Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Emo, Goth, geek chic, into body mods, tattoos, piercings...you know, just alt.

Surely there must be more than just me out there in the wilds of susan's?

I have a number of EGL (Elegant Gothic Lolita) dresses, if that counts?  I haven't had an occasion to wear one in a while sadly (excepting Halloween), but they're there, and fun.

Oooh, forgot about the whole lolita thing, I wish i could carry that off, but i'm not convinced I could.

Quote from: Helena on January 28, 2011, 04:16:51 PM
Oooh, forgot about the whole lolita thing, I wish i could carry that off, but i'm not convinced I could.

I'll bet you could.  I wig probly couldn't hurt though; short hair doesn't really work with the style.  Until my hair reached a proper length I had a couple wigs for it.

I probably don't count as alt. I listen sporadically to a handful of folk metal songs and bury myself in fantasy/sci-fi books, and I suspect you're thinking more about the clothing style ;)

That said, I would sooooooo love to have some buckled trousers <3

I've kind of always been from the goth/punk side of things but now I'm just old!!! :P

I quite like the whole rockerbilly/burlesque thing, I managed to pull off an red polka dot 50s style halterneck dress really rather well last friday

Quote from: MillieB on January 28, 2011, 04:38:09 PM
I've kind of always been from the goth/punk side of things but now I'm just old!!! :P

you're never too old Millie, look at vivian westwood

Yeah, I kind of do tbh. I don't really dress old (I'm not even that old) but I do think that I've gotten quite confortable with my own brand of nerdwear! :laugh:

Geek chic rocks. ;D

I'm a transgendered computer nerd with tattoos, a motorcycle, and a penchant for incorporating female garments into my every day clothing. I have red/black and purple/black striped nylon armwarmers. Hmm... and I really love steampunk things. Does that make me an alt girl?

Woot!  Definitely Emo/Goth.  I generally lean toward Gothic Victorian with a dash of Lolita.  :)
I don't do it as often as I would like.  I'm never sure if people are staring at me because I'm trans (which I don't like)...or because I'm goth (which I don't mind at all). 
.
<==  Last Halloween I went as a Gothic Fallen Angel.  I'm thinking about maybe doing a cross of goth/steampunk next year.  :D 
.

I'm pretty geeky.  I love oxford shirts and recently bought a pair of houndstooth wellies.  I don't have glasses but I read Stephen Hawking for fun.  I suppose that qualifies me as an alt girl.

LOL!

  I like my piercings..... and I love tattoos although I'm waiting to treat myself until after GRS.

  Yep, I'm more that a little "Alt"   I'm older (40) but I gravitate towards the goth thing. I won't mention my BDSM tendencies ;-)

I have a dragon tattoo, wear semi-military style tops, love tight jeans, and passed very well in goth mode. I'm just too folk-y for goth mode all the time.

My musical tastes must be alternative by today's standards:
Coheed and Cambria, Marina and the Diamonds (not where I got my name, I swear!), Grateful Dead, Erin Bode, Counting Crows, Amy Macdonald, Third Eye Blind, Bob Dylan, The Who, Rancid, The Distillers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones...

I have musical ADD  :)

I would say I'm considered alt in a sense. I definitely associate myself with being a crusty..

maaaybe some hipster tendencies but I'm not ashamed to admit it haha.

I was a super street punk a few years ago grew out of that though.

Quote from: JessicaR on January 29, 2011, 01:08:07 AM
LOL!

  I like my piercings..... and I love tattoos although I'm waiting to treat myself until after GRS.

I have a few plans for tattoos...well more than a few...more like loads.

I really like the fact i can show off the ones i'v already got better than i could before

I don't like tattoos, but I do have plans for a few piercings... somewhere... after SRS.  ;)

I went through a dark / goth / emo thing when I was much younger, but today I'm really just a quiet nerdy girl. (Doesn't mean I don't enjoy some of the more...eccentric... interests with those I know.)  ::)

Steampunk! <3

Quote from: heatherrose on January 29, 2011, 05:45:03 AM

:icon_builder:

Do you count "Steam Punk" as "Alt"?

Yeppo...I know a few people that rock the steam punk look and it rocks

Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk????

Quote from: LordKAT on January 29, 2011, 07:17:06 AM
Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk????

It's basically a gothic-y based style which is based around the Victorian era in Britain. A good way to sum it up is by thinking about what would happen if steam powered everything, and if technology had stayed very 'Victorian'.

It's amazing :D Steampunk Wiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk).

Quote from: LordKAT on January 29, 2011, 07:17:06 AM
Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk????

It's the world that would have resulted if charles babbage had actually built his mechanical computer.

Quote from: LordKAT on January 29, 2011, 07:17:06 AM
Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk????

