How many of us dress "Neo-Victorian/SP" all the time?

[Wickerman]

I'm genuinely interested to know how many forumites have taken the steampunk lifestyle as far as to dress in their SP/neo-Victorian clothes on a daily basis (to the supermarket, about town, the post office, collecting their kids from school, etc.), and not just to SP shows and fairs. Were you ever self-conscious about it? What do your family, friends and neighbours think?

[bizarre_chicken]

This is ridiculous. I wear clothes in a neo-victorian style most of the time but I am never 'in character'. I don't ever feel self conscious - if it bothered me I wouldn't wear a style of that manner.
This is one of the biggest problems I have with many people's perception of the SP style nowadays - this godforsaken roleplay element that's seeped into everything. I do not have a persona nor a character outside of the limits of my own personality, I've never seen the point.
People are used to me. I'm an unusual fellow, there's no doubting that. Most importantly, I am myself, not some work of DIY fiction and I do not put on a facade.

It's incredibly annoying when people do this bloody persona business. It's totally unnecessary and even slightly demeaning for those people who choose the style because they think it genuinely looks awesome.

I'll stop venting for now.

[/rant]

[dman762000]

While I do agree with Mr. Chicken about the "in character"  thing I will say this.
My wardrobe does not have the level of steam that I would like. I am however working on remedying that. The only problem is that it is expensive to replace a wardrobe so I am doing it a piece at a time.

[Athena]

I agree with the bizarre one and have dman's problem.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. I am like this all the time. Ask anyone who knows me...well, knows me well enough to really know me. I am the prankster and hellraiser of my group. I have a take no prisoners attitude and I do what I want when I want how I want. There is no "roleplay" to me.

[JingleJoe]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

This is ridiculous. I wear clothes in a neo-victorian style most of the time but I am never 'in character'. I don't ever feel self conscious - if it bothered me I wouldn't wear a style of that manner.
This is one of the biggest problems I have with many people's perception of the SP style nowadays - this godforsaken roleplay element that's seeped into everything. I do not have a persona nor a character outside of the limits of my own personality, I've never seen the point.
People are used to me. I'm an unusual fellow, there's no doubting that. Most importantly, I am myself, not some work of DIY fiction and I do not put on a facade.

It's incredibly annoying when people do this bloody persona business. It's totally unnecessary and even slightly demeaning for those people who choose the style because they think it genuinely looks awesome.

I'll stop venting for now.

[/rant]

What he said
I'm not in character, I am me; The Green Dungaon Alchemist, who is steampunk and I am steampunk all the time because I am.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

My wardrobe does not have the level of steam that I would like. I am however working on remedying that. The only problem is that it is expensive to replace a wardrobe so I am doing it a piece at a time.

Also what he said

[Seaton Begg]

I concur with the comments already made. The LaRP aspect of SP does not interest me.

[Mad Miss Holmes]

Oh, don't be too hard on the LARPers! I like to adopt a persona with friends every now and then, because it is nice to pretend that the world actually is as it ought to be and that exotic adventures are possible on an undergraduate student's budget and schedule.
Mind you, people passing me on the street wouldn't be able to tell whether I'm currently "in character" or not, because it doesn't actually produce any visible difference in the way I dress, and only a tad bit of difference in the way I act.

[Violet Rose]

Dress as you like I say whether as cos play or otherwise.

Personally I find my preferred style of dress co-incides with neo Victoriana, so although I habitually wear long skirts etc, this is because I like that aesthetic rather from any more sentimental reasons - it would not bother me to go out in T shirt and jeans if the occasion demanded it

[lilibat]

If you feel you must put on another personality at all times, and are not working under deep cover please seek professional assistance at once.

Sunday of steamcon people kept wanting my picture and I was just wearing my everyday clothes, not my everyday work clothes mind you but basically what I wear when I am not in BDUs.  Having been a goth for most of my life I get uncomfortable if Im NOT over dressed.

[Taillte]

This is ridiculous. I wear clothes in a neo-victorian style most of the time but I am never 'in character'. I don't ever feel self conscious - if it bothered me I wouldn't wear a style of that manner.
This is one of the biggest problems I have with many people's perception of the SP style nowadays - this godforsaken roleplay element that's seeped into everything. I do not have a persona nor a character outside of the limits of my own personality, I've never seen the point.
People are used to me. I'm an unusual fellow, there's no doubting that. Most importantly, I am myself, not some work of DIY fiction and I do not put on a facade.

It's incredibly annoying when people do this bloody persona business. It's totally unnecessary and even slightly demeaning for those people who choose the style because they think it genuinely looks awesome.

I'll stop venting for now.

[/rant]

yes.

