Styleforum thread... interesting outsider views

[patron_vectras]

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=65072

I was on a trail of links from something to something else to local tailors to tailors in general to a links page.
http://www.styleforum.net/ was one of them, and I searched for steampunk. Only 2 threads surfaced, this being the only interesting one.

It is interesting for what the people thought, when. The first post is May 8th last year and the thread is killed but a few days later. It got started by the NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/fashion/08PUNK.html

 Starts off:

It sounds weird, but the picture of the James Gang in the NYTimes article looks eccentric in a good way. Has anyone actually seen people wearing this? Do you think it can influence mainstream fashion in any way? Thoughts, opinions?

 and gets disheartening:

bizarre. Like another extension of Cosplay

 then kinda defamatory:

Steampunk may become a haven for aging fat goths.

but almost evens out, I think:

I do like how in the article people are taking the steampunk thing further than clothing and actually building things. Kinda fun.

 This fella "Cotton Duck" seems to have a slight handle, lol:

I think how you envisioned it is closer to what is called "dieselpunk" (it's grimier and less about "victorian principles/teaparties/blabla", think skies darked with exume clouds, complete disregard for fossil fuel, massive machines on the horizon, more dystopian). another thing is that alot of these people seem more interested in the victorian part, so if they were to fly in an airship, they'd be the passengers, holding high conversation over tea and wearing eyeglasses and tophats, I guess I'm more interested in the people piloting and operating that same airship, shoveling coal..

in any case, simply sharing the fruits of my internets ;]

[markf]

We had discussed the NY Times article here on BG back when it was released, and we are also familiar with + and - comments issued by various other outllets though I don't think we had seen the style forum before, but the thrust of the discussion was similar to others we've seen.  Welcome aboard BG, and if you find more timely articles on steampunk we'll be interested in discussing them.  markf

[AllisterCain9]

 and gets disheartening:
Quote
bizarre. Like another extension of Cosplay

 then kinda defamatory:
Quote
Steampunk may become a haven for aging fat goths.

THATS hilarious. Thats why we need to focus on Punk more then Victorian theme.

[Maj. Clive Hathaway]

and gets disheartening:
Quote
bizarre. Like another extension of Cosplay

 then kinda defamatory:
Quote
Steampunk may become a haven for aging fat goths.

THATS hilarious. Thats why we need to focus on Punk more then Victorian theme.

Why, so some jerkoff with a keyboard can say that steampunk will become a refuge for aging fat punkers??

Personally, i don't give a damn what norms think...

[Flynn MacCallister]

Also, this is probably a slightly skewed view... the forum (appears to be) made up of males, who are heavily into (mainstream) fashion. As such, I think a lot of the views expressed are far from surprising...

[Capt. Edward Wheeler]

I don't really care what the 'mainstream' thinks about the Steampunk style really, as you can bet in a year they will be mocking the fashions they loved a few months back, whereas we will most likely be perfectly happy with our look still.

Anything not in vogue or similar will always be insulted by the 'fashion' community, but who cares!

I wear what I like, and I like what I wear. 

[JingleJoe]

and gets disheartening:
Quote
bizarre. Like another extension of Cosplay

 then kinda defamatory:
Quote
Steampunk may become a haven for aging fat goths.

THATS hilarious. Thats why we need to focus on Punk more then Victorian theme.

Why, so some jerkoff with a keyboard can say that steampunk will become a refuge for aging fat punkers??

Personally, i don't give a damn what norms think...

We do have alot of aging fat people, they just aren't goths or punks, they're steampunk! Where's HAC then?

[quantumcat]

"Aging" means we're still alive.

Those not undergoing that process are either deceased or stuck in the same rut they inhabited when in an immature state.

Certainly,entropy has its downside but it is also a tool for change/growth/progress/renewal.

I rather like the fact that I'm accumulating  a little patina and some experience points.

My telemeres haven't worn down completely so I'm pretty functional and all that fat should help cushion my brittle bones
when I fall and land on my hip or knee instead of my bustle.

I can walk with a cane and wear funny outfits and no one minds because we superannuated types are supposed  to be eccentric.

The Goth part means I can look pale and blue-veined and needn't spend time and money to make my epidermis look like
that of an Oompa Loompa or a humanoid piece of beef jerky.

If some people ridicule our lifestyle,it's just because they are ignorant of its merits.

Perhaps,it's one of those piquant tastes they'll develop if/when they grow up.