Steampunk Tail Coat Sneak Peek

So, last night, I had to prance around in this a bit, because I was working on it all weekend, start to finish (and my hands hurt!)

This is my Steampunk Aristocrat Tail Coat.

Now, I've had a few goals with the Steampunk stuff I'm working on.

1) Be original. Because there is so much not original out there, and it's annoying.
2) Have some historical details in it. Such as the Victorian shoulder seams, sleeves, and other accents.
3) Use non-"traditional" Steampunk colors. Not overwhelmingly brown, black and maybe burgundy. Use brighter colors, that still fit in the theme, but are more glamorous and colorful.

So, this is the jacket, without the corset underneath - the corset is cut, but not sewn yet. Hence the puckering under the bust part, around the waist - it's meant to be with a corset, that's my tummy fat causing that ripple Although, it fits without it, which is a blessing!

The skirt is something I plan on making regularly, too. These are going to be my "Steampunk Utility Skirts", mainly because they can be worn about 8 different ways, we've discovered so far. The skirt is obscenely full (and a modification of a Walking Skirt, which we became oh-so good friends with during our time in college ) and can be bustled in many different ways.

This trial was made out of a hunk of linen blend (so it wrinkles like nothing else, and I hate ironing it - it takes a good 20 minutes just to press *whines*) but future one's will be made out of silk noil, because it has such a beautiful drape.

Keep an eye on my Etsy store for these as soon as I have a few free moments to make another one.

Anyways, wearing it in this configuration is my favorite way lately, except that I have short legs that are ugly. Oh well - once I get some stockings on, it will all be good, I hope!

So. Yeah. Oh! And horrible fabric to work with - beautiful? yes. Expensive? yes. Soft? yes. Easy to sew? no!!

Wovens are the devil. I will not back down on that statement.

Fully lined, about 18 hours of work, maybe more as I didn't keep track of the hand sewing time (for all the cuff lace, especially!). You can also see a bit of my first successful jewlery project peeking out there, too

Design, pattern and garment © Samantha Lemieux/Taeliac Studio

please do not steal my original designs!