Written by Maddox DuPont for RUNWAY Magazine December 2008
We are technology addicts. All of us, especially you who is reading this. You love your virtual lives, your ipods all those gadgets. They let you escape, dream, perhaps imagine better life. They make you feel more fortunate than your grandma, right?
I remember the first time I held my “touchy”, freshly unwrapped and fully charged. My fingers gliding on its smooth surface, with only few clicks I had my favourite track on while checking my e-mail and making to do list of all the things that I would probably never come around doing. I felt like Tom Cruise in “Minority report”, I felt future was here and I was part of it. I imagined how far we will get in the next 10 years if I am already here experiencing this. The future is now.
Then the reality sets in and the world that looks bright with hope starts flashing its wounds to reveal that we are not all living the same tomorrow. So, I try to escape, to freeze time so that I can live in this moment forever or visit the time where I felt at home with myself, with who I am.
And sometimes I am so paralysed to do anything at all often wondering if the path I will choose will be the best one for me. After all we create future, today and every move counts. Like the clock whose ticks announces each passing moment, each breath has purpose; each coil, spring and gear pulls the time with it in eternal cause and effect game.
It is from these dreams, hopes and ponderings that Steampunk was born. Steampunk can be broadly defined by it’s fashion, technology and lifestyle set in a world where steam power was widely used, usually Victorian and Edwardian era England, and with a strong helping of science fiction and science fantasy thrown in.
It’s the alternative path, that could have happened, like H. G. Wells and his time machine, or Jules Verne’s technologies. There’s steampunk inventions like dirigibles and other flying machines, steam automobiles and a real life computer called a “Difference Engine” invented by Charles Babbage in 1822. The emphasis is on steam driven or spring and clockwork propelled gadgets or any materials consistent with the Victorian era such as polished brass, iron, and wood.
In the world where almost everything is possible; where past, future and present can exist both at the same time (and often same place), is it to anyone’s surprise that steampunk has such a great following in Second Life?
What is so exciting about steampunk is that it combines two of our favourite things: nostalgia and technology. Everyone’s interpretation can be quite different and no rules really apply as long as they contain these two elements. As you will see it is not always necessary to adorn items that come from Victorian era, the style is much more flexible than that.
In the styles that are to follow I attempt to create characters with authentic presence who are embodiment of steampunk stereotypes to which I added my own personal interpretation. My intention was to challenge your perception of this particular genre and to inspire you to create your own unique style driven by your passions or suited to an occasion. I named styles: Nobleman, Nomad, Blimp Master, Steampunk Kitty and Firefly Commander.
NOBLEMAN
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STYLE TIPS
Really quite simple outfit when you look at it. I used modern hair style which fitted well with this period costume. Boots needed to be tinted as they were grey – choose light brown color with very little saturation.
This is elegant style suited for more formal occasion.
Steampunk Submarine Vessel is made by Carrah Rossini.
BODY
SHAPE: BUCK by MADesigns (modified)
SKIN: DRAGONFLY DESIGNS ~ (Desert)Ridge After Five GQ :Hair: Smooth Body\
HAIR: Defectiva ~ Gypsy BRN
EYES: MADesigns PROMISE eyes – brown pale 10
OUTFIT
OUTFIT: Unzipped ~ Classical Badlands
MONOCOLE: LCC – victorian monocle
RING: Mhaijik ~ Steampunk Gold Etched Ring
BOOTS: Angry Monkey ~ Justice Boots
CANE: Khep’s Creations ~ Post-Apoc SteamPunk Cane v.3
NOMAD
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STYLE TIPS
I combined 2 whole outfits into one in this one. I also used helmet which comes with Sinister Designs outfit in addition to helmet from Blind Spot. I tinted all items from Blind Spot with brown to match the color of the outfit as it looked too pale in comparison. You can also add some glow to the monitor screen.
When I wore only a cloak I changed gloves to Steampunk Gloves from HC. HC is new label for combat gear and these gloves are exceptionally made.