.
I'll have to disagree with Lairiana a small amount.  Usually steampunk isn't particularly gothic. (though I do like the gothic slant to the picture on the page she linked to)  Other than that though, she hit it right on the mark.
.
Generally: Fantasy/Sci-fi involving Victorian style dress/stylings, machinery comprised of the best 19th Century (often steam-power) science had to offer, doing amazing things that that type of machine generally couldn't do in the real world (think:  "The Time Machine" (HG Wells)  or "20 thousand Leagues under the sea" (Jules Verne).  Or maybe "Wild Wild West (60's TV show or 90's movie) or "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (Movie or Graphic novel)  Or the anime "Fullmetal Alechemist".  Or one of my favorite web comics "Girl Genius." (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php))
.
Great stuff though.  :)

Quote from: Kay on January 29, 2011, 09:51:03 AM
.
I'll have to disagree with Lairiana a small amount.  Usually steampunk isn't particularly gothic. (though I do like the gothic slant to the picture on the page she linked to)  Other than that though, she hit it right on the mark.
.
Generally: Fantasy/Sci-fi involving Victorian style dress/stylings, machinery comprised of the best 19th Century (often steam-power) science had to offer, doing amazing things that that type of machine generally couldn't do in the real world (think:  "The Time Machine" (HG Wells)  or "20 thousand Leagues under the sea" (Jules Verne).  Or maybe "Wild Wild West (60's TV show or 90's movie) or "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (Movie or Graphic novel)  Or the anime "Fullmetal Alechemist".  Or one of my favorite web comics "Girl Genius." (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php))
.
Great stuff though.  :)

Have you read Difference Engine by william gibson? So steam punk it hurts

The Difference Engine was written by Gibson AND Bruce Sterling.

To me, it's one exaple of "actual" steampunk. It seems like a lot of people think "if I stick a bunch of cogs on this thing, it'll be SO STEAMPUNK!!!". To me, mere cogs/other brass stuff is not enough. It needs to be functional and Victorian, or possibly Edwardian. I like the style, though, when done right.

Quote from: Kay on January 29, 2011, 09:51:03 AM
I'll have to disagree with Lairiana a small amount.  Usually steampunk isn't particularly gothic. (though I do like the gothic slant to the picture on the page she linked to)  Other than that though, she hit it right on the mark.

Gothic is pretty much a Victorian thing, and it does go hand-in-hand with Steampunk quite a bit. It's not as "goth" as gothic, but there's definitely some gothic influences from the dress style to the music/writings and even the art. Steampunk is like a brown 'n' gold goth at times ;)

Quote from: PixieBoy on January 29, 2011, 10:04:17 AM
The Difference Engine was written by Gibson AND Bruce Sterling.

To me, it's one exaple of "actual" steampunk. It seems like a lot of people think "if I stick a bunch of cogs on this thing, it'll be SO STEAMPUNK!!!". To me, mere cogs/other brass stuff is not enough. It needs to be functional and Victorian, or possibly Edwardian. I like the style, though, when done right.

I have drooled and fantasized over this ever since I first saw it: http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm (http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm)

Quote from: Helena on January 29, 2011, 04:11:38 AM
I have a few plans for tattoos...well more than a few...more like loads.

I really like the fact i can show off the ones i'v already got better than i could before

I want a tramp stamp, damnit!

I love steampunk stuff :D  Haven't tried to build anything yet, but I plan on it eventually.

I guess by your description I'm not much of an alt girl though.  I really like science and science fiction, but my appearance is pretty average and every-day... most of the time ;)

I have musical ADD

That's a good thing to have.  People ask me if I like a certain band or sound and I give them a number.  They get all like 'is that how many points out of a hundred?' and I go: "No, that how many minutes I can stand it before I feel compelled to get up and put something different on."

Sometimes, like if I'm doing a show like I did a year ago or so, where the top 3 acts are Hatebreed, Trivium and Cannibal Corpse I have to try pretty hard not to really listen to anything before the band I really want to listen to comes on, on or I will be uselessly burning through my daily allotments of Metal.  45 minutes of that at 100+db is good by me, I don't need more than that in a day.  (Cannibal Corpse for those of you who were wondering.)

There is stuff like classical string music - trios and quartets in particular - late 50s/early 60s jazz, Bob Dylan and live Dead/Garcia tapes that I have enough of a taste in the genre (or unfortunate events in the past) to let that music play for days and days and days and not think about changing it.  But some stuff like Tuvan throat singing, a couple songs are cool, 20 minutes of it is pushing it, and more than that is officially irritating.

Hell, after 90 minutes (out of what I knew was a 3 hour show) of Paul McCartney I got up and left walked around the stadium, went to a market, and had a doughnut and tried to clear my head so I could come back and watch the last hour (which of course had all the best stuff in it.)

Quote from: Helena on January 29, 2011, 09:59:49 AM
Have you read Difference Engine by william gibson? So steam punk it hurts

.
I haven't yet, but if it's that good, I'll definitely add it to my reading list.  :)  Thanks!
.

