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[OneCoolCupcake]

IS there any way to make a steampunk costume on a budget and no sewing ablility whatsoever?

[Mangochutney]

As in, you can't even thread a needle? Not really.

If you can do basic stuff like hemming and adding trim, editing stuff from Goodwill and similar stores is a time-honored steam tradition.

[alpha_helix]

So is dumpster diving!

[Mangochutney]

I fully support dumpster diving. And dismantling things found on the side of the road.

[OneCoolCupcake]

Anything NOT illegal? -_-

[MinekaC]

I don't think dumpster diving is illegal. They clearly don't want it. Another mans trash is another mans treasure....... or a cosplayers rather. Also, getting stuff from good will ant taking a pair of scissors and a needs to it is hardly illegal.

[GoldfishGirl]

Lots of things in thrift stores can be spiffed up pretty easily with dye or paint. You can use hem tape and hot glue. I know in costuming you have 3 choices: cheap, fast, and quality. You can only choose two.

[dukeoffl]

Steampunk is totally achievable on a budget. i mean, it's still Punk.
I got a cheap trenchcoat, and used plastic vacuum hoses affixed to the arms. i'm going to spraypaint some designs on the back, and add some more detail.

just look around your house for some cool looking, steampunk-looking stuff. think victorian. watch the time machine.

you can do it.

[WilwarinAndamar]

Yep. I did it.

http://www.cosplaylab.com/cosplayers...stumeid=204892
http://www.cosplay.com/gallery/164462/

I only had to sew the pouch and the black vest together, and I altered the shirt as well. But the skirts and brown vest I already owned, as well as all of the jewelry.

I made the goggles using this tutorial:
http://brassgoggles.co.uk/blog/steam...ostume-goggles

Basically anything can be used for steampunk; you just have to be creative with it.

[paper cosplay]

these go from early atempts at steam punk to later costumes
http://www.cosplay.com/photo/1750446/
just stuff from my closet. Cut arms of a shirt to make a vest. the geek glass are from dollar store so is the eye patch

http://www.cosplay.com/photo/1814898/
the jacket is a find form good will. That's the big secret hit good wills look for old jackets and vest. with steam punk man and women can get away with vest and suits jackets if the cut is an older style.
the toy guns the most expensive was like $ 10 the goggles are welding goggles I got form Menardes for 4.99 the scarf is a fabric scrap i bought at Joans it was perfect for a scarf i used liquid stitch to hem the edges no sewing need.

http://www.cosplay.com/photo/1988771/
metallic gold & bronze paint can be your friend for cheap plastic to metal. the goggles are the same as the previous photo I just painted them and fond gear that could replace the lenses. then put painted gears on their shafts. the gun eye is the geek glasses from earlier the lenses out and a dollar store pistol painted and cut down to fit into the glasses. (legal not never mount and fire a real gun this way you will shoot your eye out.).

http://www.cosplay.com/photo/2108856/
most of this costume is from good will even the saddle bags (an amazing find). now the gun is from family dollar, the gas mask on belt and the pipe are form a costume shop, being used once again my goggles and scarf.

[Spamalious]

http://browse.deviantart.com/resourc...mpunk#/d2rnssv

If you have a few items you can get a Steampunk look together. You should visit your city's Thrift store or second hand stores and use this guild.

[Nell Interimo]

Absolutely possible. I agree with some of the tips on here--hot glue is your friend. For the record, Dumpster Diving is definitely illegal, but a lot people do it anyway.

Just take pieces that you see and think "Ooh, that's kind of victorian/edwardian" then say "how can I add depth and interest?" If you take a magpie approach this is easy. Basically, rummage around and smash together anything that you think looks cool.

[Neko Transfan]

I was under the impression that Steampunk's main attraction aside from being totally awesome was the ability to essentially build and create an outfit based on thrift store scraps and crafty supplies like paint and paper and foam.

I didn't sew anything on my costume. It's made from an old blouse(free from my mom), an underskirt from a wedding dress (thrift store $0.99), a man's large vest (thrift store $5), a plastic belt from a Santa Clause costume ($.20), a bionic eye I made from an old bubble container and a small round box, and then a wind up power pack made from foam, brown vinyl, and random pieces from the hardware store I painted with silver and antique gold finish.

I didn't sew a thing!

[LordMoufMouf]

ABSOLUTELY!

All of my outfits are scavenged! You can see a few of them here. But I have also been hunting for pieces for a very long time. It's a matter of patience and creativity. Also, the more you verse yourself on historical fashion, the easier it will be to spot clothing with "lines" that will lend itself well to a SP ensemble. If you have an event coming up, you may find yourself having to hit thrift stores and Goodwill once a week at least.

Those who have the best scavenged outfits tend to be the most creative the best educated, so do your research!

[Kelley]

"A Budget" is really vague. Your budget could be $2 or $2,000. There's obviously a lot of difference in what you can buy depending on what your budget actually is.

So, really - I encourage you to figure out what your budget IS. Then, design or come up with a general idea or plan. THEN you can figure out if and how it can be done on whatever your budget IS.



For instance, I've made the SAME COSTUME for $100 and for $1,000.