#waistcoats weaponry
If your carriage is hijacked en route to finishing school (as carriages so often are) by flywaymen who aim to rob or kidnap you (as flywaymen so often do), this flowchart will help to define your fate.
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If ever there were a lady of quality who could transform a shoulder pad into a stylish hat, it is the author of Waistcoats & Weaponry.
Gail Carriger returns to Finishing Fashion Week to reveal more secrets behind some of her favorite accessories so that we, too, can dress to the very height of steampunk fashion.
1. Tiny Hat
Because I am so often flying to steampunk events, having small hats is key. It is rather difficult to travel with overly large head embellishments in this day and age. Yes, I am aware this particular hat is quite ridiculous. But, hey, it can also be used as a duster! I made it using an old shoulder pad and a large feather cluster rescued from some ignominious thrift store fate. The shoulder pad technique is popular in the retro community and I simply repurposed it for steampunk. All your DIYs belong to us!
2. Watch
OK, I admit, I bought this necklace watch just because I thought it was so pretty. These days you can find them in many online stores. I like the necklace option because I can wear it as such or hook it onto the belt and stick it in a pocket instead. I find that at events I always need to know what time it is, and this works a treat.
3. Utensils
Food, my one true passion. I admit to having a bit of an obsession with the lowly spoon. I’m particularly fond of the ones that look like perfect little round bowls stuck on the ends of sticks. I have no logical explanation for this. Anyway, for nearby-conventions I have this utensil kit I strap to my belt acquired many years ago at a local Renaissance Faire (What? You’re surprised?). For away-conventions, when the knife proves a challenge to transport, I just pack the little teaspoon on a chain and clip. At first it was just for fun, but you would not believe how useful I’ve found it. I’m contemplating just wearing a spoon on my person at all times. But a girl can get a reputation like that. Not sure what kind of a reputation, but still…
4. Pouch
When I’m not wearing a pocket belt, I need something to carry stuff in (phone, cards, money, tiny squids and other snacks, as you do). I picked up this fab little pouch from Oberon Designat a faire years ago. (What? OK, OK, I worked there.) I added a few steampunk embellishments and an extra D-ring or two, and with one of those bolt snaps I can clip it to most parts of me.
More from FINISHING FASHION WEEK here.
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For a lady of covert activities, a cleverly noosed cravat can be as deadly as a bladed fan or a well-applied crumpet. Unless you’re wearing burgundy gloves, you’ll want avoid weapons likely to produce excess blood, and the cravat promises a minimal risk of damage to one’s attire. (Blood is just near to impossible to get out of silk!)
Let us only hope your adversary is without an Anti-Garroting Cravat, which are all the rage among gentlemen targets these days. They make finishing so terribly inconvenient, and force a lady to resort to far messier alternatives.
Discover more from Finishing Fashion Weekhere.
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Congratulations,dragonlov1, you have penned the winning caption for our second Finish the Lesson caption contest!
Just think! Exposed ankles and petticoats! A lady fraternizing with with werewolves and technology! Mauled guests and chucked trifle! There’s no doubt, this ball was a resounding success.
dragonlov1 please contact us here, so we may send you (and a friend) copies of Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series, including Book the Third: Waistcoats & Weaponry (now on bookshelves everywhere!).
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No point in shilly-shallying about with pleasantries this evening, students, there is fashion to be discussed!
Back by popular demand, Waistcoats & Weaponry author Gail Carriger returns to highlight more of her favorite and most useful steampunk accessories.
1. Pocket Belt
In the grand scheme of useful accessories, this is my most useful. You can buy some beautiful pocket belts around the interwebs, or you can make your own from an old pair of cargo pants (I know…more cargo pants, but they really are very good starters for steampunking).
2. Bolt Snaps
Perhaps not so notable in and of themselves, but the best solution I have found for clipping all my favorite accessories to my belt or corset are these bronze double ended bolt snaps. You can get these handy little guys in various sizes, styles, and finishes online, from a local hardware store, or from a marine supply shop. I happen to find this particular design the most useful.
3. Magnification Lens
I can’t remember where I picked up this little field lens, but I think it’s adorable. It’s just a bit of a magnifier, and it telescopes closed. I have used it to take a closer look at items in a dealer’s room, but it’s mostly just for show. I really love it because it reminds me of my former life as an archaeologist.
More from FINISHING FASHION WEEK hereandhere.
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Today’sFINISHING FASHION WEEK post reminds us that garrotes can be quite stylish and are the perfect accessory for finishing one’s enemy, especially at the opera. (Only make certain you sit directly behind your quarry. Very inconvenient to throttle one’s adversary when seated in front of them.)
if you choose to make the garrote your trademark weapon, you’ll require several in different colors to match all your outfits – but what a perfect excuse to go shopping in London!
