All posts tagged: steampunk

Friday Rave: Things Unseen Jewellery

Mr Dreamy got me the best Valentines Day present ever this year.  It is a custom floral necklace by my favourite jeweller, Nini of Things Unseen. Nini is based in Wellington, and her line sells in a couple of posh shops in town, such as Rex Royale, and on etsy, but if you want to be able to buy any of her really good stuff you have to get up very early: anytime she shows up at a jewellery or craft fair she sells out, and there is a little mini-riot in front of her stall as everyone tries to get their hands on a fabulous piece of jewellery. Of course, you can circumvent all of that by contacting her in person and getting a custom piece, which is what Mr D did. Lucky me! Nini’s jewellery is steampunk, with an elegant, feminine, and very witty twist.  She uses cogs and gears and bees and dragonflies and all sorts of other fabulous stuff. She uses other motifs too.  I particularly like her hare line.  (hehe …

The Corset Model Class of 2011

I got photographs of all the models wearing their corsets on Saturday against a plain cement wall. Every time I have looked at the photos since then, I have cracked up. They remind me of the kind of pictures you take in Elementary School for a ‘me, myself, and I’ project. You have the kid who can’t stop grinning, the kid who closes their eyes in every picture, the kid who won’t smile because they think they look better without one (that would have been me), the kid who won’t stand still for even a moment, and the kid who probably should have been a model. We all look ridiculous, and absolutely gorgeous, all at the same time.  It’s a total celebration of personality, and all the different facets of beauty that exist. Without further ado, I present Ms Oakes’ Corset Model Class of 2011. And finally, the erstwhile instructress: Ladies, you can teach me anytime!

Those crazy Victorians – take 3: Sanitary toe socks

Remember toe socks?  Those 70’s monstrosities that became a fad again in the 1990s?  It turns out they weren’t a new invention! Click on the image to learn more than you ever wanted to know about weird Victorian health regimens. I now must find a way to incorporate toe socks into a steampunk ensemble.  I wonder if you could have steampunk-esque slippers?  Or sandals?  In an awful way, I’m liking the idea of ‘crunchy’ steampunk.  Enter the steampunk hippies! * If you are wondering what ‘Take 1’ and ‘Take 2’ were, check out these posts.