Skip to content

Squirrel Talk

Nutty Chitter from a Caffeinated Critter

Menu
  • Books
    • Niniers Series
    • Cera Chronicles
    • Anthologies
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
Menu

Hey, Punk! (Playing Dress-Up)

Posted on June 17, 2015October 12, 2016 by Loni Townsend

If you’re my Facebook friend, you’ve probably already seen my profile picture. But since, admittedly, I love attention, I figured I’d make a post about it.

I’m a fan of Steampunk. If you don’t know what Steampunk is, Jay Noel did a pretty good write up a few months ago.

Normally, I avoid being in front of a camera. Not that I’m not a ham, because I am. I love attention. I just don’t like my face. But I have a collection of corsets, skirts, and accessories, and I figured it’d be a waste if I didn’t get some visual record of me in my getup. (Like my bio says, they call me peculiar with a twisted sense of fashion, and yes, I do wear stuff like this to work occasionally.)

I turned to a friend—Cami, whom I’ve mentioned before as someone who helped with getting Dani fixed up for This World Bites. I hired her to take me out, pose me up, and snap away. I trusted her judgment when it came to location, and I must say, I’m not disappointed.

This is the first one she sent me, and the one I made my profile picture. I’m even okay with my face in this one.

Under the Bridge

I have other pictures coming. I had a total of four outfits, and we traveled to different destinations to take pictures. I probably won’t post all of them on my blog (since I don’t want to be blatant with my narcissism), but I plan on loading some of them to Flickr and Tumblr. Those seem to be the more appropriate place for lots of pictures.

Do you ever play dress-up? What outfits do you have hiding in your closet? What do you think about Steampunk?

31 thoughts on “Hey, Punk! (Playing Dress-Up)”

  1. M.J. Fifield says:
    June 17, 2015 at 8:17 AM

    I did see this on Facebook, and I think it’s awesome. (I love steampunk.) I would never be brave enough to even pose for pictures, forget post them where people might see them.

    I have half a River Tam outfit in my closet. Thought I could wear it to a Comic Con one year when I had the other half of the costume…and tickets to Comic Con.

    Reply
  2. Beth says:
    June 17, 2015 at 8:22 AM

    oh fun!! so cute! I love playing dress up, I used to put on some of my fancy dresses and just take pics years ago (sadly the glitter always sprinkled everywhere so I had to stop lol) and Jay’s post taught me what steampunk is! I’d never known before that!

    Reply
  3. Crystal Collier says:
    June 17, 2015 at 8:38 AM

    SO much fun. I love dressing up, but the only time I do it anymore is when we go on a cruise. Heck, doing my hair is more than the daily routine demands, but one day I’ll have time again.

    Love the picture.

    Reply
  4. Arlee Bird says:
    June 17, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    I’m not on Facebook much and when I am I usually don’t pay attention to a lot of the pictures so consequently I missed your photo. This photo in the post looks pretty good though.

    I don’t normally play dress up and don’t have much unusual dress up potential in my closet. Steampunk is kind of interesting although I don’t get into it all that deeply.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Road trippin’ with A to Z
    Tossing It Out

    Reply
  5. Chrys Fey says:
    June 17, 2015 at 12:43 PM

    *whistles* Hey, sexy! 😉 I love this picture of you and can’t wait to see the others. Playing dress up is fun, And who doesn’t love a corset and skirt look? Steampunk is really cool. I wish I could have a photo shoot like that.

    Reply
  6. Lexa Cain says:
    June 17, 2015 at 12:53 PM

    Very cute pic! Love the hat! I did Medieval recreations in my 20s and made all the Medieval costumes myself. It was fun. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Melissa Maygrove says:
    June 17, 2015 at 1:01 PM

    Most people don’t like to see themselves in pictures. I’m the first one in that line. 😛 Don’t sweat it. You’re gorgeous. 🙂

    I agree about the location. The perspective and the contrast with your clothing is captivating. I still love the ‘purple’ picture with the goggles, though. I’m not sure you’ll ever come up with one I like more than that. 😉

    Reply
  8. Emma Adams says:
    June 17, 2015 at 2:59 PM

    Awesome photos! I do like steampunk fantasy books. I’ve cosplayed at conventions a couple of times, but I have friends who are a lot more serious about it than I am!

    Reply
  9. Mary Pax says:
    June 17, 2015 at 3:04 PM

    I haven’t played dress up yet, but your awesome photo makes it tempting.

    Reply
  10. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    June 17, 2015 at 4:55 PM

    That photo is awesome! Wow, she did a great job and picked the perfect location. You should be very proud of that photo.

    Reply
  11. Liz Blocker (@lizblocker) says:
    June 17, 2015 at 5:59 PM

    Be blatant about your narcissism!! PLEASE??? Or better yet, be blatant about how FREAKING AWESOME the pics are and let me see the rest. Seriously, that’s such a gorgeous shot! You look incredible, I LOVE the dress, and the location is spectacular. Share share share, please! (It’s not narcissistic. It’s satisfying your friend’s curiosity.)

    Reply
  12. Al Diaz says:
    June 17, 2015 at 7:05 PM

    I think you look awesome and I was impressed since the very first glance. The dress, the hat, the location and the expression on your face, everything makes the perfect combination for a great picture.

    Reply
  13. Jeri says:
    June 17, 2015 at 11:19 PM

    Well look at you 😉 Very nice and can’t wait to see more pictures. I still occasionally get into Halloween on occasion, but that’s about it. Dress-up is undeniably fun and I should find more excuses to do so. I’ve not read many Steampunk stories, but it just looks and sounds like loads of run.

