How do I get Steampunk clothes when I have no money?

[Dr Fidelius]

Aren't we trying to re-create the historical time when a man would wake up, don his goggles and fly his airship off to fight Martian invaders with a ray gun?

There must be tonnes of documentation to study on that period...

(I have found that if I get the "fictional adventurer" look right, it takes very little added pseudo-historical to make it look steampunky.)

[H.Q. Megatherium]

Aren't we trying to re-create the historical time when a man would wake up, don his goggles and fly his airship off to fight Martian invaders with a ray gun?

That would be an excellent signature for this board. 

[Mr Addams]

For many people, the Victorian element is a very important component of Steampunk. as I said in my post, the degree to which you choose to persue authenticity is a personal one.
Of course you do not need to wear period correct cosume to be a steampunk, but what I was trying to say was, if you have a basic understanding of the way people dressed in the 19th Century, it is less of a problem achieve the Victorian "Look", regardless of if you are useing period accurate clothing or not.
The topic is about how to dress steampunk on a minimal budget, so having a strong idea of the look that you are going for, before you set off to the thrift store will save a lot of wasted money on cloathing that dosn't work. (Trust me, I know from experience.)
Everyone has a different vew of what a steampunk looks like.
But Cogs and Gears do not a steampunk make. If you can put together an outfit that you are happy with, then it will only take a few small details, (A Pair of Brass goggles for example.) to make it very Steamy.

[SolarCenturion]

I've actually dispensed with the goggles *gasp*
actually, it's just because I can't justify spending even $5 on something frivolous right now.

But in my own mental version of a steampunk universe, goggles evolved in almost the same way as the "real world".  In other words, I've got a cool pair of sunglasses that I put a strap on and stick them on my hat.

Works for me

One day I'll buy some proper goggles but not until at least.... November, when my wife brings forth a new little steamer into the world.

[Dr Fidelius]

I've actually dispensed with the goggles *gasp*
actually, it's just because I can't justify spending even $5 on something frivolous right now.

But in my own mental version of a steampunk universe, goggles evolved in almost the same way as the "real world".  In other words, I've got a cool pair of sunglasses that I put a strap on and stick them on my hat.

Works for me

One day I'll buy some proper goggles but not until at least.... November, when my wife brings forth a new little steamer into the world.

I needed to buy goggles so I could differentiate between when I am "Dressed Up" or just dressed.  I seem to have accumulated a lot of waistcoats and pocketwatches over the past few decades.

[Victoria The Mistress]

My suggestion is go to Lincoln this weekend armed with a Blackjack 

Ooh, bribery with penny sweets! Works for me every time ! 

[Cybrasty]

My suggestion is go to Lincoln this weekend armed with a Blackjack 

Ooh, bribery with penny sweets! Works for me every time ! 

Both noted ... now. Where have I left my blackjack?

I am aware that this forum is about clothing, but gadgets are also important part of your costume. Saying that I would like to point the conversation to budget props/gadgets.
I do specialise (and by specialise I mean it is the only propmaking I do) in budget props. It is amazing how far you can go with  carboot finds + cardboard and spray paint. It just takes a little imagination to create something great. Once you will learn to look at mundane things that way you will be surprised how many everyday items from your home can me combined into something steampunky.
If you need some inspiration and how-tos look no further than instructables

[Joshua Judson]

I'm also seventeen and I know the position that you are. You most likely are thinking something like "I wouldn't be caught dead buying clothing in a thrift store." I wasn't that way but a few friends of mine wouldn't go into the stores with me. But anyway look for old suits and brown leather. A lot of the old suits have some nice pants that will fit well with some tops, and if you are lucky you can find some vest in the old suits. The thrift store in my town also gets a lot of toys and such from the 80's and 90's and some could be broken down to make cool little trinkets. Anyway good luck on your hunt.

[OswaldBastable]

My suggestion is go to Lincoln this weekend armed with a Blackjack 

Ooh, bribery with penny sweets! Works for me every time ! 

