The Traveling Yellow Skirt Freakshow - Steampunk at the Castle

FINALLY! The Traveling Yellow Skirt Freakshow has not only landed in Victoria, BC, Canada, but it has continued its magical job of making every woman look like a work of art! 

Please check out the Master Post and List here, at Bag and a Beret, and a huge yellow thank you and hug to my lovely chick Melanie for creating this wonderful blog-bonding opportunity. 

Kudos, thanks and much gratitude also to Shelley of Forest City Fashionista for handling the administrative work of wrangling bloggers and reminding certain slow people *cough*me*cough* to get a move on and wear the danged thing. I can hear Shelley's sigh of relief from here, ha ha. Sue, this is coming to you via post this week.

And let us move on to the fun stuff: pictures! I took a lot, and even roped L into helping out on an expedition for a fun shooting location.

I felt that steampunk would be a natural fit for me for styling this massive skirt. In addition to my 3-outfit marathon at the 2012 Victoria Steamcon, I've also done steampunk for Hallowe'en as a steampunk vampire killer, a "soft steampunk" look for New Year's Eve 2013, and I even did a bit of a steampunk Mad Hatter this year for Hallowe'en.

Starting from the top, that's my vintage 80s Le Chateau top hat with a silk scarf tied around it (vintage and thrifted), plus a little brown hat fascinator pinned to the side of it for the feathers (yes, I'm wearing a hat...on a hat!).

I am wearing a long red wig (I have a big costume/dress up collection), that's been rolled and pinned up twice to give it less of the Hollywood starlet look and more of the Victoria steampunk-era look. The earrings are clock hands by Foxy and were purchased at She She Shoes several years ago.

The leather/crystal black leather choker is by local company Bauxo, and the white blouse is one I'll be wearing later on this week in an outfit for work - it's by Uno Due and was last seen here in June. It was thrifted for $7.50 and this is its fourth wear, bringing my cost-per-wear down to less than $2.00.

The leather bustier is by Northbound Leather (made in Canada) and was purchased for $36.00 on consignment. I last wore it for the above-linked New Year's Eve outfit - it's not an everyday type of garment!

There is a mink brooch pinned to my chestal region, along with a little gold crystal cross brooch that I got from L's late Grandma W. I rediscovered this fabulous mid-90s wood, silver and cording belt in the costume box and was like, "Boo yah!" I also have my two new-to-me silver shoe clips attached at the corners of the bustier.

My leather and brass bracer (on my lower arm) is by local dude Ian of SkinZnHydez (linking 'cause he's awesome), as is the smaller leather cogs and wheels cuff on the other arm. The larger cuff is by Catalyst Leather.

The lace piece hanging at the back was brought back from Spain as a gift from Mom and Dad many, many years ago (20?). I'm wearing just one black leather driving glove (from Heart's Content in Fan Tan Alley), a key ring from Oscar & Libby's and my Twang & Pearl Spinner ring.

The cape is part of the Traveling Yellow Skirt Freakshow package, added by Tamera of The Menopausal Supermodel. It's the perfect match! I didn't wear it on the photo-shoot, since it was a sunny, crisp afternoon (and it messed with my wig).

The yellow skirt itself is by Joe Fresh. I've added my usual curtain hooks (thrifted) and ribbon (bought new locally) to hoist up the front part of the skirt. This created nice loose pockets in the front, where I stashed my glasses while L and I went for a wander up to Craigdarroch Castle. The shoes are my very first pair of Fluevogs, the Listen Up Harlows, last seen in the June 2012 capsule (recap here), in this whackadoo outfit.

I took along a leather-covered brass telescope for a prop.

The walk up to the Castle is in a residential neighbourhood. There's a little natural plant garden at the bottom of the hill. As tour buses are not allowed up here, there are at least 2 rest stations/benches along the way for the tourists. It's a steep hill.

My floofy Noa Noa underskirt gets another airing, and those lacy tights have been in my drawer for at least 2-3 years.

The skirt was marvelously billowy.

At rest stop number two. Look, it's a castle!

It's my "Titanic" pose.

I couldn't seen anything with the telescope without my glasses on.

"I love post."

Some bemused tourists gave us very wide berths.

Looking out over the rear field.

 Care to join me for a sit?

The wind picked up the skirt and pouffed it quite nicely.

It was wonderful to wear the yellow skirt, knowing that so many other awesome women had worn it as well. We are the sisterhood!

I loved this experience. Thank you, Melanie, for creating this.

Thank you also to my patient husband and trusty photographer, L. Once we got into it, he was totally game for me swanning around on the Castle's grounds.

He's rather dapper himself. Also, he took some amazing pictures!

I added my pieces:

Two plastic keys and a metal stamped gear (I think they were gifts from Tamera and Megan Mae) have been sewn on as my addition to the skirt, and I drew a little face for Vizzini.

I hope you enjoyed my little excursion!