Casual Steampunk - We aren't dressed up, merely dressed

[Captain Brandsson]

A discussion was raised on the "Dress Up Thread" regarding dressing steampunk but not in costume.
Street clothes, work clothes...  All the day-to-day ways we dress steampunk or just steampunk-inspired.

I look forward to seeing your examples.

I will add my own pictures as soon as I am at a computer that has them.

[Tito Alba]

OK then.  For my sins I will begin.  Here is what I was wearing today.  Black shirt and trousers with grey and black herringbone waistcoat (vest in the US) and of course my trusty pocket watch.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Or if I'm feeling the homurg to be a little too flashy then I have a grey/black herringbone flat cap too.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The light isn't the best to see the herringbone pattern but it is there, I assure you

[Lord Wraste]

I only do casual Steampunk... Guess that means I'll have to groove in on this too....

Maybe Thursday.

Tito, Are you rocking a Homburg in the first shot?
My girl recently got me my first bowler and I am loving it.
A Homburg is on my list.

[Tito Alba]

Tito, Are you rocking a Homburg in the first shot?
My girl recently got me my first bowler and I am loving it.
A Homburg is on my list.

It is indeed a homburg.  My favourite hat.  A genuine vintage piece with a bit of a story behind it too:

I had a grey homburg with a black ribbon on my list for over a year since I tend towards grey and black more than the traditional steampunk brown and all my current hats were black. I was even saving up to buy one new from a professional milliner when I strolled into a vintage shop in Greenwich market and saw this beauty sitting on the desk looking unloved.  Exactly my size, exactly the colours I wanted, genuine fur felt and with that special feel of history that comes with knowing it probably sat on the head of a real gent in days gone by, and for a quarter of what I'd been prepared to pay for a new one!  Needless to say it became mine and we have remained together ever since.  Perhaps this should go in the "how we met our significant other" thread.

[Boston Jones]

I'll wear my bowling hat regularly, even in a t-shirt and shorts.

[MsKim]

*claps hands* Ooh, how delightful! Perhaps I will be able to partake in this discussion more so than the previous 'dress up' topics. I do believe tomorrow may be a lovely day for a steamified outfit! *prances off to rummage through closet*

[Vampyroteuthis Infernalis]

Going to be hard pressed to find something recent that is not just a head shot, after all, a brown derby may not be what we are looking for in casual wear.

the actually writing something
V.I.

[corsetsandcogs]

A tophat with brazing goggles around it is part of my regular wear.  It always amazes me how many people come up and comment on my "steampunk" hat or goggles.  I spice it up a little bit by often wear drab colors, and accenting the goggles with a hose clamp and loupes. 

[Lady Ava]

I wear my bowler hat with my goggles on it whenever the weather requires a hat.
It's a bit more difficult to look steampunk every day when you're a girl, what with steam-wear often being elaborate dresses!

[Tito Alba]

Going to be hard pressed to find something recent that is not just a head shot, after all, a brown derby may not be what we are looking for in casual wear.

If a homburg can go as casual then so can a derby but it would be nice to see some of the rest of you, to see how you work it.

I'll wear my bowling hat regularly, even in a t-shirt and shorts.

A tophat with brazing goggles around it is part of my regular wear.  It always amazes me how many people come up and comment on my "steampunk" hat or goggles.  I spice it up a little bit by often wear drab colors, and accenting the goggles with a hose clamp and loupes. 

I wear my bowler hat with my goggles on it whenever the weather requires a hat.

So lets see how you pull it off.

It's a bit more difficult to look steampunk every day when you're a girl, what with steam-wear often being elaborate dresses!

I would disagree.  Steampunk often features women in quite masculine roles and exchanging their bustle dresses for more practical adventuring or engineering clothes.  You just see those styles at conventions and dress up events because they are particularly flashy and impractical for any other occasion.  Steampunk also embraces anachronism so I don't see any contradiction in including some modern materials and styles, as long as it maintains the steampunk vibe.  I would say it is equally eccentric to dress as a Victorian gentleman every day unless you live in Vegas and get married every morning and divorced in the afternoon

[Unsubtle Pete]

I wear my bowler hat with my goggles on it whenever the weather requires a hat.
It's a bit more difficult to look steampunk every day when you're a girl, what with steam-wear often being elaborate dresses!

Come now, why not wear trousers, waistcoat and shirt like the chaps?

[Flightless Phoenix]

I'm so glad we have this thread =] Seems more appropriate than posting my casual ensembles in the dress-up thread!

For anyone that missed my previous post there I'll put the pictures here too:

and for those who did see it, a new outfit. Sorry about picture quality.

Airship pirate inspired with re-purposed jeans (hacked the bottom off, used part of the denim to form a casing and threaded ribbon through to gather the leg), a modern cardigan, tie-dye top from the charity shop and an octopus necklace my friend made for me:

[Captain Brandsson]

Oh, very nice!  I like your style, Flightless P.

For my part, my lady friend has agreed to take photos of my more common outfit styles tomorrow.

[MsKim]

So, lemme ask this of the ladies...what do you do about footwear in the summer? As I was rummaging through the closet, I realized all I have are boots! 

