplay that often seems to be the case.  If you can, do it.  I won't bother because nothing pisses me off more when I'm drunk than restrictive clothes.

17. Recycling tip: if you have some pirate gear, this stuff can often be easily modified to look steampunk, even though the eras are 50-100 years apart.  Replace scarves and sashes with hats and belts, the cutlass with a ray gun, the eye-patch with a monocle, the open vest with a buttoned one, and just generally clean it up. Throw on some wiring or brass gizmos, and you're set.

Additional links:

Livejournal community devoted to steampunk fashion
The Steampunk Workshop
Pics of more steampunk costumes from DragonCon '08

So far I have shoes and gloves.  I have some jewelry I'm going to fiddle around with, and I have decided that a top hat is a must.  I LOVE top hats and have always wanted one.  This is my year to have that top hat, then steampunk it out.  Definitely going with pants (pinstripe).  I'll prolly have to get a new top.  And some sort of coat.  Belts?  I'll definitely be getting a gun of some sort, then modding it with paint, gears, wires, tubes, etc.

I found a shirt I would love to pair with a cute vest: http://www.lanebryant.com/apparel-accessories/tops/shirts-blouses/ruffled-keyhole-blouse-from-our-icon-collection/4018c4019c90p26213/index.pro