As my by-line says ‘artist and costumer’, I think it’s time
for a post about costuming.
I attended Mancunicon, the British National Science Fiction
Convention, over Easter and decided to wear two constructed uniforms as hall
costume.
I have always been of the opinion that Steampunk is more
than cogs and goggles.
The first uniform was World War 2 based
I can, occasionally, be subtle. At first glance, this looks
like any WW 2 uniform.
Allow me to deconstruct it.
The trousers are no.2 dress; the blouse is no.3 (battle)
dress and has Dr Geoff Banyard skull & goggles badges on collar and
epaulettes, as well as major’s crowns. I also added real British medal ribbons,
but carefully in a random order. There
is a Dr Geoff unit badge on the right shoulder for the eighteenth regiment,
showing a badger with a gun.
The shirt and tie are
modern British Army and the hat is Soviet Army, but with a Royal Ordinance Corps
badge.
The belt of the Sam Browne is a modern reproduction, but the
shoulder strap, holster and accessories are genuine. Sam Brownes were never
worn with battledress.
The gun is a Steampunk sculpture
The second uniform was more Victorian Steampunk and felt
like service dress for Space Service. You will note there is no sidearm- but who
needs a sidearm when one has a Type 32 Winston Class Dreadnaught?
The seated pose photo was taken by Jackie Burns and is used
with consent.
Once again the uniform hangs together well.
It is made up of a Blues & Royals Officer Mess Dress
jacket with major’s crowns on the epaulettes, a wing collar shirt and Victorian
stock, a Georgian Uniform waistcoat, a Guards officer’s waist sash, Royal Artillery
No 1 dress trousers and a Royal Engineers forage cap.
Until next time
Adieu