What ho, gentlemen! Steampunk away! [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

Deth Muncher

2009-11-18, 06:24 PM

So, I couldn't find a thread on this, and I figured this is the best place (I also don't venture outside of the RPG forum, so don't eat me please).

I'm currently assembling two steampunk costumes for various purposes, and I'm running into a smidge of a snag. See, I'm currently doing the shopwork/bumming around town (brown) outfit as well as the formal (black) outfit. I'll have pics of these up later, but currently I'm avoiding college work.

Anyway, here's what I have, and the problems will become readily apparent:

Brown:
Brown Courdoroy pants
Brown boots
Brownish fishbone vest
Cream work shirt
The goggles
Walking stick what turns into a telescope, whydontcha.

Black
Top hat (Mad Hatter style, unfortunately. Though it will do.)
Cane (black with a simple silver knob)
Combat boots (K-Mart brand, likely to be replaced)

See? The brown one lacks a hat (though I think I'm getting one for Channukah or Christmas), and the black one lacks a military uniform, which is the major issue, and thus the purpose of this thread: how in the hell do I find one of those for an amount of money that isn't exorbitant?

Giggling Ghast

2009-11-18, 06:28 PM

You don't have to have a hat with the mostly brown outfit. Unless you're wearing over your eyes constantly, the goggles function as a hat whenever they're pushed to the top of your forehead.

Deth Muncher

2009-11-18, 06:30 PM

You don't have to have a hat with the mostly brown outfit. Unless you're wearing over your eyes constantly, the goggles function as a hat whenever they're pushed to the top of your forehead.

Mm, yes, but I was thinking about having a brown bowler and perching the goggles there. Yes? No?

Mando Knight

2009-11-18, 06:32 PM

For the combat boots, I'd look into visiting a military surplus store. You can get all sorts of decommissioned gear there... like disarmed frag grenades.

Hazkali

2009-11-18, 06:33 PM

Firstly:

You mention "military uniform" for your formal outfit, do you want mess dress (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mess_dress) or a combat uniform? Either can be found on eBay, but usually quite expensively. Alternatively, if you just want a dinner jacket there are some good deals to be had.

If you know someone who's skilled with a sewing machine you can pick up patterns for military clothing fairly cheaply, and then it'd just be the cost of pattern, materials and something reasonable for your friend.

Alternatively, scour markets and army surplus for dress uniforms, most bear similarity to the sort of combat uniforms worn at the time.

Mm, yes, but I was thinking about having a brown bowler and perching the goggles there. Yes? No?

With the selection you've gone for, you'd look more authentic with a flat-cap, which are significantly cheaper.

Giggling Ghast

2009-11-18, 06:34 PM

Mm, yes, but I was thinking about having a brown bowler and perching the goggles there. Yes? No?

You want a bowler? Good luck finding an inexpensive one. And I'd think that would be extremely difficult to manage, sticking the goggles on a hat. What, do the hat's eyes need to be protected?

Just stick with the goggles.

Deth Muncher

2009-11-18, 06:35 PM

For the combat boots, I'd look into visiting a military surplus store. You can get all sorts of decommissioned gear there... like disarmed frag grenades.

Good gods man, you're right!

I actually live (when I'm not being a college student) not too far from a military base, so there's all sorts of decommissioned gear about. Hell, that's how I got my black trenchcoat, which would work with the black outfit if I didn't think it'd get too hot.

But on THAT note, what I really need is one of those oldschool jackets. The pants I could fudge.

EDIT:

@ Candle Jack: http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/000398.php?__utma=1.1938712525.1255861196.12580649 18.1258070825.3&__utmb=1.3.10.1258070825&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1258070825.3.4.utmgclid=CKL8vpDXhp4CFQEhD Qod2x7cpw|utmccn=%28not%20set%29|utmcmd=%28not%20s et%29|utmctr=steampunk&__utmv=-&__utmk=140245171

@Hazkali: I do not think I mean mess dress. For a pop culture reference, think Michael Jackson's drum-major outfit. Or, for a more recent pop culture reference, think of the drum major jacket from My Chemical Romance's Black Parade video.

Hazkali

2009-11-18, 07:21 PM

AH, that would be a Hussar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussar)'s jacket. Good luck with finding one cheaply, if you find it on an auction site please tell me first so I can outbid you. :smalltongue: Generally they are very expensive, although it does depend on the level of ornamentation.

