Here is my Steampunk project for DragonCon 2009.
So I wanted to go to DragonCon a few years ago as Queen Victoria....
So I made a corset, chemise, and drawers...and ran out of time to do the dress.
Then I was pregnant last year for DragonCon, so a Victorian corset outfit was out.
Here is the bustle, how did this EVER get to be the style anywhere? But it is super-fun to wear.
Also, I'm wearing my wedding earrings. I didn''t think I would wear them again, but Victoria needs a lot of bling.
Then, to keep your bustle wires from showing, you need another petticoat.
I splurged on trim and made my first ever tucks. I love the effect...plus, apparently the Victorians used the tucks not only as decoration, but to stiffen the petticoat to support the bulky skirts.
Then, I saw all the awesome Steampunk costumes and I knew what I wanted to do…Steampunk Victoria.
I got all of this broze taffeta for about $15 at a fabric warehouse sale. It was five yards of double wide taffeta. I didn't know what I was going to use it for, but it is the perfect color for Steampunk. (p.s. I know Queen Victoria is known for wearing black, but this is a still-married-to-Albert version of Victoria)
I made the trim for the neckline, sleeves, and jacket bottom by making a 30 yard tube of the fabric and gathering it to form a ruffle. It took forever to turn the tube inside out.
The selvedge edge of the fabric had about an 8 inch space where there was no decoration, so I used it to make the ruffle on the bottom of the skirt.
There is a basque waist on the bustle, but it is hard to see in the picture.
Here is my Queen Victoria sash with Steampunk-ish medals. I also made a Victorian chatelaine to hold important accessories.
The rest of the accessories are in the works...
Here is the dress in the Friday Night Costume Contest at DragonCon. I had a really good time and met a whole bunch of costume people.
Everyone was doing steampunk this year. My friend Steve and I did Victoria and Lincoln. Here we are with the SteamPunk X-Men.
...and Steampunk Boba Fett
There were also some solders fresh from the trenches of the Marne.
Here are my bustle accessories.