Royal Steamline The Blog | Inspiration for Brides & Grooms

Cyberoptix Tie Lab, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

1. Exhaust Bow Tie

2. Let Them Eat Cake Necktie

3. Argyle Skeleton Key Necktie

4. Clipper Ship Necktie

5. Wooden Gift Box

…and many more.

xo,

Royal Steamline

I’m excited to share another local, vintage clothing Etsy shop that offers fun, gorgeous pieces from decades past. Fab Gabs Vintage offers a mix of casual and fancy dresses, suits and accessories. There’s even a special section for boudoir vintage lingerie! Whether you’re going for a Mad Men style, rockabilly or an “old Hollywood” wedding, there’s plenty of guys and dames fashions to be found here. The ’50s-era polka dot dress below would look amazing with one of these crinoline petticoats we featured last summer.

Wartime Bouquet

The Ultimate Lucy Dress

Paul Drake 1960s Sportcoat

… and there’s still a week left to enter Teh Fab Gabs Vintage Giveaway. Head over to the blog for details.

Ever since October, I’ve been following the Tweed Ride phenomena. I mean, what’s not to like about a combination of Victorian gear and cycling that emphasizes fun and camaraderie? I’d noted that my former home of San Francisco had been a major force in American Tweed Rides. This, however, left me all the more disappointed that my current home — and de facto cycling utopia — of Portland was noticeably ignoring a phenomena that seemed like a perfect fit.

Well, we finally got our collective act together and produced a smashing Tweed Ride not two days ago.

Photo by william200549 on Flickr

There are many fine photos of the event on Flickr here and here. Oh, and some fine video footage, too (note the pipe-packing at 1:25):

Now, why are we at Royal Steamline posting about cycling? Because we were quite impressed with some of the riders’ ensembles, particularly the gents. Upcoming grooms leaning toward a vintage wedding would be well served to peruse these images and take note of any styles they find particularly fitting.

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the perfect connection between Tweed Rides and our Rovers and Country Ride invitation designs.

Looking forward to the next ride!

If you haven’t been already, head over to Offbeat Bride to get all the brass, glass and goggle details.

As we’ve all been made very aware, this is the 100th anniversary of commercial lighter-than-air travel. But as many still don’t know, it’s also the 110th anniversary of This Grand Nation’s Order of Steersmen. On this date in 1899, the Steersmen were incorporated by Admiral Smythe-Hutchins – much to the dismay and embarrassment of Lord Carruthers – to be the honorable fellows whose steadfast hands would guide the airship fleet through the celestial expanse.

As an especial salute to these first stalwarts, Royal Steamline presents a particular pair of dress badges commemorating this heady time in Our History. The Particular Order of Master Steersmen is presented in limited edition as a salute to hydrogen, aluminum and the steely-eyed souls who piloted them through the blue profundities. Handcrafted from vintage and new buttons, seam binding and millinery, this collection can usually only be purchased through the Royal Steamline Etsy shop. But today, we’re giving away two special pieces from the collection: one Steersman dress badge and one Steersman brooch (see images below).

The first two people to contact us via email or Twitter DM will receive a dress badge or brooch. We will contact the winners to get all of your shipping details.

Photo by Royal Steamline

{Royal Steamline Dress Badge - The Steersman Gent}

{Royal Steamline Brooch - The Steersman Lady}

As reported in today’s Gray Lady, an increasing number of young men are kicking around NYC (and other metropolitan districts) in decidedly Victorian fashions:

As with home design, where curio cases, taxidermy and other stylish clutter of the Victorian era have been taken up by young hipsters, many of today’s popular men’s styles have their roots in the late 19th century. There are the three-piece suits once favored by mustachioed Gilded Age bankers; the military greatcoats and boots of Union officers; and the henley undershirts, suspenders, plaid flannel shirts and stout drill trousers worn by plain, honest farmers.

According to the article, late 19th century style can be seen popping up all over the city, from boutiques to restaurant appointments. I feel this bodes well for those gents who will be grooms in period weddings because, as the trend continues, logic suggests that clothing options should increase, from resell shops favoring vintage styles to new designers taking cues from vintage lines. However, as is the case with any identified trend, this also could mean that prices for bowler hats, tweed trousers or silk vests might increase as a result of the (real or anticipated) demand. Be that as it may, I am heartened that the NYT has shone its light on this, has pointed out that, for many, it is more of a lifestyle than a fashion trend, and, finally, that it calls attention to the darling trend of Tweed Rides.

I hesitate to link to any NYT images for fear of impermanence, so I’ll take this opportunity to present this gentlemen, a fine model for the vintage groom-to-be:

In case you missed it, Rock ‘n Roll Bride featured this scarlet-saturated Steampunk wedding by Kelly Moore Photography. Follow the links for more photos.

While it’s easily argued that they offer far more Steam than Punk, the Steampunk Emporium have a lot going for it.

{Happy motoring}

First off, their closets are deep. An extension of the Ladies’ and Gentleman’s Emporiums, the Steampunk Emporium is simply a showcase for pieces the owners feel would be most attractive to clockwork enthusiasts. While they may be right, I’d encourage anyone shopping for steampunk wedding attire to peruse the greater catalogs as the site offers a large variety of items, many of which could be modified easily to suit your tastes. For example, the following basic $40 skirt could be altered in any number of ways:

Secondly, it’s easy to find good deals. For example, a pair of ladies’ black satin elbow length gloves with button trim are only $14. While purchasing entire ensembles (such as that of Barnaby Clifton, featured in the first photo) quickly can become expensive, be sure to check the Emporium if you’re seeking the right finishing touch for your wedding ensemble (Walking stick? Victorian spectacles?) — you might just find it at a great price.

Thirdly, each of the main steampunk ensembles are crafted around imaginary characters with colorful backstories, such as aeronaut Baron von Frohman or scientific explorer Augusta Huntington. As devotees will attest, we at Royal Steamline enjoy a good story and feel that this sort of creative contextualization is much more fun than a bland sales catalog.

Lastly, if you have sharp eyes, you’ll notice that the Emporium offers a full line of Old West wear too (the link is in the lower left corner). If it fits the tone of your wedding, this is where some creative mixing can really get cool. For example, what if the groom combined a dapper Baker City vest with a rough-and-ready gunners trench coat? These types of combinations easily could put the Punk back in the Steam and help you create a fun and unique wedding experience.

If this were a newspaper, Duchess Clothier would be cause for a stop press.

I’m not sure how such an amazing (and surprisingly affordable) clothier of this ilk (situated in my Portland no less!) has eluded me for so long. But if you are a gent looking for a special suit for that most special of days, I strongly urge you to review their wares.

Everything from period recreations to fine suits that defy and juxtapose definite eras are to be had here. And if you and your bride-to-be run are leaning toward a darker affair, you would remiss if you didn’t consider something in following vein:

I recommend perusing their Flick stream to see the amazing range of products on offer. From velvet to sharkskin to seersucker, they seem to have it all. I, myself, am partial to plaids and patterns:

Finally, if you visit their site, you’ll see a testimonial from a certain legendary singer. If their stuff is good enough for that bad seed, won’t it work for you?