For more FINISHING FASHION WEEK see POST No. 1 written by Finishing School author gailcarriger, and tune in tomorrow for more on the fashionably side of matters deadly.
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In honor of tomorrow’s release of Finishing School Book the Third: Waistcoats & Weaponry, this week has been declared FINISHING FASHION WEEK.
Throughout we’ll provide tips, tricks & lessons on how one may use fashion to confuse, manipulate, deceive, disguise, defend, seduce and, of course, finish.
To begin our week of finishing fashion, we have been graced with the presence of our favorite author with an eye for accessories, Ms. Gail Carriger.
They say the devil is in the details, but I say the steampunk is in the details. It’s the little touches to any costume (or any cosplay for that matter) that strike a cord with others. I don’t know about you, but I dress up so that I can meet and mingle with fellow enthusiasts. I want people to ask me why I have teaspoons attached to the neckline of my favorite corset. (My answer: Who doesn’t want spoons on their boobs?)
The best steampunk outfits that I’ve seen employ tiny details and nifty tricks to bring out the personality of the wearer or the character they are portraying. Since I am an author who is awfully fond of tea, most of the details in my outfits hint at writing or the sacred beverage. However, I also nod in the direction of my books and my former profession. That’s part of the fun of steampunk—hinting at persona with apparel.
Here are a few of my very favorite and most useful steampunk accessories…
1. Holster
My parasol holster is made from an old pair of cargo shorts. You can adapt the idea for any oddball accessory you may have from a Nerf-modded steampunk gun to a wine bottle or a burrito (I support the idea of packing food at all times).
2. Goggles
Yes goggles and steampunk get a bad rap, but I still love them. I go so far as to mock the pervasiveness of this accessory in my books. (In my final Finishing School book, the young ladies of quality wear floating goggles while cutting onions.) However, it doesn’t stop me from being the proud owner of my very own pair. But here’s the thing, they have that little twist that make them me-ish – they have tea strainers for lenses. So useful! Brute Force Studios made these goggles, but it’s pretty fun to make your own using found objects that have meaning to you.
3. Fan
Speaking of Brute Force Studios, I love their leather fan. Perhaps not the most practical accessory but one thing I have learned at conventions is that temperatures vary widely. If a girl can arrange her costume to be cool in some rooms and warm in others, it’s never a bad thing. This fan is always welcome. I love it so much I mailed it to my publisher in the hopes that it might be part of the cover of my latest book. And they used it! They added blades because my character is a spy meets assassin, thus blades must be part of the equation. However, I’m glad mine is just leather, otherwise I’d never get it through TSA.
Tune in all week for more on the fashionable side of matters deadly.
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Welcome to Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy, the Empire’s premier institution for proper young killing machines.
Follow us for lessons in etiquette and espionage as taught in Gail Carriger’s bestselling book series, Finishing School.
To begin your education in the fine of finishing others, start reading here.
Congratulations to beigeloquatious, winner of our first “Finish the Lesson” caption contest.
Very prettily said, my dear. Please contact us here, so we may send you and your best friend copies of Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series, including Book the Third: Waistcoats & Weaponry (out November 4th).
As for the rest of you, there’s still time to finish the second lesson! Complete it here.
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Horse-drawn carriages make way! Finishing school is back in session in one week. Preview the required reading here.
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Gather your quills, students, it’s time to complete another caption!
Reblog or reply with the lesson the lady learned in the illustration above. The author of our favorite caption (and their friend) shall receive FREE copies of Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series, including Book the Third: Waistcoats & Weaponry (out November 4th).
The winning caption shall be reblogged in one week’s time.
(And in case you’ve missed it, there’s still time to finish Tuesday’s lesson! Complete it here.)
Now tell us: What did the lady learn above?
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For two years our finishing instructors have taught you such valuable life lessons as how to properly faint,defeat a vampire and ride a werewolf.
The time has now come to apply your finishing skills.
Reblog or reply with what you feel the lady has learned in the illustration above, and the author of our favorite caption (and their friend) shall receive complimentary copies of Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series, including Book the Third: Waistcoats & Weaponry (out November 4th).
The winning caption shall be reblogged in one week’s time. As always, deceit, manipulation, and any other means of thwarting your competition is highly encouraged. Just be certain not to muss your hair.
Now finish the lesson: What did the lady learn?
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A lady is always prepared. Finishing school is back in session November 4th. Preview the required reading here.
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Gather your poison, steel tipped quill, and the rest of your finishing school supplies and prepare to return to Mademoiselle Geraldine’s.Waistcoats & Weaponry, the third rousing installment of gailcarriger‘s New York Times bestsellingFinishing School Series, is on the way!
Classes resume November 4, 2014.
Pre-Order Today: B&N|BAM |Indiebound |iBooks
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