If you are feeling particularly flush, this place (http://www.thehcc.co.uk/) is selling this for £148... I wish I had the money...

http://www.thehcc.co.uk/images/fpics/DSCF0094.jpg

Deth Muncher

2009-11-18, 07:22 PM

AH, that would be a Hussar's jacket. Good luck with finding one cheaply, if you find it on an auction site please tell me first so I can outbid you. :smalltongue: Generally they are very expensive, although it does depend on the level of ornamentation.

/wrists

Honestly, I'd try to steal one of my old highschool's old marching band uniforms, were it not for the fact that they are, in fact, green, and also have ten years of sweat caked in them.

EDIT:

Currently, ebay has these: http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=hussar+jacket&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Darth Mario

2009-11-18, 07:56 PM

As far as brown hats go, a brown leather aviator cap goes incredibly well with Steampunk goggles. Maybe not what you're looking for, but worth considering.

Deth Muncher

2009-11-18, 08:03 PM

As far as brown hats go, a brown leather aviator cap goes incredibly well with Steampunk goggles. Maybe not what you're looking for, but worth considering.

Also point. I might grab some sort of leather jacket and the aviator hat to do that.

My main issue, however, is that I'm an occasionall glasses user, and my goggles won't fit over my glasses.

Oh, speaking of, I suppose I could post those...

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz51/amidamaru42/goggles2.jpg

Deth Muncher

2009-11-19, 01:16 AM

Also, the top hat I currently own is here. (http://www.talltoad.net/top.html) It's the black crushed velvet one. :D

EDIT:

Or, there's a picture of me in it in the Pictures of YOU thread.

Fostire

2009-11-19, 07:39 PM

Also point. I might grab some sort of leather jacket and the aviator hat to do that.

My main issue, however, is that I'm an occasionall glasses user, and my goggles won't fit over my glasses.

Oh, speaking of, I suppose I could post those...

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz51/amidamaru42/goggles2.jpg
Those goggles are the wrong colour.
It should be more like these:
http://corvusart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/steampunk-goggles.jpg

Deth Muncher

2009-11-19, 11:35 PM

Those goggles are the wrong colour.
It should be more like these:
http://corvusart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/steampunk-goggles.jpg

How right you are!

I think it's the lighting that is making those look wrong, actually. But if I get them and they're just hideously out of whack, I'll either try to repaint them myself or get a friend whos good at conversions.

Quincunx

2009-11-20, 02:48 AM

The costs of those jackets are all in the fancy trims. If you're willing to poke around the 'net and find some cheap braid to your liking (with cheap shipping as well) and acquire a hot glue gun, you can probably make up a respectable copy yourself. Both poked-out shoulders and fancy trimmings are 'in', so you could wait for fashion to revolve again and those prominent shoulders to go on sale or into secondhand stores. At the very least, you stand a good chance of getting the base jacket style now.

As for the Ebay link, I get results from the UK at a very reasonable price for a simplistic jacket with good measurements (), but without shoulder pads or a striking collar.

Deth Muncher

2009-11-20, 02:52 AM

Yeah, the only issue is international shipping costs - then again, it may well be worth it, as even with international costs it'd probably only be about 50 USD.

RandomNPC

2009-11-20, 07:06 PM

Those goggles are the wrong colour.
It should be more like these:
http://corvusart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/steampunk-goggles.jpg

where do i get these?¿?

Fostire

2009-11-20, 07:17 PM

where do i get these?¿?

No idea. I just made a google image search for steampunk goggles and linked the first picture I found.

I guess you could try ebay or some other site like it. Or you could just google search steampunk goggles; I know that people make and sell this kind of stuff online.

Galileo

2009-11-20, 09:39 PM

Deth Muncher

2009-11-21, 03:10 AM

Your costumes both sound pretty nice. Mine is pretty close to your working costume. I'd recommend getting a pocket watch. Y'know, to stick in your pocket. Also, you could bring a steampunk novel and claim it's a history book.

Funny you should mention both of those: I not only own a pocket watch, but I have an old book that's been reprinted called "Steam and Its Uses." It's not very big, but it's like one of those old text books. It's got a (p?)leather cover with golden inking on the front. Vurry fancy.

Deth Muncher

2009-11-25, 11:53 PM

So, it's looking like the hussar's jacket is out. Now what do I do for dressware? Currently, I have an untailored black tuxedo, which, I mean, I GUESS could work in a pinch, but it seems wrong to me.

