Waterfall dress - side viewImage courtesy of Heather Luca
Hiding beneath all the down coats, hats, scarves and boots, there is a thriving underground fashion scene in the Twin Cities. A group of young designers are making clothes for people with a penchant for Victorian era inspired clothing.
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Designer Heather Luca creates outfits hinged around her custom made corsets. The full-length skirt, natural colors, and leather gives the outfit a steampunk flair.Image courtesy of Heather LucaView full galleryHeather Luca's neo-Victorian fashion features lots of layers and curving lines which she says complement women of all shapes and sizes.Image courtesy of Heather LucaSteampunk and Lolita fashion in the U-S is for the most part hand made by boutique designers, and, as a result, is usually very sturdy and longlasting compared to most mass-produced clothing.Image courtesy of Heather LucaNeo-Victorian fashion designers Samantha Rei, Megan Bishop and Heather Luca are making names for themselves designing clothes that feature more layers, not less.Photo by Drayke LarsonRegina Davan's travelling skirt features an underlayer of fabric imprinted with images of old maps. The waist and hip area are adorned with old keys and chains and lots of pockets.Image courtesy of Regina DavanRegina Davan says her goal is to get every man in a kilt. Her steampunk kilts feature lots of heavy brass clasps and rivets, as well as images of gears sewn into the cloth.MPR Photo/Marianne CombsRyan Crossland sports steampunk goggles and a Victorian inspired vest. He says he's sick of the baggy jeans and t-shirt look.Photo by Drayke LarsonThis outfit by Samantha Rei features lots of extra material around the waist and hips, while many modern women are choosing to wear low-riding jeans and belly-bearing tops that show lots of skin.Image courtesy of Samantha ReiThe classic Lolita look is inspired by the sweet simplicity of Alice in Wonderland. Gothic Lolita tends to take that look and darken it, adding spooky, ghoulish elements to give it some attitude.Photo by Drayke LarsonLolita fashion is inspired by Victorian girlhood, but designers and fans of the look say it has no connection to Vladimir Nabokov's novel of the same name.Image by Drayke LarsonThe Lolita look can be accented in a number of ways. Sweet Lolita fans will wear lots of pearls, bows, and often times heart shaped lockets. A Gothic Lolita look might involve something like black lace, skulls, or spiderwebs.Photo by Drayke LarsonSteampunk designer Heather Luca created this outfit, which is accented with the goggles, leather belt, and heavy key ring at the waist. Luca says many steampunk fans create entire characters to go along with the outfits they wear.Image courtesy of Heather LucaLike steampunk, Lolita fashion does involve a certain amount of role playing, but at a much more subtle level. For young Japanese women, it's a way to escape the more rigid cultural norms of Japanese society, and enjoy their youth. Outfit by Samantha Rei, Blasphemina's ClosetPhoto by Drayke Larson