All things Steampunk: Vintage Punk Revolution
OK, so after much consideration and lots of intellectual discussion on the topic, I am on board with the Vintage Punk revolution. Those of you who have actually talked with other "Steamies" (in person or online) have probably already figured out what is steampunk to one person may not be to another. WOW... the heated discussions that go on about an imagined alternative reality! *giggles* I swear I need a t-shirt that says "My imagined alternative reality is better than your imagined alternative reality!" Anyways... with all of the sub-genres involved in Steampunk, Cyberpunk, and Dieselpunk... I must say that I really dislike the term "Steampunk" because it is so broad yet so limiting (in the minds of people who believe steampunk is one very specific look and there are no room for variance). Therefore I move that what is believed to be "Steampunk" actually be referred to as Vintage Punk. Thereby allowing for all things vintage and punked. LOL!
Anyways... would you like to meet one of my Vintage Punk personas? This costume was developed by me for the Steampunk party at the CSPC. I must say, that was one of my favorite parties thus far!!
_______________________________________________________________________________
The original sketch was a mixture of Wild West can-can dancer meets airship pirate:
Her name is Florence "Sure Flo" Helm and here is her quick and dirty (and slightly cheesey in a geek way)
__________________________________________________________
Florence “Sure Flo” Helm
Florence Helm grew up in a typical upper middle class home in New York. The only daughter of an inventor and apothecary girl; she accompanied her parents on their move out west in search of adventure and inspiration. Florence bored easily of her fathers inventions and her mother’s constant mixing of oils and salves and spent the majority of her time looking to the sky. When she was only 15 years old her parents were killed in a tragic laboratory explosion and she was left to survive on her own. The money from her parents’ inventions and patents eventually ran out and at age 19 she began work as a performer in local saloons and gentleman’s clubs. Florence was head strong and street smart unfortunately after a rather brutal attack by a not so gentleman caller, she knew she needed to learn how to protect herself even if it meant trading her body as payment for learning the skills she needed to survive on her own. She sought out to learn trade skills from some of the best gunslingers in the west, Chinamen versed in the self defense arts, and even some of the most notorious outlaws. Eventually she became well respected by women and feared by men who would take advantage of women; however she still could not shake her reputation for being a working girl. She never wanted to be a showgirl, no she wanted to fly! It was in 1909 that she learned that The World’s Fair would be coming to Seattle, WA so she sold her parents home, paid her debts and with the little money left she traveled north from her home in Portland, OR in hopes of seeing the fanciful flying ships that she heard stories about growing up. She rented a room above a local saloon and found work as a dancing girl. Within weeks of her arrival she became the show’s headliner and she was much sought after by all of the important gentlemen in the city. She refused their invitations graciously but knew that one day her luck would run out and she’d be forced to “provide for the customers” or break their hands; neither of which bode well for her future at the saloon. It late June she finally managed to earn herself a day off and she planned to go to the Fair and see the airships. As she attempted to depart out the back door she ran into a dark and handsome stranger. His attire was strange but she could tell that they were constructed of high quality textiles. He smelled of spice and cool ocean breeze and she wondered what he did for a living. People fascinated her and while she wanted to stay and perhaps meet him she couldn’t deny the call of her heart… she NEEDED to get to the fair. She apologized to him and turned to leave when he grabbed her arm and asked for her name. She gave it to him explained that it was her day off and she had an appointment to keep. She attempted to leave once again but he held firm blatantly checking out her assets claiming that he would like to see her performance and that he was only in town for a very short time. She declined firmly while she slipped one of her stilettos from behind her bustle and placed it squarely at the base of his crotch. Impressed with her reaction he made her an offer. If she performed one number for him (and him only) he would provide her transportation to where ever she wished to go. Thinking of the miles that she would have to walk in her new soft leather heeled boots she accepted his offer. She guided him to the private show stage in the rear of the building, found some of the musicians on their break and asked them to play Modanna’s FEVER. The lights dimmed low, she took the stage, and worked her body and voice for all she was worth. She watched him and noticed how his body responded to her performance… his eyes hid nothing from her. When her number drew to a close she threw caution to the wind, descended the stage and hiked up her skirt to settle on his lap as she gyrated her hips applying her skills of seduction that she had allowed to go dormant for the last few months in attempt to escape her sorted past. She felt his hand settle upon her hips and when the music stopped she leaned back, turned her heat, and