Cosplay fashion

Cosplay is basically getting dressed up in outfits from Manga and Anime. The big event in Melbourne, Manifest, gets thousands of people apparently.
While some of the costumes are a bit naf, there is some quite amazing work done. Interestingly, its quite challenging, as the designs
are originally done for 2 dimensional artwork, and then have to be turned into a 3d piece, even if the original was unrealistic and impractical.

Carly from Lyris does quite a bit of this, she is one of the most talented designers I know... just a natural at it.

I have very limited knowledg eof Manga, but there is so many characters in Manga/anime that I have no idea. I'm a fan of obvious stuff like Akira and Ghost in the Shell....after that I'm lost.


Here is some video from a gaming convention (Blizzcon) ..... this stuff is all costume, not fashion, but it does share a certain fantastic edge that some alternative fashion has....methinks.

Serious Metal High heels......

Oooh....fuck! Sabbatons crossed with high heels.... brilliant concept. Not sure what sort of metal they are made out of.

from http://www.swordandstone.com

Steam fashion pics

Some of the most stylish steampunk pics I've seen.

Photographer Roy Cox Photography (who is not an alternative tog, but does some very nice stuff)

really got to get me some Victorian stuff.....



Nicked from steamfashion Livejournal Group
Model cavenessity

Circa Nocturna

Best things about the Circa Nocturna Fashion show...

Going to the after party and people asking me for me ID (when you're older...this is a good thing!)

Seeing new designers straight after the show, so happy that there designs have been on the catwalk

Getting amazing pictures back from the promo shoot

Looking around at a venue packed with amazing people

Sleeping in the day after its finished!

Having great people in the goth community volunteer to help out

Realising, that despite all the flack it cops, the goth and alternative community is a vastly creative one, that can do amazing things, and there's really no reason for the world to be the goddam awfully boring place that it is!

www.CircaNocturna.com

And of course, our sponsors the Alt Modelling Agency, DV8 and Lockworks...all our models.....and most importantly, all the amazing designers who put so much effort into the show. Huzzah!

Gala Nocturna

A Goth Ball and fashion show in Belgium - Gala Nocturna. Of Interest to me because it has Viona Lelegems designs in it. Looks a tad gothy, but quite historical. Apparently a ball and a Fashion parade, has been running since 2006.

Shame its in Belgium, I would love to go.... amazing, elegant work.

http://users.telenet.be/gala-nocturna/





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Circa Nocturna Alternative Fashion Show

Some links to pics taken at Circa Nocturna
Note all photos copyrighted to their respective copyright holders - if you wish to purchase or use any of these photos, please contact the photographer.

Circa Nocturna is Australia's longest running and largest Alternative Fashion show.
It occurs as part of the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival - Culture program.

It showcases the best of Australian Alternative fashion, featuring established and new designers in two different sections, plus performers. This is the fourth year for CN, and plans are underway to run it bigger next year

Please respect the work of our photographers and contact them if you wish to use their work.

This year's sponsors were the Alternative Modelling Agency, Lockworks Hair and DV8 nightclub.


Koukei Photography
http://www.koukei.com.au/circa

Jeff - Photograjph
http://www.photograjph.com/circa2008/

Dogmatic

http://flickr.com/photos/dogmatic/sets/72157604017857345/

Brad Hicks 666 Photography

http://www.six6photography.com.au/Fashion08/lmff2008/lmff2008.html

Note Brads pics are $44 each tp purchase - if you with to purchase these, please arrange this with him direct via his website

Paul Ward - Dark Reflection

http://darkreflection.org/CN08/

Steampunk Fashion and Subculture

Steampunk 101


There's actually a lot of steampunk stuff around. Steampunk is not quite connected to goth as you would think, though it has lots of parrallels and links, and there seems to be a few people into both. Both subcultures attract similiar sorts of people in a way, though steampunk has more of a fantastical/literary bent. In ways its like a hybrid of goth sub genres...... Victorian and Cyber.

Steampunk is interesting in that it is both a historical based fashion subculture, and a fantasy based one. So you could have quite a good time researching a 1882 Bustle, corset for the period, and then build a ray gun to wear with it.

Music wise, there are a couple of bands - Thomas Truax, Darcy James, Tom Waits, Abney Park, and Vernian Process.
Abney Park were/are touring Australia later this year.

It definitely has a sophisticated streak. Steampunk has a great appreciation for the visuals, and they have a fascination for historical fashion. But its all quite flexible at the same time, a little bit like some of the less serious Historical re-enactment groups.

Sometimes it is compared to cyber fashion....similarly they both combine an industrial element with fashion. The difference being that instead of electronics with Cyber, the technology applied to Steampunk fashion is antiquated instead of futuristic. Goggles are common to both...except of course instead of cyber welding goggles, Steampunkers will be wearing 19th c eyewear, sometimes aviator inspired.

The universal symbol of steampunk seems to be the almight cog. Almost like Ankhs and crucifixes are to gawths, cogs and mechanisms abound in Steampunk. Steampunk afficianados love to make gadgets as well, often hiding real functioning devices in them.



Artifacts!

So while steampunk focuses on creating and wearing fashion, there is a also a focus on making steampunk objects and devices.
Guns, steam powered jet packs, even steampowered vehicles. A studio with metal working equipment seems to be a handy asset. Generally, you want to antiquate something to make it look old and tarnished. Copper colouring, real metal. Actual antique objects are good too.
There is also a market for steampunk pseudo historical objects, including products made by Weta, the company that worked on Lord of the rings.

Some of the artifacts are big.....


Full size, working steampunk motorbike! (though not actually powered by steam, though there are bikes that are).



If you are interested, read more hereSteampunk magazine...can be downloaded for free.
http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/

Steampunk fashion LJ community - lots of focus on gadgetry and interesting fashion. http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion

http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/brassgoggles/?cat=5


Huzzah!