I ALSO have a black military trenchcoat, but I feel that would be a bit much, as it's shin-length on me (I'm 5'9", by the way), although it's about as close as I can get to military at the moment. AND it came with staff-sergeant tags on it, so it has a bonus for it already. Once I'm back in my dorm (I'm currently back home for Thanksgiving) I'll shove a picture of me in the coat and hat up and see what you guys think.

Hazkali

2009-11-26, 08:52 AM

Looking at wikipedia, black tie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tie#History) was invented in the 1860s as an alternative to white tie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_tie). So depending on how late in the 19th century you're looking at portraying, your dinner jacket could be acceptable, or else you would need to get a jacket with tails.

Again, I would start by trawling eBay however also check out fancy dress and formalwear hire shops, they may have old stock that they might sell you.

Deth Muncher

2010-03-04, 02:01 PM

What ho, gentlemen! By the graces of the upright constable Roland St. Jude, this thread may be reopened!

Anyway. So update on the costume! I got those goggles I posted a few posts back, as well as a brown derby from the Gentlemen's Emporium, and by sheer accident, I've stumbled across several good steampunk-y jackets and boots on Urban Outfitters, of all places:

Link Odin (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=15624687&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH%20RESULTS&color=020)

Link Dva (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=16542573&navAction=jump&isProduct=true&parentid=MORE%20IDEAS&isProduct=true&cross-sell=true&guide-bn=true)

Link Tree Tri (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=17867532&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS&color=001)

(cookies for figuring out the language without a translator!)

Ikialev

2010-03-04, 02:45 PM

Psst, it's "tri". :smalltongue:

Deth Muncher

2010-03-04, 02:48 PM

Psst, it's "tri". :smalltongue:

Shush you, don't hate on my phonetic spellings. :smalltongue:

Jibar

2010-03-04, 05:37 PM

I'm kinda glad this thread reappeared.
I'm not much of a craftsman (not dexterous or sightful enough to be making anything precise), so I'm curious if anyone knows of any steampunk goggles for sale in the UK, or at least decent goggles to serve as a base for customisation?
Having my own pair of goggles with make me a very happy Jibar indeed.

Vaynor

2010-03-04, 05:39 PM

This site (http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/gentlemans.php) might have what you're looking for. Granted, I did not read this thread thoroughly but they have a pretty nice selection of steampunk attire and accessories.

Deth Muncher

2010-03-04, 06:44 PM

Flickerdart

2010-03-04, 06:48 PM

Psst, it's "tri". :smalltongue:
A more accurate romanization would be "tree".

Deth Muncher

2010-03-04, 06:50 PM

A more accurate romanization would be "tree".

HAH. I said that first. >_> <_<

Flickerdart

2010-03-04, 07:04 PM

Deth Muncher

2010-03-08, 03:36 AM

Anyway.

I have those watch movements cufflinks from Etsy, and a cream shirt and brown pants, but that's as close as I can get. A vest of some sort would be nice, and that first jacket you listed is awesome.

I'm thinking what I'll do it get that jacket, then have my cream shirt, my vest, brown derby, brown courdoroy pants, and brown work boots. To top it off, I'll have my brown-and-bronze telescope cane, and I'll have my bronze-colored goggles.

Too much brown?

Eldan

2010-03-08, 03:45 AM

As long as you have a light shirt (cream or white, as you did) a lot of brown still works, in my opinion. So no, that's okay. Perhaps some gloves as well?

Deth Muncher

2010-03-08, 07:39 AM

As long as you have a light shirt (cream or white, as you did) a lot of brown still works, in my opinion. So no, that's okay. Perhaps some gloves as well?

Gloves. Gloves would be good. The last time I wore what of this I had at the time (the shirt, vest, and boots) I just used some black rubber work gloves. I don't REALLY want to do that, buuuuuut...

Any suggestions on gloves?

Eldan

2010-03-08, 02:20 PM

*shrug*

Last time I did a costume similar to that, I used the white cotton gloves which came with my "20 magic tricks for children" set :smalltongue:

Black leather gloves could work, but might be expensive.

gooddragon1

2010-03-08, 02:24 PM

Sorry, but this comment has been stored for so long...

What ho? I'm not sure which ho you refer to...

Also...

...and what have you?

>Pocket lint at the moment my good sir.

...if you will.

>No, I won't, and you can't make me.

CelesTial

2010-03-09, 02:55 AM

If you were glasses, maybe contacts would work, or you could put togther some flip down goggles which you attach to your glasses.

The only thing steam punk I've done was a coal shoveler, but for tnat I had brown breaches, old dirty shoes, a white shirt I stained with coal dust and a less stained flat cap.