    Reply
  14. Roland Clarke says:
    June 18, 2015 at 1:58 AM

    Like the outfit, Loni, but I missed it on Facebook. Fan of steampunk and even sneak bits of it in, when I can. My manuscript going out to beta readers, “Storms Compass”, has bits of steampunk/greenpunk.

    Reply
  15. C.G.Coppola says:
    June 18, 2015 at 5:04 AM

    I’ve always been intrigued by Steampunk (so visually attractive!) but never really understood its place/rules. The article by Jay Noel does a great job explaining! And you look AMAZING.

    When are we getting more pics? And did you have a complete blast during the photo shoot??

    Reply
  16. Leandra Wallace says:
    June 18, 2015 at 6:08 AM

    I love that rich blue of the skirt. And the hat! It’s a great pic, can’t wait to see all the others!

    Reply
  17. Nick Wilford says:
    June 18, 2015 at 9:54 AM

    You look great! Cami did well with the location. It would make a good book cover. 🙂

    Reply
  18. dolorah says:
    June 18, 2015 at 4:23 PM

    That’s a great picture. And I love the setting.

    Reply
  19. CD Gallant-King says:
    June 18, 2015 at 9:49 PM

    Looking steamy, love it! 😉

    I love playing dress up but haven’t had the time or opportunity to do so for years. Went through a goth phase in the late 90s. Gave up my leather pants and eyeliner around the time I got married. I’m sure it was just a coincidence.

    Reply
  20. Mason T. Matchak says:
    June 18, 2015 at 9:59 PM

    That’s awesome. ^_^ My friends and I cosplay as various characters every year at Dragon*Con, so in my closet, I have costumes for Professor Snape and for Commander Bumi (from “Legend of Korra”). I have the stuff for a costume for Morpheus/Dream from Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman”, but I’ve never been able to get the hair right.

    As for steampunk, I like the ideas behind it, but I’ve never read a lot of it. I’m currently reading Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff, which is Japanese-inspired steampunk, and it’s been good so far.

    Reply
  21. Christine Rains says:
    June 19, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    AMAZING picture! I love it. I do like to dress up. If only people could wear costumes every day! 🙂 Have a lovely weekend.

    Reply
  22. Mark Koopmans says:
    June 19, 2015 at 9:05 AM

    Hey Loni,

    Great picture – and a cool setting, too (good for you for trusting your friend 🙂

    I don’t play with costumes too much… unless it’s October 31, and then all is fair game 🙂

    Reply
  23. ChemistKen says:
    June 19, 2015 at 12:44 PM

    I’ve been known to dress up as a potions master every so often, usually around Halloween, but that’s about it. Oh, and I’ve been reading more steampunk lately, too!

    Reply
  24. Medeia Sharif says:
    June 19, 2015 at 1:32 PM

    You look amazing. I deleted my FB, but remember seeing this. I was never one to play dress-up except on Halloween.

    Reply
  25. Cherie Reich says:
    June 19, 2015 at 2:09 PM

    One of my favorite things about being in plays was getting my costume. Dressing up like that is fun. What a beautiful dress too! It’s a wonderful picture.

    Reply
  26. Milo James Fowler says:
    June 21, 2015 at 7:56 AM

    Very steampunky! As a rule, I don’t play dress up, but the Mrs. and I recently visited a ghost town and had one of those old-fashioned photos taken. Too much fun.

    Reply
  27. Misha says:
    June 22, 2015 at 10:03 AM

    Love it!

    My outfits are pretty boring in comparison. Although I recently bought a vintage designer jacket (for $15, which is such a steal).

    I have a tumblr too, if you want to connect there. mishagerrick.tumblr.com

    Reply
  28. Celine says:
    June 22, 2015 at 8:40 PM

    You look great! I do love dressing up, but these days it’s only ever really for costume parties. I did used to wear a bowler hat to work a few years ago, which considering I worked in a very stuffy part of finance caused quite the stir! 😉

    I absolutely love steampunk (both reading it and writing it), and recently I also discovered dieselpunk which is also very cool!

    Reply
  29. Southpaw HR Sinclair says:
    June 23, 2015 at 11:13 AM

    OMG! You are so adorable! Love the outfit too. Too bad I’m not a facebook user. 🙁
    —And I’ve never say what is in my closet.

    Reply
  30. Kristin Smith says:
    July 1, 2015 at 2:14 PM

    Holy cow, girl! You look HOT!! Love, love, love the corset, your pose, the location, EVERYTHING! This is such a great picture (and I’m totally jealous!) 🙂 Can’t wait to see more!!

    I think I need to find you on Facebook so we can be friends… I’ll go look for you now! You can find me as Kristin Royster Smith if I have trouble finding you. 🙂

    Reply
  31. Sarah says:
    July 15, 2015 at 3:42 PM

    Gorgeous! Love the outfit and the shot. Fantastic.
    I love playing dress-up. (One of the reasons I love Halloween so much.) You’re making me want to do a photo shoot. I’m over 40 but you are never too old to play dress-up. So says me. 😉

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Beth Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to my blog. I post here on the first Wednesday of the month. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

Recent Posts

  • Falling Behind #IWSG
  • Trying to Breathe #IWSG
  • Halfway There #IWSG
  • The Dog Ate My Brain #IWSG
  • Changes, Changes, Changes #IWSG

Categories

Books and Anthologies

© 2025 Squirrel Talk | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme