Gearing Up

Some recent discussion on Steam Fashion on the subject of chatelaines interested me in further exploring the topic.

A chatelaine is an accessory commonly worn by women in the Victorian and earlier eras, often as a precursor to the purse. They began as the keyring worn by the householder’s wife in medieval times, and by the Victorian era the chatelaine most often consisted of a handful of small accessories attached by short chains to a pin or ring attached to a lady’s belt. A Victorian lady might be seen wearing a small pouch, a mirror, sewing accoutrements like a needle case or pin cushion.

I’m sure you are already thinking of ways to steam up a chatelaine! It’s really a very useful piece to carry in everyday life. Skeleton keys are both traditional and awesome-looking. Miniature screwdrivers and wrenches could join the more ladylike scissors, and a clear needle case might be replaced by a similar-looking small, clear container that contained any matter of useful substances. A Fisher space pen, while not cheap, would look quite at home as well. The specific tools carried can convey a lot about you, your hobbies, and what you feel you need at your side every day.

Incidentally, there is a precident for similar fashion in China:

Upper outer garments of women reached beyond the knees at the end of Guangxu reign. Some skirts were attached with 16 to 20 ribbons, with small silver bells tied at the end of every ribbon. Some gold or silver ornaments such as earpicks, toothpicks and small nippers were hung on the front part of garments.

The same “steamy” elements could be added to these beribboned skirts for those young ladies who seek adventure during the twilight of the Chinese empire.

In an earlier discussion on Steam Fashion, the idea of a Gentleman’s Chatelaine also came up. The one Sadeian Research produced for the community is very dashing as well as demonstrating that the chatelaine looks good and is practical for both genders.

The heart of any good fashion is in the details, and the chatelaines offer the opportunity for a fine range of beautiful and useful details that can really help bring a costume to life.

In case you haven’t heard, the online fiction magazine Imaginary Beasts is currently accepting steampunk-themed short fiction and art for the May issue. The deadline for fiction submission in May 10th, and for art is May 24th. I’ve already signed up and I’ll be writing about my project here as we get a little closer to the deadline.

Of course, any steampunk fiction collection leads to the inevitable discussion of what makes fiction steampunk. (It’s not quite so easy as gluing some gears to the manuscript, after all.) The key piece of any steampunk worldbuilding must be the technology. Steampunk without steam - that is, without modern or future technology incorporated in a Victorian-era-esque setting - is just gaslamp fantasy. While gaslamp fantasy is also fun and enjoyable, it’s not what we’ve set out to look for, now is it?

In any sub-genre of science fiction, it’s the job of a good author to find the delicate balance between overwhelming the reader with too many details and telling a story in a world that’s either too confusing or too boring for the reader to latch on. The best way to give a world depth without drowning the reader is to have a wealth of small details at the ready, but put them in only when they accent the scene.

For example, if Lady Windermere is enjoying a vacation out near the moors, you might note the mechanized butler fanning her, the steam-powered coach that takes her to the vicar’s house for dinner, or the fancy new Aetherweb Telediscussion Device she had installed so that her daughter can send pictures of her grandchildren from London. Each of these would give a different flavor to the setting, and each could be mentioned off-handedly when Lady Windermere was using that particular device.

Of course, the best fiction calls for solid characters first and foremost. Worldbuilding is important, but without interesting characters, even the most fascinating world might as well be empty.

Goggles are, of course, the penultimate steampunk accessory. (The ultimate steampunk fashion accessories, in case you’re curious, are gears.) It’s become almost a joke, as all standards do, and yet a good pair of goggles is often the first thing someone new to the subculture looks for. There are many, many beautiful goggles out there - most of which are priced appropriately for the workmanship that’s gone into them. I love a pair of gorgeous, hand-crafted brass goggles as much as the next person, but many of us can’t afford goggles running $50, $100, or even more. People new to the subculture may not want to invest that much in their first accessory. (Or heck, we may just want some left over for boots…)

With that in mind, I’ve collected some links to a variety of interesting goggles available for under $20 - many run under $10. Not all of them are ready to go out of the box. A little paint or accessorizing will steam them up considerably, but any of them should do for a starter set.

If you don’t want to buy online, or you’re out for a bargain, check out your local antique shops. Vintage welding goggles in both the “goggle” and the “safety glasses” varieties can often be found for less than $10 and sometimes even come in their original packaging. I’ve gotten most of my goggles in this manner, but I know not everyone has access to well-stocked (and decently priced) antique shops. So on that note - on to the links!

1. US Forge Shaded Brazing Goggles
   These are a nice basic pair of goggles. If you want the standard, these will do you.
2. Fibre Metal Safety Goggles
   The green lenses on these goggles would add a great touch of color to an outfit.
3. Dust Goggles
   Not obviously steampunk, no, but some painted details would go a long way on these basically sleek goggles.
4. Red Baron Goggles
   Ideal for pilots, sky pirates, and various other sorts who find themselves in control of zeppelins and planes from time to time.
5. WWII Replica Motorcycle Goggles
   Again, excellent for the dashing sort of person who may have taken my advice in finding a bomber jacket.
6. Korean War Surplus Goggles
   Strictly speaking, a bit late, but these goggles are big and unwieldy looking, great for small people who want big props that make them look crazier, and perfect if you’re expecting large explosions.
7. Swiss Motorcycle Goggles
   Unlike most pairs, these actually fold up into a small tin when you’re not using them, and often are intended to tie in the back rather than have elastic. I have a pair I keep in my bag for emergencies. You know, goggle emergencies.
8. Multi-colored Lens Goggles
   Perfect for the mad scientist who wants goggles to match his most outlandish outfit. You may want to give these a quick coat of paint, too.
9. Welding Goggle with Flip-Up Lens
   This is a shape and style of goggle you don’t see very often, so if you want something eye-catching and unique, these square-lensed goggles might be the way to go.
10. When In Doubt, DIY.
    It is, in fact, possible to make your own goggles. If you look around, you’ll find lots of different ideas for parts, but which is best for you depends on how much time you want to put in and what sorts of parts you have lying around.

Know of any other great goggles that aren’t too expensive? I’d love to see them! Please drop a link in the comments.