I wonder if mojo's will work

[Victoria The Mistress]

My suggestion is go to Lincoln this weekend armed with a Blackjack 

Ooh, bribery with penny sweets! Works for me every time ! 

I wonder if mojo's will work

Every time

And as for Fruit salads.......

[Madasasteamfish]

My advice, being a student, is to go digging around vintage shops and Ebay, then modify things. E.g I am undertaking a project to modify an RAF tunic I bought at the Lincoln Asylum Weekend the other day, which it transpired was too small for me.

[Ms Pipistrelle]

I had to put together 2 steampunk outfits for Ratty for The Aslum - 1 for daytime and 1 for the ball both as cheap as possible.

Ball outfit - off-the-peg white shirt which he also uses for job interviews, off-the-peg plain black chinos which are also part of his job interview outfit. Red waistcoat that he's had for a few years. When we got there we added a cravat from the Bazaar which cost £5.  

Day outfit - off the peg brown trousers from a Sale rack at BHS - £8.  Collar-less white shirt which he already had but could wear the same shirt as the ball outfit. Grey waistcoat that he bought from a vintage clothing shop a year or two ago for about £6. Picture at http://www.flickr.com/photos/45750628@N08/5020556289/#in/set-72157624901670341/

Both outfits accessorised with a cheap pair of welding goggles from Germany and a couple of bits from the Steampunk range at Alchemy gothic - those bits are also part of his LARP character costume so he's had those for a couple of years as well.  He could have got away with just a piece of chain on the waistcoat to give the look of a pocket watch chain.

The only item from either of his outfits that isn't worn on non-steampunk occasions is the cravat.

Most of my daytime outfit also doubles as perfectly normal work clothes when mixed with different items - ankle-length black skirt, white blouse.  For work I just put a different top with the skirt and wear the blouse with jeans. Add the jacket or ladies waistcoat, hat+goggles and the same clothes fit into a steampunk gathering.  My blouses are all quite cheap ones which are designed to be worn with jeans but paired with a long skirt suddenly give a more period feel and I have a waistcoat which I also bought for wearing at work.

For a more casual daytime outfit you could lose the waistcoat and add braces instead depending on what you pick up first.

Neither outfit really screams out Steampunk but neither do they look out of place in a steampunk gathering and both make a good starting point.   The key is to spot items which can be mixed in a different way to what the clothes designers intended.  This is where having a good browse of pictures of period clothing can help with training your eye.

edit - the goggles were about £5 plus postage from http://www.esska-tech.co.uk which is the "in english" part of a German web site where there's also a cheaper version at under £4.  For those in the US I found this page via google: http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/uas-368.html which would also work.

[SolarCenturion]

I've actually dispensed with the goggles *gasp*
actually, it's just because I can't justify spending even $5 on something frivolous right now.

But in my own mental version of a steampunk universe, goggles evolved in almost the same way as the "real world".  In other words, I've got a cool pair of sunglasses that I put a strap on and stick them on my hat.

Works for me

One day I'll buy some proper goggles but not until at least.... November, when my wife brings forth a new little steamer into the world.

I needed to buy goggles so I could differentiate between when I am "Dressed Up" or just dressed.  I seem to have accumulated a lot of waistcoats and pocketwatches over the past few decades.

now that's two items I aboslutely need to add to my collection.  I need a waistcoat and a pocketwatch.  What maddens me is that I used to have both and now can't find them anywhere

[Major Dickie Woodruff]

Charity shops and flea markets 

[Madasasteamfish]

Charity shops and flea markets 

Oh, yes. Charity shops are a goldmine for vintage clothes and things and they'll usually be ridicuously cheap.

[Gharak]

I've really struggled in charity shops, pre asylum it hit all the stores in Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield and came up with nothing suitable. If anyone knows of some cracking stores in these areas then perhaps I missed them and need to head back there.

Ebay was my saviour for the most part this year, just have to be careful not to get too carried away.

[thunderarrowalchemist]

ebay is notorious for setting the bench mark on "steampunk" branded items. goggles (good quality) usually sell for 60 dollars. everything else including clothing is not better. i tended to steer towards etsy, because their prices are somewhat easy on the heart.