You can also add goggles to this outfit which I did not ended up using but were originally part of this style. I used TonkTastic – Steampunk Goggles. They come with many great options for customisation and are all menu driven.
Location: Wastelands
BODY
SKIN: Gentlemen ~ Full 3
HAIR: bald by choice
EYES: MADesigns ~ PROMISE eyes – brown pale 10
TATTOO: iNFLiCT ~ Im Not Pretending *Medium*
OUTFIT
CLOTHING: Unzipped ~ Badlands4
CLOAK: Sinister Designs ~ Wasteland Warrior
GLOVES: HC ~ Steampunk gloves
SHOES: Blind Spot ~ Spoiler Limb
WEAPON: Blind Spot ~ Ge Lance /back
HELMET: Blind Spot ~ SuperMultiplet Helmet
BLIMP MASTER
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STYLE TIPS
This style is really no brainer, just wear items and adjust them to suit your body.
Location: Blimp @ Plunder
BODY
SKIN: TheAbyss ~ Scorpio_Orion[4]B Body Hair [Skullcap]
HAIR: bald by choice
EYES: MADesigns ~ PROMISE eyes – brown pale 10
TATTOO: iNFLICT ~ Titan
OUTFIT
OUTFIT: CIVVIES ~ “Scavenger” Coat Top
HAT: SiniStyle ~ Tank’D – drab
BOOTS: T.KING ~ Steampunk Brass Gear Boots
ARM: Hob Goblin ~ Brass Arm ((One Piece))
GLOVES: Angry Monkey ~ Road Warrior Glove
GOGGLES: LCC – steampunk goggles
STEAMPUNK KITTY
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STYLE TIPS
I love this style for it is eclectic – you got a bit of Scottish, Neko, SteamPunk and Rock ‘n’ Roll. I keep getting people looking under my skirt hoping for a lucky surprise.
Location: SteamForge
BODY
SKIN: Belleza ~ Ewan tan 6-E bald
HAIR: Find Ash ~ Calm Gangster[Black/gold tips]
EYES: MADesigns ~ PROMISE eyes – green pale 14
TATTOO: DEVOL ~ Tribal Hemp Tattoo 1
BODY HAIR: Body Hair Shop ~ [vdbv] – {Jack} – chest hair (black-straight-thin)
OUTFIT
KILT: The Syndicate ~ The Kurgan [Black]
TANK: World Wide Industries ~ lifted black floral tank
BOOTS: T.KING ~ Grunge Camp Kickers
TAIL: PrimtroniCS ~ Neko-Tail V1.2 Steampunk Gears III long
EARS: T.KING ~ Steampunk Brass Neko Ears
EYE PATCH: Last Eden ~ Goggle patch MALE
CUFFS: T.KING Grunge Camp Paw Cuff (large) & T.KING ~ Grunge Camp Paw Watch (large)
GUITAR: Hob Goblin ~ Steam-Punk Shredder Guitar
FIREFLY COMMANDER
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I already spoke about this style in my preview post so not much to say here apart from that at the bottom you would find information on Bike and Gun used for this shoot.
Location: Muism Fashion Show set @ KMADD City
BODY
SKIN: -Belleza- Ewan tan 6-E
HAIR: bald
EYES: MADesigns NATURALS – happy blue pale eyes
OUTFIT
COAT: Last Eden ~ Serial Killer Trench
SHIRT: Last Eden ~ Please Stand By
PANTS: Last Eden ~ Outlander Pants (Skinny)
HAT: Last Eden ~ Commissar hat skull an Cross Bones
BOOTS: [T.KING] ~ Steampunk Badlands Nemesis III Boots
BRACES: [T.KING] Spiked Bracers
EARINGS: Multi Earrings Skull (right) (models own)
NAILS: SiniStyle Taped Fingers & Black Nails (Index, Middle, Pinky)
GUN: T.KING ~ Steampunk Reactor Cannon II
BIKE: T.KING ~ Steampunk Badlands Terra-Bike
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