A brown flat cap might work, or you could go for the cheap as option, by a black plastic bowler and paint it brown.

Deth Muncher

2010-03-09, 01:35 PM

If you were glasses, maybe contacts would work, or you could put togther some flip down goggles which you attach to your glasses.

I do wear glasses, and I'm thinking I might get this (http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/002623.php?__utma=1.393202163.1261392264.126139226 4.1267747024.2&__utmb=1.4.10.1268160444&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1267747024.2.2.utmcsr=giantitp.com|utmccn =(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/forums/showthread.php&__utmv=-&__utmk=100815745) to go on them.

EDIT:
@ Gooddragon1 - I say, why must thou be so contrary?

JonestheSpy

2010-03-09, 02:45 PM

The next California Steamcon is going to be just as bad as the last.

Or, depending on your point of view, just as good. Or better. Or perhaps worse.

Disirregardless, it will be happening this weekend in Emeryvile, near San Francisco, as you can see here (http://www.steampunkexhibition.com/).

Looks pretty nifty to me, and for all you goggle fans the vendors area will open during the day, no admittance fee.

Just remember - real mad scientists wear their goggles on their eyes, not their hats.

Edit: Just looked at the site myself and was reminded that Phil and Kaja Foglio of Xenophile Girl Genius fame will be in attendance, a good reason to drop in in and of itself, in my humble opinion.

Flickerdart

2010-03-09, 02:51 PM

I do wear glasses, and I'm thinking I might get this (http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/002623.php?__utma=1.393202163.1261392264.126139226 4.1267747024.2&__utmb=1.4.10.1268160444&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1267747024.2.2.utmcsr=giantitp.com|utmccn =(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/forums/showthread.php&__utmv=-&__utmk=100815745) to go on them.

EDIT:
@ Gooddragon1 - I say, why must thou be so contrary?

Loupy is the funniest word that exists. Also, it looks totally awesome.

CelesTial

2010-03-09, 04:28 PM

gooddragon1

2010-03-09, 06:03 PM

I do wear glasses, and I'm thinking I might get this (http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/002623.php?__utma=1.393202163.1261392264.126139226 4.1267747024.2&__utmb=1.4.10.1268160444&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1267747024.2.2.utmcsr=giantitp.com|utmccn =(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/forums/showthread.php&__utmv=-&__utmk=100815745) to go on them.

EDIT:
@ Gooddragon1 - I say, why must thou be so contrary?

Why do you have to append 'I say' to the beginning? I already know that you're saying that. Well, you're not even really saying it, you're just typing it.

Mwa ha ha ha ha. Nyah. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/2692068123_19785589c1_m.jpg

Pocketa

2010-03-11, 12:01 AM

Or, depending on your point of view, just as good. Or better. Or perhaps worse.

Disirregardless, it will be happening this weekend in Emeryvile, near San Francisco, as you can see here (http://www.steampunkexhibition.com/).

Looks pretty nifty to me, and for all you goggle fans the vendors area will open during the day, no admittance fee.

Just remember - real mad scientists wear their goggles on their eyes, not their hats.

Edit: Just looked at the site myself and was reminded that Phil and Kaja Foglio of Xenophile Girl Genius fame will be in attendance, a good reason to drop in in and of itself, in my humble opinion.

If you know the people behind it, you'd realize why it's terrible. But I'm not going to talk about that here.

Deth Muncher

2010-03-11, 01:13 AM

If you know the people behind it, you'd realize why it's terrible. But I'm not going to talk about that here.

Except for the part where you did, in post #23. :smallwink:

Also, Jones: Good save. :wink:

JonestheSpy

2010-03-11, 01:18 AM

If you know the people behind it, you'd realize why it's terrible. But I'm not going to talk about that here.

Um, no, I really don't know what you're talking about.

I'm not affiliated or involved with the event in any way, but I am aquainted with a number of folks presenting workshops and vending, and I certainly have a high opinion of most of them as costumers, steam engineers, etc, and I hope the event is successful.

Oh, and there will also be a seminar on steampunk RPG's, so that might interest some folks in these parts.

Edit:

Except for the part where you did, in post #23. :smallwink:

Also, Jones: Good save. :wink:

Oops, thanks Deth Muncher, missed that the first time round.

Here I thought Pocketa had actually been to the event and not enjoyed herself. Terribly bad form to publicly denigrate an enterprise one has no actual knowledge of, especially for reasons as personal and subjective as the ones Pocketa describes.