[Mr. Hatchett]

I'm genuinely interested to know how many forumites have taken the steampunk lifestyle as far as to dress in their SP/neo-Victorian clothes on a daily basis (to the supermarket, about town, the post office, collecting their kids from school, etc.), and not just to SP shows and fairs. Were you ever self-conscious about it? What do your family, friends and neighbours think?

I think you might have mistaken people who affect characters with affected people.

[Khet Thelonius Maxwell]

I think some folks here had a slight misunderstanding. Perhaps the choice of topic name was a bit... off... but I believe that the original poster is asking is more along the lines of how many of us dress neovictorian/Steampunk in our daily lives, outside of a convention or planned gathering, not whether or not we don a fake persona our whole lives day in and day out.

[Isabella Stormrift]

I think some folks here had a slight misunderstanding. Perhaps the choice of topic name was a bit... off... but I believe that the original poster is asking is more along the lines of how many of us dress neovictorian/Steampunk in our daily lives, outside of a convention or planned gathering, not whether or not we don a fake persona our whole lives day in and day out.

This.

On the subject of roleplay: Many people assume a different role when they wear different attire, consciously or not. Whether it's a fleshed out persona with a full back story or just a slight change in attitude, posture, diction, vocabulary... A policeman doesn't tend to act the same when he's wearing his uniform as he does when he's wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Does that mean he's a different person because he put the uniform on? No. But one could say he's "in character" as a policeman.

[Wickerman]

I think some folks here had a slight misunderstanding. Perhaps the choice of topic name was a bit... off... but I believe that the original poster is asking is more along the lines of how many of us dress neovictorian/Steampunk in our daily lives, outside of a convention or planned gathering, not whether or not we don a fake persona our whole lives day in and day out.

Thank you. That's exactly what I meant. (I have changed the topic title.)

[Khet Thelonius Maxwell]

I think some folks here had a slight misunderstanding. Perhaps the choice of topic name was a bit... off... but I believe that the original poster is asking is more along the lines of how many of us dress neovictorian/Steampunk in our daily lives, outside of a convention or planned gathering, not whether or not we don a fake persona our whole lives day in and day out.

Thank you. That's exactly what I meant. (I have changed the topic title.)

You're most welcome.

As for me, I regret to say that I do not, but that is due to a complete lack of wardrobe. Funds are very tight for me, and while I'm slowly saving up to get my first top hat, I can't quite afford anything else though I dearly wish I could. If I could, I would.

[Mimsy Beaucoup]

I am insterested in exactly what 'in character' or 'in steampunk' all the time actually means?

Does this mean you go out to do the shopping in full victorianan (for example) and goggles and top hat (insert clothing of own personal taste but equally as noticable)?

Or does this mean, for example, a man who simply wears a waistcoat? Or a woman who wears a a long brown skirt and cream blouse?

If this is the case then is it really what the OP means by 'in character'? Do you have to be wearing all your steamy accessories to be considered 'in steampunk'?

For instance, my husband usually wears a waistcoat most days, looking a bit chappish- when he dresses SP he adds things to it for a 'dressed down/dressed up' look.

I wear boots that fit nicely into the SP theme, sometimes jewellery that works with the theme of SP...does this make me Sp all the time? I have just bought a mini pocket watch necklace on a long chain that I plan on wearing daily- is my nod to SP enough to be considered 'all the time'?

It is all sorts of things to all sorts of people. I personally 'dress up' if I have the occasion to and there is no way I would go about my normal life in corstes and victoriana etc...but does my nod to the SP look in everyday life count?

It is a fine line. Persaonally I love to mix styles and am intersted in many looks.

Also , with regards to RP in SP- what is wrong with it? A lot of people find it fun. I have a character, but she is more of a 'resting character' no one needs know I am 'her' I don't RP the character. At largeer gatherings I introduce myself as Lady Mimsy Beaucoup, often followed up by my own name if I am having a sustained conversation. I found creating my character fun and it is just a part of my 'super dressed up' persona. RP can be a way of people expressing themselves- I doubt anyone is 'in character' all of the time, but they may be wearing something that is a nod to that character.

I would never actually consider myself always dressed in SP, but the interest is always there, it is what we carry in our heads that makes us who we are. As I have said on another part of this forum, not everyone can wear SP all the time.

[Seaton Begg]

If you feel you must put on another personality at all times, and are not working under deep cover please seek professional assistance at once.

Why? Do you think that peoples 'normal' personality is anything other than a mask, a construct that is in flux?

[Sgt.Major Thistlewaite]

If you feel you must put on another personality at all times, and are not working under deep cover please seek professional assistance at once.

