photos of just me from the Governor's Island Picnic
I created this page for my friends and family who aren't necessary interested in steampunk, but like to see photos of me. It's not really for public dissemination though I certainly don't mind if anyone else looks at it. However I think people like my mom will get the most out of a page full of nothing but photos of yours truly! Click to see the group shots of the Steampunk Picnic and Stroll on Governor's Island on September 26.
The inspiration: The photos below show the first costume that I researched carefully from historical sources, also the skirt was the first steampunk costume element that I made from scratch. Above left, a fanciful photo "what a woman police officer might look like" was the inspiration for the skirt. I was also inspired by the uniforms of the courageous vivandiéres (above right), and by the fashion for military trimmings on the dresses of upper-class Victorian women. I wanted to wear a military-themed costume in tribute to the generations of military families who lived and worked on Governor's Island. Note that the photos of me were taken by Ay-Leen, Dexter, and others who attended the Picnic and Stroll.
This group shot of the ladies at the Steampunk Picnic and Stroll on Governor's Island on September 26 shows my costume very well. Hours of sewing went into creating the skirt, mostly because of all that trim. Victorian ladies trimmed the hem of their skirts not merely to be decorative, but to defray wear and tear from the streets. Trims could be swapped out when they became ragged, and that spared the hem from fraying. If fraying reached the hem, the skirt would be shortened for a woman of less stature, and that is one reason why Victorian clothing that has survived to this day is so small. Most of it was made smaller and smaller as it was passed down, and a grand lady's dress might end up being worn by a diminutive 12-year-old maid. (Click for more group shots from the event - this page is all about me.)
I love this photo of me sniffing a paper-mache rose in the sculpture garden on Governor's Island. The frilled shirt I wore, along with the plumed hat, lends a slight 18th-century masculine appearance to my costume. I sometimes favor 18th-century masculine attire because I do not have proper Victorian hair (Victorian ladies liked short fringed bangs and carefully styled hair). I do have great hair for an 18th century cavalier man, as well as for certain rebellious or bohemian 19th century men like Oscar Wilde, John Keats, and Wild Bill Hickock.
Closer view of the rose-sniffing shot from Ay-Leen's camera. I was imagining the scent of a fresh blown rose although it really smelled like paper!
Standing near a de-commissioned cannon in front of the Commanding Officer's Residence and showing off my feathered fan (I added the silver buttons).
Peering through a slim cannon, pretending it's a spyglass. One of the kids took this shot.
Not a very flattering photo, but I love the weathered pillars in the background.
In the sculpture garden, I was pretending to be frightened of the steel wasp sculpture, and ended up with a strange otherworldly look in my eyes.
Sitting on the leg of a sculpture entitled "The Agony of Man." He and I are quite cozy despite the agony. Notice that he's 'anatomically correct' if not terribly well-endowed!
Another photo of me sniffing the rose. This was before Ay-Leen coached me to close my eyes for a more convincing pose.
The Commanding Officer's Residence was actually our first stop on the Stroll. I don't know why I have a sort of sour-puss look on my face - I didn't realize this photo was being taken.
Inside the Commanding Officer's Residence, Dexter took this evocative portrait of me by the window.
Ay-Leen, Ginger, and I underneath the chandelier. The other ladies were coaching me about the proper way to display one's fan for photographs.
Ay-Leen, Ginger, and I underneath the chandelier. Disregard the frightfully modern photo above the fireplace behind us. I don't know why the Commanding Officer's Residence wasn't restored with period furniture and pictures. It's just a big empty house with an 'art installation' - some ugly photographs in cheap frames on the walls.
The talented Dexter took this shot of three steampunk ladies under the chandelier. He's a very creative photographer.
Looking rather blase beside a fireplace in the Commanding Officer's Residence.
Right before Kit, Xenia, Ginger, kids, et. al. left for the day. Ay-Leen, Dexter, and I stayed behind for more exploration and photo opps.
