Steampunk Style for Halloween Inspiration

With Fall just around the corner, two other events will be here before you know it: Halloween and Thanksgiving. Today I'm collaborating with two other bloggers to bring you The Big Three Before the Tree - Inspirations and ideas to inspire your Fall decor, Halloween parties and Thanksgiving tablescapes. I'll be linking up with Julie of Simply Savvy who will be focused on Fall Decor + Trends and Kate of Dabble in Chic who will be focused on Thanksgiving Tablescapes  + recipes. I will focus on: Halloween - Steampunk style (plus a few other inspirations towards the end!) So grab a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and get comfy...

 

Cool Steampunk cat :)

First of all, just what is steampunk? Steampunk is more than an aesthetic tendency - It's the longing for the past that never was. From what I've read on Steampunk, it is a style taking place back in the Victorian Era and it also includes a merge of an industrial vibe as well. Other versions of Steampunk are also known as Victorian Fiction, Clockpunk and Dieselpunk. While researching the Steampunk style, I came across a very detailed & informative blog written by Gail Carriger. Gail does an excellent job of explaining the movement. You can learn more about Steampunk by going to The World of Steampunk: Goggles, Gaiters, and Glory. Gail even reviews what key pieces you need to thrift for this style - a great way to save money on your Halloween costume + still look fabulous!  What other time of year can you dress in costume and explore? Explore here...

STEAMPUNK STYLE BOARD

Textiles for clothing were rich layers of glen plaids and pinstripes for the men while ruffles, full skirts, corsets and lace-up details could be found for women.  

With the tendency these days to shop for vintage finds and thrift, looking into Steampunk style can be a creative alternative to your Halloween inspiration for settings, parties, decor and costumes. Some of the pieces, you may already have in your collections. Steampunk style also includes gadgets and details such as vintage keys, spectacles, pocket watches, all types of timepieces, typewrites, and typewriter keys. Some of the gadgets and details can be easily found today at vintage markets (such as Sweet Salvage here in Phoenix). These gadgets can not only be incorporated into costumes and decor, the gadgets are also another alternative for decorating pumpkins with. No carving needed so this is a GREAT solution for warmer climates in October!

 

Steampunk timepiece

 

Steampunk Pumpkins

Keys + Studs + Hinge Hardware 

Vintage Typewriter

 

Steampunk spectacles  

 

Steampunk stopwatch & ray gun 

 

 Steampunker Phineas Steel

 

Steampunk goggles

Since fashion + decor have strong links to one another, apparel textiles can translate into Halloween party decor for room settings ... especially this year with the Fall trend having a strong Menswear influence. Feminine details can come from the ruffles, lace trim, laced up boots and corsets...

 

Corset back black chair

 

Black corset & ruffles - Shareen Vintage

 

Steampunk Couture

 

Steampunk style - Mixed with military

 

The infamous Steampunk top hat 

 

Rouching + ruffles + gloves 

Steampunk top hat - brown

 

Steampunk Cupcakes 

(with Tootsie Roll Top Hats!)

Not everything all needs to be exact to the period and not everything for Halloween always needs to be only black. For example, if your home decor is the whites, creams, and greige color palette of French Country, think of ghosts (white), mummies (linen) bones (cream), and looks of a haunted house to mix Halloween into your existing decor. The nod back to vintage can come from old books, cloches, silver platters, trays and candelabras - most of which can be collected through thrifting or at vintage markets. Let the colors you live with be your guide...

 

Use what you have:

Roll old book pages into  into a cloche display + stack books 

with pages facing out for texture...

 

A Ghostly Color scheme and theme...

Textiles: Grey + Greige + Linen + Burlap + Gauze 

 

Bones treats

Bone treats of Pretzels & Marshmallows dipped in White Chocolate

 

Steampunk Pumpkin

Vintage Apothecary Bottles

Newsprint Goody Bags 

 

Vintage funnels as candle holders on a tray

 

Collect vintage silver trays through thrift,

as displayed at Bachman's House on Hammers & High Heels.

Not only can they be used to serve treats at your Halloween party, 

they can be reused again during the holiday too...

 

Antique gold painted pumpkins mixed with flea market finds to create a vignette.

Steampunk style also can "bleed" (hee hee) into a more Gothic look,

 just by changing the color palette to black and red...

 

HALLOWEEN NOIR

 

Have yourself a Halloween Spooktacular!

Alternatives to Steampunk style for Halloween can be other spooky theme inspirations such as period movies like Sherlock Holmes or Gangs of New York. Although they aren't horror movies, for their period style, you can have fun pulling together the costumes and it's easy to add a few haunting treasures plus thrift the look. Alfred Hitchcock movies like Dial M for Murder, Psycho, The Birds and Vertigo can also be alternate Halloween party themes, costume styles & home decor. Unless you are having a house party, sometimes just a small dose of Halloween decor is all you need to be in the "spirit" (hee hee). One of my fave vignettes I would do was on the buffet near our entry with my friend Skully (seen below). Jeff would have fun too, playing spooky music at the door when we gave out candy. Some DIY Halloween posts and decor I've done you can read at: (click links below images)

 

 GET YOUR SPOOK ON

  

 Halloween DIY Projects from $0

  

 Hitchcock in The Hallway - Halloween Display

One of my favorite Halloween party decor sets I've seen was The Legend of Sleepy Hollow theme Eddie Ross had done for an HGTV block party special. This special was also the first time I came across Eddie Ross and now love his style! He's a strong believer of "making use of what you already have", plus incorporating thrift finds into his decor. LOVE the spooky theme and the look...