[Major Dickie Woodruff]

if you are on facebook keep looking for vintage fairs also input this into search engines you have ot travel but it is out tehre.

[OswaldBastable]

ebay is notorious for setting the bench mark on "steampunk" branded items. goggles (good quality) usually sell for 60 dollars. everything else including clothing is not better. i tended to steer towards etsy, because their prices are somewhat easy on the heart.

oh I dont know, I've seen plenty of overpriced stuff on etsy as well. With regards to ebay I never actually search for the word Steampunk as that will generally direct you towards most of the rubbish; I just search for specific items I'm interested in. Annoyingly they seem to have reorganised the vintage cloth section so you can no longer browse by decade  so anything old is swamped by pages and pages of paisley shirts

[Dr Fidelius]

Aye, but adding "steampunk" to the description allows you to sell absolute crap for a better price.

I should feel ashamed, but I am an unrepentant capitalist.

[OswaldBastable]

Aye, but adding "steampunk" to the description allows you to sell absolute crap for a better price.

totally true in general but specifically in my case not true 

[Tina]

Eh...I'm seventeen years old, and all the steampunk clothes I've seen are quite expensive. I supposed I could get a job or something. Where can I get *cheap* steampunk clothes?

I suggest getting a job regardless of what your interests are
Everyone has said it and I concur...thrift stores are the best places, followed close second by garage sales. Around here, clothes go pretty cheaply (moreso than at the thrift stores!) and with a good imagination, you can do wonders. I have hit the same store everyday in a week as they are always putting out new things and have great success in getting hat I feel is a basic item and 'refashioning' it into my idea of steampunk.

As was quoted in this thread, "it is a matter of attitude first"...the rest will all come right as rain in good time

[thunderarrowalchemist]

[/quote]

oh I dont know, I've seen plenty of overpriced stuff on etsy as well. With regards to ebay I never actually search for the word Steampunk as that will generally direct you towards most of the rubbish; I just search for specific items I'm interested in. Annoyingly they seem to have reorganised the vintage cloth section so you can no longer browse by decade  so anything old is swamped by pages and pages of paisley shirts
[/quote]

ha i know exactly how you feel, although you have more of a chance of getting a bargain on etsy regardless of what you type in, than what you would get on ebay. i just scored a vintage victorian collared blouse for a fraction of the price i would've paid had i gone to the ebay product.........i love shopping :3

[Miss Romwell]

I have hit the same store everyday in a week as they are always putting out new things and have great success in getting hat I feel is a basic item and 'refashioning' it into my idea of steampunk.

Quoted for truth. I don't think that perseverance can be emphasised enough when it comes to thrift/charity shops. Find a cluster of them (here in the UK most areas will have a few in a particular street. Less salubrious locales often have better stuff and better prices.), and visit them as often as you can. I do mine weekly. This week turned up a vintage tweed shooting jacket, last week an old tweed 3-piece suit , the week before a silver brooch. You'd be amazed what turns up. Diamond rings? Georgian glassware? Japanese Meiji period porcelain? Yup, yup, and yup.

[The Duchess of Frugonia]

As a decided amateur in these ranks, and being neither male nor [for many, many years!] 17, I wondered if anyone had considered secondhand wedding wear?

I am in the process of trying to work out how to refashion my deep red wedding dress into something an older SP could wear without seeming mutton dressed as lamb.  I've come to the conclusion that for sheer value for money for the amount of suitable material available old wedding dresses are a steal!

I am looking for a coachman's hat, can I find one?  Nope, but I keep looking, particularly in "costume" shops or charity shops, to see if I can find a high crowned hat, the brim can be cut/folded/pinned/glued to give something interesting.  I already have a working pocket watch and silver mounted cane [family], stout and comfortable shoes, red parasol/umberella and so am keeping my eyes peeled for a suitable style.  Any advice would be welcome.

Hoping that this is of some use to the ladies for the fabric sourcing,
I remain,
yours faithfully

Alice, DoF

edited to remove utter tosh.. well, some of it.