[ElecTinker]

I'm liking all if your styles, very tasteful and classy

[MsKim]

Airship pirate inspired with re-purposed jeans (hacked the bottom off, used part of the denim to form a casing and threaded ribbon through to gather the leg), a modern cardigan, tie-dye top from the charity shop and an octopus necklace my friend made for me:

Ooh...do you happen to have a clearer picture of that - I have several pairs of pants/jeans that I've been meaning to do something with, and those look AWESOME! And this looks like something I could manage without ruining anything

[Engineer]

My preference for day wear out of the office is a collarless shirt with black or dark brown jeans and similarly coloured ankle boots. I can add to this attire as I see fit:

To be a bit more dressy (or to add another layer if it is cool) I add a waistcoat (vest), with or without a pocket watch.

To be even more dressy I wear a fancier waistcoat over a vintage collarless shirt with steampunk cufflinks. Pocket watch is mandatory with this look.

In cooler weather I add my Swedish airforce officer's coat (a long blue/grey 'bridge coat' style, on which I have replaced the modern buttons with brass). I sometines add a steampunk lapel badge or two to the coat. I'm looking to get a good naval p-coat as an alternative to the airforce coat.

If I want to be dressy in the summer I retain the collarless shirt, but replace the jeans with high waisted chinos (bought at M&S a few years ago) with tan ankle boots. To this I add a fine-striped dark brown linen jacket and a panama hat (with a pagri made from black cotton printed with pocket watches).

[Flightless Phoenix]

Airship pirate inspired with re-purposed jeans (hacked the bottom off, used part of the denim to form a casing and threaded ribbon through to gather the leg), a modern cardigan, tie-dye top from the charity shop and an octopus necklace my friend made for me:

Ooh...do you happen to have a clearer picture of that - I have several pairs of pants/jeans that I've been meaning to do something with, and those look AWESOME! And this looks like something I could manage without ruining anything

I don't have a clearer picture but I'll put together an outfit with these on Friday and take another =]
It was very easy to do but my sewing machine struggled a little with the thickness of fabric!

As for summer footwear; I tend to add lace and frills to all of my converse and wear those! I also have a pair of shoes very much like these; http://www.schuh.co.uk/black-red-or-dead-rosie/1373187020/ but with ribbons for laces =]

I'd also like to thank Captain Brandsson for the compliment.

[Captain Brandsson]

I'd also like to thank Captain Brandsson for the compliment.

*tips hat*


On any given day I am likely to wear ankle boots, cargo pants, button-down shirt (usually solid color or simple pattern), suspenders (button when able), a waistcoat (weather permitting) my somewhat steampunk-y glasses and a hat.

Depending on the exact choices I make, variations of the above can be casual, office appropriate or dressy.

Possible hats include, but are not limited to, a "paperboy" cap, a bowler or a pith helmet*.

*In hot weather, a linen shirt, cargo shorts and the pith, do the trick, nicely.

[Voltin]

I will sometimes wear one of my waistcoats with my pocket watch and my bowler hat or gambler hat. However I usually dress more 30's & 40's style when I am out and about.

[Tito Alba]

It is a very nice style Flightless Phoenix.  I remember your posts in the dress up thread and it was one of the things that started the idea for this one.

England has got a little warm for too much dark colours lately and so I've broken out some lighter colours.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Although rain is never far away so a raincoat and waterproof hat is always handy

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

These 'sand' coloured clothes always make me feel like an old Egyptologist.

Of course, the beauty of Victorian inspired fashions are that they comprise of layers so the waistcoat can be removed to become really casual or a jacket and tie added for smarter conventional 'office' wear.  I do have a suit jacket in this colour but don't work in an office so its rarely needed. Where I can I prefer to use a waistcoat, even if its an odd one, and have a long smart coat instead of a jacket to make it like a casual version of a Victorian frock coat suit.

[Zeppelin Kapitan Fritz]

     I love the idea of getting a little bit of steampunk into my everyday life, but I would find it awkward and a little embarrassing if I were to get comments (even positive comments) about dressing out of the ordinary. I'm accustomed to and enjoy getting comments and compliments when I'm in a costume at a con, but getting the same treatment for my everyday style of dress on the street would just feel weird to me. I normally dress with comfort and practicality in mind and don't think about style at all.

     With that being said I particularly like Flightless Phoenix's outfit with the trench coat. I think if I were to dress steampunk on a day to day basis I would wear something vaguely military like that (I love the look of old military uniforms, especially ones from Germany and Russia).

[Zeppelin Kapitan Fritz]

I wear my bowler hat with my goggles on it whenever the weather requires a hat.
It's a bit more difficult to look steampunk every day when you're a girl, what with steam-wear often being elaborate dresses!

     I would argue it's the other way around, we have a lot less options and men who dress strangely are more likely to get negative attention than women who do the same.

[greatestescaper]

My new corn cobb pipe arrived today.  My first smoke ever was had.  I should've thought to get some photos.  They'll be following in the next day or so. 

[Uncle Arthur]

I love my corn cob pipes. Hate the puny stems though. I replace then with vulcanite. Nothing like a cob churchwarden to relax with.