Eddie Ross: Behind the Scenes of HGTV's Halloween Block Party

For more Halloween decor, costumes and recipe ideas 
plus more links to Steampunk style, 
click the following links to head over to my Pinterest Boards:

 

HALLOWEEN INSPIRATION BOARD

STEAMPUNK STYLE BOARD

And stop by to see KATE of Dabble In Chic for

FOCUS ON: THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE

and see JULIE of Simply Savvy to kick off your Fall season with a

FOCUS ON: FALL DECOR

Hope you are inspired!

Thanks for stopping by to check out

The Big Three Before The Tree!

Seasonal Decorating: Packing Up Summer Decor + Fall Transition

Over the long Labor Day weekend, I took the time to take down all my summer decor. Using the dining table as a staging place, I collected all the shells, silver vessels and white + blue textiles I had used in my summer restyle. I also emptied and cleaned all glass containers and switched some cylinders from light colored candles & sand to black. Removing these lighter decor elements was a quick way to start the summer decor transformation to Fall. To transition into Fall, those summer whites will be replaced with more blacks, browns, woods, branches and a few more touches of gold (brass).

 

Having a staging area to collect all summer decor helps during the transition...

 

Some of the seaside finds (these coral are from Key largo), 

I'll shift into the guest room while the rest I'll pack up until next year...

 

Classic B&W stripes can work not only for Summer decor, but can also work for Fall...

(Think Football referee)

 

Ziploc bags and totes help with the summer decor storage...

 

Recycled Chinese soup containers work great for storing or sand fillers...

 

Ziploc bags also work great...

 

Warm water & soap + towel dry helps bring back the shine to seasonal glass containers...

 

To empty sand from bags yes you can pour, but to make even when splitting between containers, using a measuring cup helps to scoop it out...

Later in September I'll add either red or orange + layer in + mix into our decor plaids, pine cones, autumn leaves, acorns and pumpkins. In the meantime, just shifting from light colors to dark is making a simple & dramatic look. Another seasonal decor update I'll be doing is switching some framed photos of Florida beaches for more rustic scenes of horses and barns I shot from a visit to Georgia one Fall, along with a few local shots from here in Arizona + some Ansel Adams prints I found while thrifting...

Seasonal updates can branch into other sense and areas of your lifestyle.  

Here are some other ways I transition into Fall...

 

I love Bath & Body Works scented candles, but even budget friendly Glade has some new scents for Fall like Autumn Harvest & Black Berry Jam - plus they come in smokey glass containers you can reuse later in your decor. For Fall nail color, my fave is OPI Lincoln Park. For this years Fall personal scent, I tried a sample of Lady Gaga's new scent FAME - and love it! It's a little heavier than the lighter Cool Water I like to wear in Summertime...

 

Hair color goes darker for Fall too:

This weekend I tried a new shade from Loreal. Love the warm deep tone for Fall vs. a lighter copper with highlights for I do for Summer. Doing a DIY base hair color is a good way to save some money at the salon: the base is done, and they can layer in participial low lights (for face framing) plus a cut & blowout. 

Wardrobe changes will also happen: inspired by some looks in magazines & Pinterest, I've already been spotting some simple finds through thrift like jackets, scarves, and this hounds-tooth clutch for only $4 at Goodwill...

 

Flavors for drinks also change: In the summer, I enjoy white wines like a crisp Pinot Grigio; but in Fall, I prefer darker reds like Pinot Noir. For coffee (besides pumpkin spice) I also enjoy cinnamon - hazelnut.

Back to Fall transition for Fall decor: 

Here's a sneak peek at simple change I made to the coffee table from Summer to Fall...

 

Here's the coffee table with more of the whites from Summer...

 

And the lighter look of the living room from Summer...

 

Summer came and went so fast this year. Since last year we were selling and moved during the Fall, I didn't get to enjoy Fall or Halloween decorating. I know I'll be enjoying the Fall season more this year...

Do you decorate for the seasons? Or just the holidays? 

How do you transition into Fall?

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Labor Day!

WOW! It's hard to believe: what feels like just a few weeks ago in May for Memorial Day has turned into months and a season: Summer. And today as the first Monday in September, we end Summer by observing Labor Day. Labor Day celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers but we also recognize it as an end to the Summer season: kids are back in school, retailers are set for Fall, days are getting shorter, and cooler months are just around the corner.

 

September 22 is the official calendar day for 2012 when Fall will begin, so you do still have 21 more days of Summer to enjoy! But some decoristas will be or have already been decking out their homes for Fall. On Wednesday this week, I'll be teaming up with bloggers Kate of Dabble in Chic and Julie of Simply Savvy to do a collaborative inspiration post called: The Big Three Before The Tree. Julie will be reviewing Fall decor & organizing ideas for your home, Kate will be reviewing some Thanksgiving Day tablescape tips & recipes ... and because of my obsession with black [:-)] I'll be sharing some Halloween decor tips & treats - all to kick-off the Fall season!

Until then... enjoy your Labor day - Fun day with family & friends!

Thanks for stopping by!