Why? Do you think that peoples 'normal' personality is anything other than a mask, a construct that is in flux?

Quoted for veracity! Most people "put their best foot forward" when in public, and save the scratching and belching for home. ( Some do not-ewwwwwwwwwww )
Thomas Elihue Thistlewaite is not the name I was given at birth, but how much of him is me, and how much of me is him would be hard to sort out. Certainly "he" is a product of my imagination...but it was my imagination. "He" has a very well fleshed out back-story, especially after our collective foray into the fictional world we created in The Extended Steam Salon. Why? Because it's FUN.
As for dressing up to go out, I'm with the others who have said, "These are my clothes, this is the style I prefer, I'm not "dressing up" or "in costume," this is just what I wear. I actually only go to town once a week, so mostly I'm around the house, anyway, and am usually wearing work clothes, although even those are somewhat old-fashioned.

~Thistlewaite

[Tobias Lestrade]

My wardrobe is 90 percent victorian and 10 percent 50s or 60s so its mainly suits. as for steampunk I like to sometimes mix it up with my normal wear but when your working it just isnt practical though I do enjoy steampunking it up every now and again as for in character...Im not the biggest fan of it at least not in out of con stuff.

[Frau Tankgerhausen]

My wardrobe is filled with all kinds of things because before I really got into steampunk i was pretty much into bright-coloured harajuku-style with some black.
But my everyday outfits are breathing some steampunk-influence since I got my first goggles, and like lillibat, I tend to overdress all the time when being outside of my home. most outfits people have seen photos of are actually my daily outfits!(well,escept for the corset-part,that's not really everyday-clothing.)

[Talefeather]

Sadly, I am not able to dress in any other way than in medical scrubs during the weekday but I infuse as much of my personality as a I can get away with (which is a lot!) in jewelry, socks, watches, odd bits here and there.  Truly, even if I didn't do those things I would stand apart from my coworkers simply on personality and wit.  I honestly believe they let me do and say as I please just to see what will happen next.

After hours and on weekends is a completely different story and I stray as far as I can from maroon or gray scrubs (Texas A&M vets) and don't give a whit what others think.

[steamtastic]

Anything which takes my fancy. I sometimes dress up as steampunk, but not all the time. I’m not gonna pretend I do, because I don’t. I feel left out and look odd amongst my friends who aren’t steampunk. Like Mr. Chicken said to start with, don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. (He basically summed it right up). But I still like steampunk, and it doesn’t make you any less steampunk. You can incorporate it with your normal lifestyle and I think there are lots of threads about all that. Personally I like little bit of lots of genres. At the moment I’m trying to go for a toned down beatnik look. Why must I be steampunk all the time?

[James Harrison]

Anything which takes my fancy. I sometimes dress up as steampunk, but not all the time. I’m not gonna pretend I do, because I don’t. I feel left out and look odd amongst my friends who aren’t steampunk. Like Mr. Chicken said to start with, don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. (He basically summed it right up). But I still like steampunk, and it doesn’t make you any less steampunk. You can incorporate it with your normal lifestyle and I think there are lots of threads about all that. Personally I like little bit of lots of genres. At the moment I’m trying to go for a toned down beatnik look. Why must I be steampunk all the time?

This.  I wear three piece suits, braces and a pocketwatch to work, which is faintly Neo-Vic/SP (I can't quite bring myself to wear a topper or bowler to work yet).  Otherwise I dress what I term 'normally'- a long sleeve shirt and a pair of nice trousers.

[ulfnir]

I dress as well as I can get away with in a small North Welsh town, without some of the local mouth breathers taking umbrage and beating me to a paste. This tends to consist of some of my Victorian military jackets/waistcoat, my coachmans coat, breeches and riding boots. Topped of, of course, with a hat and goggles.
I do find it highly offensive that they are allowed to get away with the name calling etc, but hey ho, what can you do? I am me, and there's no point in trying to change that fact.

[Khet Thelonius Maxwell]

Anything which takes my fancy. I sometimes dress up as steampunk, but not all the time. I’m not gonna pretend I do, because I don’t. I feel left out and look odd amongst my friends who aren’t steampunk. Like Mr. Chicken said to start with, don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. (He basically summed it right up). But I still like steampunk, and it doesn’t make you any less steampunk. You can incorporate it with your normal lifestyle and I think there are lots of threads about all that. Personally I like little bit of lots of genres. At the moment I’m trying to go for a toned down beatnik look. Why must I be steampunk all the time?

Heh, sounds like me without the "Don't do it part" Two of my friends are goth, the other dresses up 80s style and me... well, for me there will be Steampunk soon. We do get some odd stares from people that can't understand why we hang out together but hey, it's all fun.