Another great shot by Dexter. I'm standing at the battlement of Fort Jay. The wind and stormy sky gives it a sort of Wuthering Heights quality.
Closer view of the windswept shot, from Ay-Leen's camera.
Click to see the group shots from the event
The inspiration: The photos below show the first costume that I researched carefully from historical sources, also the skirt was the first steampunk costume element that I made from scratch. Above left, a fanciful photo "what a woman police officer might look like" was the inspiration for the skirt. I was also inspired by the uniforms of the courageous vivandiéres (above right), and by the fashion for military trimmings on the dresses of upper-class Victorian women. I wanted to wear a military-themed costume in tribute to the generations of military families who lived and worked on Governor's Island. Note that the photos of me were taken by Ay-Leen, Dexter, and others who attended the Picnic and Stroll.
This group shot of the ladies at the Steampunk Picnic and Stroll on Governor's Island on September 26 shows my costume very well. Hours of sewing went into creating the skirt, mostly because of all that trim. Victorian ladies trimmed the hem of their skirts not merely to be decorative, but to defray wear and tear from the streets. Trims could be swapped out when they became ragged, and that spared the hem from fraying. If fraying reached the hem, the skirt would be shortened for a woman of less stature, and that is one reason why Victorian clothing that has survived to this day is so small. Most of it was made smaller and smaller as it was passed down, and a grand lady's dress might end up being worn by a diminutive 12-year-old maid. (Click for more group shots from the event - this page is all about me.)
I love this photo of me sniffing a paper-mache rose in the sculpture garden on Governor's Island. The frilled shirt I wore, along with the plumed hat, lends a slight 18th-century masculine appearance to my costume. I sometimes favor 18th-century masculine attire because I do not have proper Victorian hair (Victorian ladies liked short fringed bangs and carefully styled hair). I do have great hair for an 18th century cavalier man, as well as for certain rebellious or bohemian 19th century men like Oscar Wilde, John Keats, and Wild Bill Hickock.
Closer view of the rose-sniffing shot from Ay-Leen's camera. I was imagining the scent of a fresh blown rose although it really smelled like paper!
Standing near a de-commissioned cannon in front of the Commanding Officer's Residence and showing off my feathered fan (I added the silver buttons).
Peering through a slim cannon, pretending it's a spyglass. One of the kids took this shot.
Not a very flattering photo, but I love the weathered pillars in the background.
In the sculpture garden, I was pretending to be frightened of the steel wasp sculpture, and ended up with a strange otherworldly look in my eyes.
Sitting on the leg of a sculpture entitled "The Agony of Man." He and I are quite cozy despite the agony. Notice that he's 'anatomically correct' if not terribly well-endowed!
Another photo of me sniffing the rose. This was before Ay-Leen coached me to close my eyes for a more convincing pose.
The Commanding Officer's Residence was actually our first stop on the Stroll. I don't know why I have a sort of sour-puss look on my face - I didn't realize this photo was being taken.
Inside the Commanding Officer's Residence, Dexter took this evocative portrait of me by the window.
Ay-Leen, Ginger, and I underneath the chandelier. The other ladies were coaching me about the proper way to display one's fan for photographs.
Ay-Leen, Ginger, and I underneath the chandelier. Disregard the frightfully modern photo above the fireplace behind us. I don't know why the Commanding Officer's Residence wasn't restored with period furniture and pictures. It's just a big empty house with an 'art installation' - some ugly photographs in cheap frames on the walls.
The talented Dexter took this shot of three steampunk ladies under the chandelier. He's a very creative photographer.
Looking rather blase beside a fireplace in the Commanding Officer's Residence.
Right before Kit, Xenia, Ginger, kids, et. al. left for the day. Ay-Leen, Dexter, and I stayed behind for more exploration and photo opps.
Another great shot by Dexter. I'm standing at the battlement of Fort Jay. The wind and stormy sky gives it a sort of Wuthering Heights quality.
Closer view of the windswept shot, from Ay-Leen's camera.
Click to see the group shots from the event