Hello Again;
Today I would like to tell you about what I saw in town. While I was out today I happened to spy a middle aged gent on a rather interesting motorcycle. Now the bike itself was well worth the effort to check out, but the rider was just as distinctive. The machine was tricked to look like a turn of the century retro, very well done without being ostentatious, but when he pulled up and parked in front of a large office building I could not help but admit my curiosity.
He had parked in the management parking area. Now I have to explain what it was about this man that had my attention. He was wearing a pair of high topped riding boots like a horseman from the 18th century, a simple pair of black pin striped breaches that could be either formal or causal in today’s world but looked good, and a blood red tailored double breasted waist coat complete with tails. If he had not arrived at his destination by motorcycle you would have sworn he came by coach. I was lucky enough to be able to park and still see him from my rig. When he had finished parking his ride and locking it down he removed a felt top hat from a saddlebag on one side and a briefcase from the other and a very unique walking stick that he some how carried along the side of the bike frame.
When he stepped out and headed for the building it hit me that this is a person who is actively melding both the Steampunk culture and the modern world into one. What he wore was classic and simple and perhaps just a touch eccentric by the modern outlook, but he could add a few accessories, (which I would bet money he had somewhere close at hand) and transform himself into his full blown Steampunk persona in a matter of moments.
Now I know it is far easier for men to pull this off these days than it might be for the ladies, but then again it really depends on the imagination of the person setting up their outfit. I’ve seen ladies transform themselves into a completely different creature with just a few moments in the ladies room. They have an advantage of knowing a lot more about how to accessorize than the average male, at least, that’s true in my case. I really wanted to follow the man just to see where he was going just to satisfy my own curiosity, but that was just not going to happen. I wish i had had a decent camera on my phone just so i could have snapped a shot of him and his bike to show you what I’ve been rambling on about.
A friend of mine is trying so hard to meld the two worlds together he has started spending his weekends with his aunts and grandmother so they can teach him how to sew and use a patterning machine without being eaten by the thing.
Anyway what I’m trying to say with this rant is that there is no reason we can’t combine what we enjoy with the real world. I’m not saying for example a lawyer who enjoys the Steampunk culture should show up in court as a Victorian barrister, but I think there is quite a bit of room to think about this and stretch out our imaginations.
If nothing else it’s a way to re-task a lot of things that will do nothing more than collect dust in the closet or under the bench. An added bonus could be that you may have some fun and meet quite a few very interesting people as you sport your new look.
As always, all I can say is that I’m still trying to figure out what Steampunk is to me, and if you are interested in the movement then you will have to ask yourself the same question and find your own answers. I really don’t believe that there is any one truly right or wrong answer to the question, as long as you have fun on the journey to find the answer.
Take time this weekend to raid the second hand shops if you need to, help support a good cause and begin creating your own Steampunk persona.
Let the imagination flow!
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steampunk werewolf 