Steampunks

Yes, I am completely onboard with the steampunk craze. As a fan of period films and historical fiction (as well as a dash of sci-fi in both) I find this mash-up fascinating. And while I can watch as many movies and read as many books on the subject as my heart might desire, I always crave that one step further. I want to be immersed. Which is why I find myself attracted to the fashion and design elements associated with the steampunk movement so much. That and the fact that I love a good anachronism.

I happened to come across an ad in the paper (yes, I still read newspapers) for a Steampunk Party at the historic Union Hotel in Los Alamos and I immediately texted my friend Michelle. Michelle is the perfect partner in crime when it comes to anything involving a theme or dressing up.

Prior to our Steampunk outing we spent days putting together our outfits. Not having any money to spend on full cosplay, we fashioned dresses and accessories from whatever we had laying around the house or in our dress-up trunks. I think we did okay =)

I apologize for the terrible lighting on these photos. The Union Hotel is all about ambience so we had to work with oil lamps and candlelight. When they built the place in 1880 they weren't thinking about Instagram. But, hopefully you can see enough to get the idea. I had so much fun sewing little clocks and gears onto my jacket and giving a makeover to my western dress (I first wore it to another themed event at Melody Ranch called The Cowboy Poetry Festival) and I love, love, loved wearing a top hat!

We had a great night walking around, chatting with other steampunk-ers, dancing, and trying not to get our heels stuck in the grass outside. We also reminisced about the last time we were at the Union Hotel (we crashed a wedding) and took a peak at the various spots around the hotel and grounds where they shot Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's video for Say Say Say.

Now I'm off to read The Clockwork Prince...