Ok so I'm not a true steampunk because well I'm not into the whole music subculture thing...it's just about the frocks and accessories for me as a historical cosplayer. ;)
But...I felt something was missing from my steampunkesque cosplays...goggles. They seem ubiquitus for the well dressed steampunk and I love how each is unique to the wearer. A little like when a jedi makes their own lightsaber.
I decided it was time to take the plunge and make my own. I researched other peoples goggle's (ok so by research I mean looked on pinterest. lol!) I also looked up several tutorials on youtube including this fab one from lostwax.
I didn't have all the stuff he suggested on hand, but I got the gist of how it worked and what shapes I needed to crete the goggles.
First I used baking paper to work out a pattern that would be the right scale and fit me. Then I raided all the cupboards for every last scrap of cardboard. I also ate two small tubes of pringles....I know the sacrifices I make...so I could use the plastic lids for 'lenses'.
With the help of my trusty hot gluegun I glued the main eye peices together, making sure to use the glue to malke rivit like dots on the front ot the eye peices. I then used brown acrylic paint to cover and make a good base.
I coloured in the rivits with a 'gold' marker pen. I also had an old cheap faux leather bag (primark) that I had cut up once the strap broke in my stash. I then cut out of the 'leather' two peices to over the bit of the eye peices that would sit against the skin. I also used the old handle to create the nose bridge.
I coloured in the lenses with a black marker pen. Glued them in the eye peices. then used some silver enamel paint to cover the glue in inside and out so it looked like solder. I also used the silver to 'distress' the inside of the eye peices.
I used craft knife to cut a slit in each eye peice. Then threaded through two peices of a belt. One side already had eyelets so I just put the brass split pin through to secure it. The other side I made holes with my tailors awl and put the split pin through. Then buckled it up.
Used gold marker pen to make swirly decorations and then it was complete-ish...
Not sure whether to add more decoration...for now I'm going for less is more as its my first pair. It's easier to add than take away.
How historically accurate is it?
this is my first attempt at 18th century stays. I'm not sure how authentic the pattern is. And my boning choice was modern. But it gives a good enough sillouette for what I want to do.
Hours to complete: lost count took me about a month.
The plan is for this dress is it will be able to adapt to several 'cosplays' as well as working for historical events in the future. I started with researching the era on pinterest. I also check to see what I had enough fabric of in my 'stash'.
The red dress above seen in the scarlet pimpernel was just what I had in mind. It can be dressed up or down and I love the combination of the black fichu with the red gown.
I then found a pattern in the book that would give me a close enough look. (I think this is the original garment). I wanted to be able to polonaise the skirts so I could wear it down or up with a shorter skirt for a more piratical ensemble. The sleeves are shorter than the one in the pimpernel as I have found that comicons are always boiling hot and stuffy inside. And when you wear a fichu as well as all the requisite layers its probably going to be pretty toasty.
Cosplays this could work for include:
Pirates of the carribean
Queen of Hearts
Clockwork Droid
Margo Blakeney
Barmaid victorian clara (I know its not victorian but to the casual observer not aquainted with historical fashion it would work)
This being my first attempt at drafting a sleeve I followed the instructions in the book. But the instructions on how to turn the diagram below into a workable pattern was rather confusing.
So I used a little trial and error to make the basic pattern. Then I modified it to match one of the dleeve patterns in 'patterns of fashion'.
It wasn't possible to match exactly as I wanted ease in the sleevecap.
It looked ok when I pin fitted the paper pattern but I will need to try in fabric next.
After finishing my 18thC stays (yes there's a post coming about them) instead of making the shift like a good girl I skipped stright to the fun part the dress. I know the petticoats are super quick and easy to do. But it was the bodice I needed to work on.
So I started with patterns of fashion. Scaling up one of the bodices for the dresses. This did not work.
When I laid it on my stays it didn't look right or like up without drastic modification. Plus the armhole was a odd shape. So back to the drawing board..literally. I draw out patterns leaningon a board. lol! I started with tracing round the pannels of my stays. Then I added to the centre back about 1-2inches. To the CF about 3 inches. Raised the neckline front and back. Then shorterned the bottom edge to the waistline (that's the bit above the tabs). Now I pin fitted and found I needed to take a large pleat out of the back. So I turned it into a seamline instead.
This was the result. Now I cut out in fabric. And machine tacked it together. Cut out 2 strips to be straps which I sewed on the back, but pinned on the front.
Tried it on again with the stays, adjused the straps and found I had to slightly alter the back seams.
My high rounded shoulders strike again.
So far its looking ok.
Well apart from the front but my dress for isn't adjustable so it won't fit as its not my shape with stays. Not on the front neckline. I found myself pinning the neckline lower...but that is only comfortable if I wear a fichu.
I also had a bash at trying to draft sleeves...my nemisis. I won't know the result till I cut the toile sleeves.
