Steampunk dinner

[vilakins]

Behold: just in time for the last steampunk post, an icon showing me in wig, leather helmet, obligatory steampunk goggles, and raygun. The raygun also has its own icon.

On Saturday night I attended the League of Victorian Imagineers Mess Dinner, a huge function full of adults having fun cosplaying and just plain playing. There were hobbyhorse and teacup races* and a bizarre and illogical murder mystery with about 12 corpses.

* Teacup races? See this Victorian picture for the idea. Contestants were selected ladies wearing corsets, but they only had to balance one (empty) cup and saucer.


Lady with blinged-up Dalek handbag. Yes, it did say, "EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE!"





Yesterday it was the Moments in Time fashion parade at the Opera House in which contestants also have to have a story about their persona. I didn't take photos as I knew they wouldn't come out well, but the overall winner was a chap in top hat and goggles - and a wonderfully retro spacesuit. The fire angel with wings he could ratchet out to be HUGE was also wonderful; hey, they all were!

Afterwards I had coffee with Katelin from Budapest (now living here).



Katelin and her magnificent hat


It's not fur, but feathers. Peacock and ostrich?

Links to the Otago Daily Times reporting (I didn't make the cut, I'm relieved to say):

• Eighth Steampunk festival biggest yet - shows Katey and the Viscount at tea duelling
• Steampunk spectacle - has photos of several events if you scroll through them
• Two time travellers visit from faraway - a couple from Wisconsin whom I kept running into at the tea duelling, dinner, and show.

That's it for this year, but it's board games night tonight so that's good.

Comments

[watervole]

Looks like a lot of fun!

[vilakins]

Something to leaven winter!

[lost_spook]

Aw, it does all look very enjoyable, and the costumes are impressive! Thanks for sharing. :-)

[vilakins]

It was great, with lots of fun people.

[clocketpatch]

Those photos are magnificent.

[vilakins]

Thanks! It was so much fun. I wish it lasted longer than three days.

That's a very eponymous icon you have there!

[pebblerocker]

It looks like such fun! Great outfits all round.

[vilakins]

I wish it had been longer than three days!

[gwendraith]

Great pix again. I love the Dalek handbag!

[vilakins]

It's a fun piece! Her friend had a little brass birdcage with a fake bird in it. :-)

Perfect icon!

[judo100]

Thanks for the photos! I wish I could be there too. Steampunk goggles are a must, indeed. I love the thought that everyone there seemed to be in costume.

I definitely need a blinged-up Dalek handbag that says, "EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE!" Where do you suppose you get one? I may have to make my own.

[vilakins]

A lot of people here own Victorian costumes anyway as it's a big thing here, and all they need to do is add goggles and some other extras. Many people came from out of town and even overseas though. It's a great opportunity to dress up and play, more so than the Victorian festival in November which isn't anywhere near as downright playful.

She made her own. It looks as if she removed the top and added material, felt, and various bits of bling. A lot of the steampunkers I met had made their own outfits and equipment. One described what she'd added to the right lens of her goggles, building it out with found metal bits and finishing with the top of a tin salt shaker. :-)

[mab_browne]

Cool, and that is indeed a magnificent hat.

[vilakins]

She says she wears it for the Steampunk and Victorian festivals, weddings, and other special occasions; very versatile.

I own a lot of hats: leather and tweed flat caps, fedoras, and a trilby and I really should wear them more often down here. Unlike in Auckland, people would are much more accepting of eccentricity.

[tjoel2]

Wow. You definitely go to some interesting events!