Mainstream Steam Punk?

[3113]

So there's the new Sherlock Holmes movie where they seem to be playing up the action-hero-steampunk angle. And there's also a new romance movie on young Queen Victoria which is going to be featuring late 1830's clothing styles if nothing else.

You know, in one of my favorite South Park episodes, Goths complain that the vampire fans have "bogarted" their style as they see the vampire fans dressing just like them.

Do you think mainstream Hollywood has discovered steampunk? Do you think the world will be "bogarting" steampunk's style? Are we moving out of the retro-60's look and heading all the way back to the mid-to-late 1800's? Will we be seeing top hats and bowlers, cravats, pocket watches? The boots are already out there, and also the tight trousers, all it would take is the right shirts, vests and jackets.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Uh, pocket watches have been cool for a decade or more and if you were to check out a catalog called Hartford York, you would see that bowlers and toppers are readily available. I much prefer cravats to neckties so all we'd need to do is start with a good frock coat. Oh, those are on the market, too.

Perhaps this is nothing more than the fashion mavens finally waking up.

Now about a deerstalker and riding cloak for rainy days . . .

 

[voluptuary_manque]

frock coat suit . . .



http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/frocksuit.jpg


One could develop a taste for these, perhaps?

 

[3113]

I know such things have always been available, but I also know that they're not part of the mainstream. That's what I meant about "bogarting" the style. There are plenty of "Steampunk" fans (or just Victoriana fans) who wear bowlers and carry pocket watches. But you don't see such items for sale at Macy's in either women's or men's wear section.

On the other hand, you DO see jackets and other paraphernalia that looks very 60's as that is the retro-style that is being bogarted at the moment. In the purse section of Macy's there are fringed bags with peace signs on them, for example, at reasonable prices that almost anyone can afford and buy and have on them.

What I'm asking is if anyone here thinks Steampunk style is going to go mainstream rather than remaining an eccentric style of the sci-fi/fantasy community? Are these movies heralding that style becoming more mainstream?

That such clothing is readily available doesn't mean it's readily worn by most people. I'm talking about it being readily available, considered stylish, and readily worn by people who had no interest in wearing it previously.

 

[THROBBS]

of course it will...is.

Vests have already been making a comeback. It's always something.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

My take on this is that a Steampunk era fashion will likely be biggest across the northern tier and in the Northeast. Victorian dress was just the ticket for rainy ol' Blighty but here in SoCal, it's too damned hot. Now if some kind fashion sort would start making such clothing available in tropical worsted I'd be right interested . . . once I ditch another 15 lbs!

BTW, do you know of any good sources for 'gentlemen's previously owned clothing'? I know where one used to be but that was years ago. I dream of Armani at Sears prices . . .

 

[IrezumiKiss]

I don't think rocking the old-timey/steampunk style of fashion will make any significant waves outside of artsy/hipster circles, who have already been doing so for quite a while now, more with the flair-ish grooming than anything else. Especially during cold weather months. At least for outerwear, people tend to be more utilitarian, until they get to the party and can take their North Face jackets off.

 

[Stella_Omega]

BTW, do you know of any good sources for 'gentlemen's previously owned clothing'? I know where one used to be but that was years ago. I dream of Armani at Sears prices . . .

Salvation Army plus persistence, really. The one near me seems to get quite a lot of the good stuff; I have a Blass tux jacket, and a pristine 60's vintage Pierre Cardin tweed, and each of them cost me ten bucks. There often are complete suits. You have to develop your rack-skimming technique, and be willing to leave empty-handed as often as not.

If you're willing to pay more for a more surer thing, there are a number of resale shops around. There are some flashy ones on Melrose Avenue, and the clothes come from the high-priced spreads-- Bev Hills, Belair etc.

 

[cloudy]

My favorite winter coat hasn't gone out of style for close to 200 years, I guess...and they last forever - I've had mine for close to 16 years, and it looks better now than it did when it was brand new. It's a brown oilcloth western duster with a zip out lining.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Salvation Army plus persistence, really. The one near me seems to get quite a lot of the good stuff; I have a Blass tux jacket, and a pristine 60's vintage Pierre Cardin tweed, and each of them cost me ten bucks. There often are complete suits. You have to develop your rack-skimming technique, and be willing to leave empty-handed as often as not.

If you're willing to pay more for a more surer thing, there are a number of resale shops around. There are some flashy ones on Melrose Avenue, and the clothes come from the high-priced spreads-- Bev Hills, Belair etc.

Ah! That's the sources I was looking for. Melrose Ave? I'll note that and make a couple of expeditions come Spring. Gotta lose another 15 lbs. first.

 

[xssve]

It's all part of the great marketing cycle of life.

Neo Victorian is probably the most popular form of architecture for McMansions, and has been for some time - it replaced the split level ranch house as far back as the Eighties - Victorian architecture and interior decorating have several magazines devoted to them, and they've been around for a while.

Act now and you can get in on the Classical Greek revival at the top of the curve.

 

[THROBBS]

TOGA!
TOGA!,TOGA!,TOGA!,TOGA!,TOGA!,TOGA!,TOGA!,TOGA!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Bumped for jagged

 

[Jagged]

Thank you....Victorian Lady

 

[Stella_Omega]

Thank you....Victorian Lady

...Lady? Sirrah, you offend.

I ain't no motherfuckin' lady.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'll bet there are some mothers out there in the area who would disagree with that!


And maybe a father or two . . .

 

[Stella_Omega]

No, I swear-- I haven't fucked a mother since I left Chicago. Just sorta worked out that way...

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Funny how things turn out, then. *nods sagely*