FASHION WITH TESSA--GUEST AUTHOR SIBELLE STONE & STEAMPUNK FASHION

Steampunk Hussy

Author Sibelle Stone joined us a few weeks ago to talk about her latest release, the steampunk romance Prudence and the Professor, and educate us on exactly what the steampunk genre is. Today Sibelle is back to discuss another element of steampunk—fashion. Learn more about Sibelle and her books at her website. 

Steampunk Fashion Inspiration

I came to the steampunk world via a local gathering—Steamcon—and discovered how much I loved the artistry of creating the fashions.

Coat from cover photo shoot

My first experience with dressing in steampunk style was five years ago, when a friend asked me if I wanted to attend the first Steamcon event. I really didn’t know much about steampunk, but the cost of the weekend was cheap, it sounded like fun, so I went along.

I searched my closet after looking at a few websites and assembled my own version of steampunk costuming. I had a full-length leather skirt, a lace shirt, some Victorian jewelry and a bowler hat. It must have been pretty close, because later my friends and I won a costume photo contest as “steampunk hussies.”

Since then I’ve broken out the sewing machine, found items at the Goodwill, created my own jewelry and discovered some great pieces at antique stores. The culture of steampunk is DIY and “modding” (this means to modify something to become steampunk.) For many of those who love the aesthetic of steampunk, it’s a good part of the fun!

While on vacation with my husband we always stop at antique stores, and when I climbed some stairs at a store and discovered a beaver top hat in a locked cabinet, I knew it was going home with me. But, the store owner didn’t have the key! I was very persuasive and he decided since the hat belonged to his sister, the sale was more important than the lock.

I’ve fallen back on my years of sewing to create several outfits. This was a painstaking project, a lined full-length coat, and my enthusiasm disappeared when I realized the finished project was too small. I hadn’t paid enough attention to the measurements on the pattern. The coat was part of the steampunk photo shoot for my book cover for Prudence and the Professor.

Pinkie Pie

This past year, I created an outfit I refer to as “Pinkie Pie” in honor of my granddaughter’s favorite “My Little Pony.” I wanted to move away from the black/gray/brown color scheme, because Victorian’s loved color. There were new dyes in the late 1800’s, and for the first time people of all income levels could enjoy wearing colorful clothing.

What does it take to create a steampunk outfit? There are so many variations now, that you can let your imagination go wild. First you should think about your character, who do you want to be? Then create a list of things to collect or make. Long skirt or short? Bustle or petticoats? Pants? Vests? And while goggles are not mandated, they are a lot of fun. Search Google images and Pinterest for inspiration, then get creative.

Note: In honor of my recent release: Prudence and the Professor I’m offering my first Sibelle Stone book, Whistle Down the Wind, free on Amazon, February 21 - 24. Download it here. 

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--GUEST AUTHOR SIBELLE STONE

Sibelle Stone is the pseudonym for award-winning romance author Deborah Schneider. As Deborah she writes Western and Americana romance novels. As Sibelle Stone she writes historical romance with paranormal elements, (things like magic, witches and evil Druids) and Steampunk with incredible machines. It’s the same person, but with two different sides.Deborah is employed by one of the busiest libraries in the country in a job that involves arranging programs with authors, storytellers, musicians, dancers and jugglers. Sibelle is independently wealthy and therefore doesn’t have a day job. She enjoys reading books, but likes writing them even more. She prefers wearing costumes that include amazing hats. Learn more about Sibelle at her website. 

Thank you to Anastasia for inviting me to be a guest on her blog. I love books, crafts and writing, so it’s a great place to visit.

My first full length Steampunk romance, Prudence and the Professor, has been published. I’ve been working on this book for several years, as I took breaks to write and publish other stories. But, Prudence and Gerritt (the Professor ) kept pulling me back to their story. I simply couldn’t shut their voices in my head up.

I need to confess a secret. I love Steampunk. I haven’t discarded my intense attraction to writing Western romance, but Prudence and the Professor morphed into a strange combination of Victorian age, alternate history with fantasy elements set in the Civil War era of the American West.

What’s Steampunk? It’s a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction, sometimes also called science fiction. It is set in a world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century.

Often, when I’ve heard people search for a quick shorthand for defining the genre, they say, “Wild, Wild West” is Steampunk. Both the movie and the television series clearly illustrate the elements found in a Steampunk. And both are set in the American West.

When I first discovered Steampunk, I was attracted to the reference to the Victorian era. Most of the books I’ve written have a setting between 1848 and 1888. I love the clothing, lifestyle and proper rules and etiquette of that age. When I’ve set my books, although they are in Montana, they are also clearly in the mid-19^th century. So when I heard about a sub-genre of literature and an artistic movement that included fashion, music, and other elements that focused on the era, I was fascinated.

So how do Westerns fit into this technological age of steam? Easily, I think. Consider that the Victorian era coincided with the exploration and settlement of the West. There are so many possibilities for creating stories that are set in the wild, unexplored wilderness beyond the Mississippi. With Steampunk, a writer has the freedom to rewrite history, to include magic, technology and a fantastical world all in the same work. The possibilities are endless, and they excite me.

I chose a mining town in Montana Territory in 1863 because the Civil War actually opened up opportunities for invention. The Industrial Revolution was already taking place in the United States, and the war meant more inventors applying for patents.

Of course, I take my story beyond the typical inventions of the time to include Mechos, arc guns and cannons and even a sky ship. After all, what’s the fun of writing a Steampunk book if you can’t play with all the fun elements?

Prudence and the Professor

In this rollicking steampunk romance from an award-winning author, a Civil War widow travels to Montana territory in search of adventure and independence. She takes a position as a personal secretary to an eccentric inventor. The handsome professor is not what she expected, and while he’s drawn to the raven haired beauty he must develop his newest invention to meet a critical deadline that could change the course of the War-Between-the-States.

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