brushed her lips past his. The guttural groan the rose form his chest was unmistakable and she knew that she had his full attention. Rising she turned to face him and declared that he must now pay his half of the bargain. And he did; more than she expected. Arriving at the fair she disembarked from his carriage, thanked him for his help and turned to leave. She only made it a few feet from where they parted when she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned to strike whomever was bold enough to touch her and came face to face with her spicy stranger. He explained that he had not completed his end of the bargain yet and he offered to guide her to his ship. She assumed that he must have been one of the tall ships traders and politely declined. He was not about to allow her to walk away so he asked her for just a chance to show her his ship and then she could be on her way. He promised it would only take a few minutes. She assumed that in a crowd of at least a million people that she would be perfectly safe and accepted his arm. He guided her through the crowd, past vendors, traders, inventors and demonstrations. Passing a rather tall building they rounded a corner to see a very long line of people who seemed to be waiting for something. It was then that she noticed a huge flying ship descending from the sky. She watched the ground crew guide it down and anchor it to its docking clamps, eyes wide with amazement. Her stranger then pointed to the ship, dipped his head and whispered… her name is Dulcimer and my name is Agustus Corvus, Airship Captain and explorer of foreign lands. They watched past the crowd gathered to see the wondrous vessel and ascended the stairs leading to the opening double glass doors. Agustus gave her the grand tour of Dulcimer and in true pirate fashion he saved his personal quarters for last. The story is not hard to guess from this point. She succumbed to the call of the sky, became his lover, and eventually left Seattle with her Captain. They traveled the world together acquiring as they went taking what fancied them and moving to the next place of wonder. She proved herself to be a fearless warrior, gained the respect of the crew and before too long the undercurrent of her power seemed to eclipse that of her Captain. He grew fearful of her power yet he did nothing. It was only after a late night of drinking that his irrational need to be the only one the crew respected took command of his facilities and he attempted to prove to her he was the one in charge. In his attempt to put her into her place he tried to take form her, what she usually gave to him freely. In her own defense she killed him with a quick flick of a blade and a kiss to his lips. When she left her quarters covered in his blood, the crew immediately knew what had happened. Privateer Law had just played out… “Keep what you kill.” She was now Captain of Dulcimer.
Costume
Florence “Sure Flo” Helm, Captain of the Dulcimer
Alterations:
Professional pictures coming soon!
Anyways... would you like to meet one of my Vintage Punk personas? This costume was developed by me for the Steampunk party at the CSPC. I must say, that was one of my favorite parties thus far!!
_______________________________________________________________________________
The original sketch was a mixture of Wild West can-can dancer meets airship pirate:
Her name is Florence "Sure Flo" Helm and here is her quick and dirty (and slightly cheesey in a geek way)
__________________________________________________________
Florence “Sure Flo” Helm
Florence Helm grew up in a typical upper middle class home in New York. The only daughter of an inventor and apothecary girl; she accompanied her parents on their move out west in search of adventure and inspiration. Florence bored easily of her fathers inventions and her mother’s constant mixing of oils and salves and spent the majority of her time looking to the sky. When she was only 15 years old her parents were killed in a tragic laboratory explosion and she was left to survive on her own. The money from her parents’ inventions and patents eventually ran out and at age 19 she began work as a performer in local saloons and gentleman’s clubs. Florence was head strong and street smart unfortunately after a rather brutal attack by a not so gentleman caller, she knew she needed to learn how to protect herself even if it meant trading her body as payment for learning the skills she needed to survive on her own. She sought out to learn trade skills from some of the best gunslingers in the west, Chinamen versed in the self defense arts, and even some of the most notorious outlaws. Eventually she became well respected by women and feared by men who would take advantage of women; however she still could not shake her reputation for being a working girl. She never wanted to be a showgirl, no she wanted to fly! It was in 1909 that she learned that The World’s Fair would be coming to Seattle, WA so she sold her parents home, paid her debts and with the little money left she traveled north from her home in Portland, OR in hopes of seeing the fanciful flying ships that she heard stories about growing up. She rented a room above a local saloon and found work as a dancing girl. Within weeks of her arrival she became the show’s headliner and she was much sought after by all of the important gentlemen in the city. She refused their invitations graciously but knew that one day her luck would run out and she’d be forced to “provide for the customers” or break their hands; neither of which bode well for her future at the saloon. It late June she finally managed