Trashionista group in Flickr

As you know I´m admin of a group called TRASHIONISTA - Sustainable style and recycled fashion in Flickr. We have over 1000 members so far! I created this group to support sustainable fashion thinking and all you crafty trashionistas out there. If you have made, sewn, knitted, reconstructed fashion pieces, clothes or accessories from recycled materials or eco-friendly materials, this group is for you. Come and show us your talent! Thank you for all who have contributed so far. Below some of my favorites. Reduce Repair Reuse Recycle - TRASHION!

Dress and hat by Sunshine Loves You



Recycled fabric bunny called Betty by JunkerJane.


Patchwork dress by eviegreenpixie.


Reconstructed dress and zipper corset by LoriMarsha.



Knit reconstruction by -astronette-


String scarf by psarokokalo.



Converse belt by rachelyra.

Steampunk fashion part 1 - the clothes

Steampunk fashion photography by Kat Bret. Check out also her website.

I have to write more about steampunk and especially the fashion/clothing aspect of it since it´s pretty much the only thing I´ve been thingking about for the past few days. Unlike it´s sister-gendres cyberpunk and goth, steampunk is not dark, gloomy or spooky but innovative, elegant and beautiful. Propably the best online source is Flickr group Steampunk Fashion. Also check out Steampunk Clothing Collective.


Photo. Photography copyright Vorpal Images, 2008.

Steampunk devotees are almost always DIY people. They sew and assemble their own fashions, an imaginative mix of neo-Victorian, Edwardian and military style accented with sometimes crudely mechanized details and accessories like brass goggles, harnesses, clockwork pendants and of course the mandatory decorative steampunk ray gun dangling at the hip. Steampunk style is corseted and high-buttoned with crinolines, waistcoats, high-arced sleeves and top hats, bowler hats or aviator caps. Sort of 1890 "academical-inventor-chic" that you wear to a Jules Verne teaparty or a Time Travellers ball.



Photos by Amanda Scrivener. The green dress is made from charity shop curtains. Steampunk trashion...


Image via Wikipedia


Photo via Erwinevol.com

The thing that I admire most about steampunk fashions, is that as the gendre demands they must do a lot of research to get it right. You know, visit museums and libraries! Unfortunately no brand or webstore covers steampunker´s fashion needs complitely. After three hours of www-surfing all I found was Gypsymoon, Abneypark, Ebay and Etsy. Let me know if you know more links! Few patterns can be bought online (see links below). I would imagine that since "steampunk" gets almost 2,9 million hits in Google someone would set up a shop soon. The consumers are there!


Photo by TheCassettes



Photos by hmschronabelle


Photo by Suzanna


Steampunk corset dress by Scoundrelle


Steampunk corset by Scoundrelle


Steampunk corset by Louise Black


Victorian hat available from Ebay.

Steampunk fashion links:
Dreadnought Designs
Lorimarsha
Ms.Antiorder
Jaborwhalky

Victorian pattern links:
Dover Publications
Farthingales Historic patterns
Oldpatterns.com
Westernersoutfitter

A passion for lace

Vintage lace ages beautifully. Just like wine it just becomes better the older it gets. There is always a romantic feminine feel present and it just needs to be touched. Here are some of my lace-favorites from this weeks surfing.

Lace in trees - The Magnolia Project: (by Poppalina)


Colored lace earrings: modesign.etsy.com


Lace and mixed media cuffs by Robes of Earth

Back to the Future - Steampunk inspiration

It seems I have been a fan of Steampunk for years. I just never knew what this style/gendre was called until today. Steampunk is 19th century victorian fashions (tophats, taicoats, bustiers, corsets) and industrial styled design mixed with future-like gadgets. According to Wikipedia, the term steampunk denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. “What the past would have been like if the future hadn’t happened so quickly“.


Steampunk laptop by Datamancer


(photo by fatalattraction)

William Gibson's 1982 novel Neuromancer is generally considered to be the first example of a literary form called cyberpunk. This science fiction subgenre places computers, networks, and electronics (the cyber- part) inside a future that is anarchic and often dystopian (the punk part; from the anarchic, dystopian punk rock music of the mid- to late-70s). Move the setting to the past, especially the Victorian age, take out the electronics and replace them with mechanical devices, especially elaborate, steam-powered contraptions, and you have a new genre: steampunk. This gendre has been applied to films such as Wild, Wild West, Brazil, City of Lost Children, Timemachine, Golden Compass, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and even Edward Scissorhands.




(photo by teelakallisto


Necklaces by Professor Quentin Ziplash


(photo by a_clockwork_zero)


Ring by JewelsofLuxury.etsy.com

If this gendre intrests you, just search the word "steampunk" from Flickr, YouTube, Etsy or Google. Prepare for hours of surfing... Etsy alone carries almost 4000 steampunk related items. I found so much inspiring stuff that I decided to post only a few pictures and a looong list of links.

Steampunk inspiration and wearables:
Steampunk Gear Flickr group
Steampunk Flickr group
Steampunk Fashion Flickr group
Etsy Steampunk Flickr group
Steampunk style article in The Star
Steampunk Workshop blog
MadArtJewelry
SteampunkLab blog - Projects
Brassgoggles blog
katbret_photography steampunk picture set
A_Clockwork_Zero jewelry gallery
Steampunk SF Photoshoot 2008 by JLinto
Steampunk fashions by Dreadnought Designs
lilibat mistress of Antimony & Lace's photostream
Wyldfire Studios steampun apron

Steampunk interior & object design:
Steampunk lamps by Frank Buchwald
Customized steampunk keyboards by Datamancer
Steampunk watches by Haruo Suekichi
Steampunk Home interior blog
Steampunk weaponry by Wetanz
Steampunk clocks by Marcel Betricey
Steamunk computer mouse
Tom Sepe's Steampunk Motorbike
Atonefabrik goggles

Steampunk inspiration:


Steampunk iPhone case:

Trashion traffic

LAMPONI LAMPS Made From Recycled Motorcycle Parts

Jewelry from reused car parts by HiOctane Jewelry:

99 pages of inspiration!

I have many inspiration books. I collect magazine clippings, scetches and other ideas in them. Every project starts here. I uploaded yeasterday 99 pages more to my Inspiration Scrapbook set at Flickr. Loads to read (total 256 pages) and browse through there so check them out! Remember that all images can be viewed in actual size by clicking "all sizes" and choosing large or original.

Also check out group www.flickr.com/groups/inspirationbook/