to earn herself a day off and she planned to go to the Fair and see the airships. As she attempted to depart out the back door she ran into a dark and handsome stranger. His attire was strange but she could tell that they were constructed of high quality textiles. He smelled of spice and cool ocean breeze and she wondered what he did for a living. People fascinated her and while she wanted to stay and perhaps meet him she couldn’t deny the call of her heart… she NEEDED to get to the fair. She apologized to him and turned to leave when he grabbed her arm and asked for her name. She gave it to him explained that it was her day off and she had an appointment to keep. She attempted to leave once again but he held firm blatantly checking out her assets claiming that he would like to see her performance and that he was only in town for a very short time. She declined firmly while she slipped one of her stilettos from behind her bustle and placed it squarely at the base of his crotch. Impressed with her reaction he made her an offer. If she performed one number for him (and him only) he would provide her transportation to where ever she wished to go. Thinking of the miles that she would have to walk in her new soft leather heeled boots she accepted his offer. She guided him to the private show stage in the rear of the building, found some of the musicians on their break and asked them to play Modanna’s FEVER. The lights dimmed low, she took the stage, and worked her body and voice for all she was worth. She watched him and noticed how his body responded to her performance… his eyes hid nothing from her. When her number drew to a close she threw caution to the wind, descended the stage and hiked up her skirt to settle on his lap as she gyrated her hips applying her skills of seduction that she had allowed to go dormant for the last few months in attempt to escape her sorted past. She felt his hand settle upon her hips and when the music stopped she leaned back, turned her heat, and brushed her lips past his. The guttural groan the rose form his chest was unmistakable and she knew that she had his full attention. Rising she turned to face him and declared that he must now pay his half of the bargain. And he did; more than she expected. Arriving at the fair she disembarked from his carriage, thanked him for his help and turned to leave. She only made it a few feet from where they parted when she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned to strike whomever was bold enough to touch her and came face to face with her spicy stranger. He explained that he had not completed his end of the bargain yet and he offered to guide her to his ship. She assumed that he must have been one of the tall ships traders and politely declined. He was not about to allow her to walk away so he asked her for just a chance to show her his ship and then she could be on her way. He promised it would only take a few minutes. She assumed that in a crowd of at least a million people that she would be perfectly safe and accepted his arm. He guided her through the crowd, past vendors, traders, inventors and demonstrations. Passing a rather tall building they rounded a corner to see a very long line of people who seemed to be waiting for something. It was then that she noticed a huge flying ship descending from the sky. She watched the ground crew guide it down and anchor it to its docking clamps, eyes wide with amazement. Her stranger then pointed to the ship, dipped his head and whispered… her name is Dulcimer and my name is Agustus Corvus, Airship Captain and explorer of foreign lands. They watched past the crowd gathered to see the wondrous vessel and ascended the stairs leading to the opening double glass doors. Agustus gave her the grand tour of Dulcimer and in true pirate fashion he saved his personal quarters for last. The story is not hard to guess from this point. She succumbed to the call of the sky, became his lover, and eventually left Seattle with her Captain. They traveled the world together acquiring as they went taking what fancied them and moving to the next place of wonder. She proved herself to be a fearless warrior, gained the respect of the crew and before too long the undercurrent of her power seemed to eclipse that of her Captain. He grew fearful of her power yet he did nothing. It was only after a late night of drinking that his irrational need to be the only one the crew respected took command of his facilities and he attempted to prove to her he was the one in charge. In his attempt to put her into her place he tried to take form her, what she usually gave to him freely. In her own defense she killed him with a quick flick of a blade and a kiss to his lips. When she left her quarters covered in his blood, the crew immediately knew what had happened. Privateer Law had just played out… “Keep what you kill.” She was now Captain of Dulcimer.
Costume
Florence “Sure Flo” Helm, Captain of the Dulcimer
- Brown aviators cap
- Brown goggles
- Brown leather cavalry coat
- Brown leather gloves
- Black and chain maile choker necklace
- Lace and brass chain bra
- Corset liner
- Cream corset
- Cream lace gauntlets
- Tan and cream burlesque skirt
- Brown and copper bustle with black scarf
- Tan panties
- Black lace garter belt with black back-seam fishnet stockings
- Brown leather cavalry boots
- Brown utility belt, guns, flogger
- Flight wings & femme dome pin, dog tags with handcuff key, bell with submissive key, etc…
Alterations:
- Cream lacey shirt
- Brown striped vest
- Brown aviator pants
- Corset blade or boot blade
Professional pictures coming soon!