Quote from: Lairiana on January 29, 2011, 10:15:21 AM
Gothic is pretty much a Victorian thing, and it does go hand-in-hand with Steampunk quite a bit. It's not as "goth" as gothic, but there's definitely some gothic influences from the dress style to the music/writings and even the art. Steampunk is like a brown 'n' gold goth at times ;)

.
While I can see where you're coming from, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. 
.
To me, goth (clothing) is a general style (usually involving darker elements ) with several vastly different sub-genres.  There's Cyber (circutry and rather bright flourescent almost rave scene), Industrial (chains, metal, rivethead, etc), Lolita (think gothic china-doll, lace, frilly), Punk , Fetish (Vinyl, Latex, etc), Victorian (often Edwardian and Renaissance styles get lumped in here, even if they're not technically the same) , Wa (Traditional Japanese dress), Qi (Chinese dress from the Qing dynasty), and a ton of other styles and sub-categories. 
.
Maybe I've read/viewed different steampunk material than you have.  Generally the ones I've viewed don't tend to be filled with the darker subjects and themes of traditional gothic literature. 
(Though, gothic + steampunk would be absolutely awesome. :)   Sadly, I haven't seen an example of it yet.)
.
Anyway...my point is that Victorian is a style in it's own right that is separate from Gothic.  One sub-genre of Gothic can be very Victorian...but just because something has Victorian  leanings, doesn't necessarily mean that it's gothic. 
.

Quote from: n00bsWithBoobs on January 29, 2011, 10:58:02 AM
I have drooled and fantasized over this ever since I first saw it: http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm (http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm)

.
Love it!  :)

Quote from: Helena on January 28, 2011, 04:39:37 PM
you're never too old Millie, look at vivian westwood

I sooo love Vivienne Westwood! I used to be some kind of combination of new-wave/punk/girlie when I was young but now I think 'punk chique' would probable best describe me. A punk chique woman that is :) I adore Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Alexander McQueen, etc. I always try to not stand out too much because of, well, you know, but I just can't manage to be very plain either. I still love safety pins, lol, but I prefer them with little diamonds now :) Designer clothing is expensive though. If you know some more afordable brands in that style with an online store then please DO let me know.

We have one very nice brand here in the Netherlands: http://www.corakemperman.nl (http://www.corakemperman.nl). Unfortunately she doesn't have an online store. I always spend too much whenever I go there.. The people working there have always been so nice and helping. Another Dutch brand I like: http://www.yarnunit.com (http://www.yarnunit.com) and they do have an online store. Ooohhh shopping. I just can't get enough of it. Just today I bought a lovely grey softleather shoulder bag full with zippers and a gorgeous dress from Best Behavior. Oh yeah, love that brand too: http://www.bestbehaviorshop.com/ (http://www.bestbehaviorshop.com/)

Steam Punk: 20th and 21st century technology built using {a veneer of} 19th century methods and materials.  To be sure, we don't have a clue as to what 22nd century technology would look like.  It's really what the world might have (kinda, not really, its a retro nostalgia fashion deal more than a reenacting deal) been like had it not resorted to electricity and plastic.

It would be more punk if they really used more steam power.  Steam is all messy, and with all that water vapor under pressure is was very dangerous.  Boilers had this nasty problem of exploding.  Just like gas light had that very pleasing yellow light, but also was pretty filthy and would, on occasion, blow up houses.

Quote from: tekla on January 30, 2011, 08:32:04 AM
Steam Punk: 20th and 21st century technology built using {a veneer of} 19th century methods and materials.  To be sure, we don't have a clue as to what 22nd century technology would look like.  It's really what the world might have (kinda, not really, its a retro nostalgia fashion deal more than a reenacting deal) been like had it not resorted to electricity and plastic.

It would be more punk if they really used more steam power.  Steam is all messy, and with all that water vapor under pressure is was very dangerous.  Boilers had this nasty problem of exploding.  Just like gas light had that very pleasing yellow light, but also was pretty filthy and would, on occasion, blow up houses.

You know, I just had a GREAT idea for a short story that I'm going to write. I'm thinking... steam punk meets Star Trek. My nipples just got hard thinking about how awesome steam punk in space would be (which makes me a very, very, very weird nerd) (better than Harry Potter slash fiction, I suppose)

Steam power in space, why not?  It's not like Trek didn't take certain liberties with physics.

Quote from: tekla on January 30, 2011, 09:21:55 AM
Steam power in space, why not?  It's not like Trek didn't take certain liberties with physics.

WHAAA-?? Are you saying that Heisenberg Compensators and moving 10x the speed of light isn't possible?!?!   ;D

I always thought that the original Star Trek took place in a time far, far away, were there were no acting schools anymore.

I grew up on punk/indie stuff and it's still at the root of my music interests. I'm like a lot of people who grew up listening to different music. I grew up around DC and was involved in mostly Dischord (record label) bands and ethos. It wasn't about the clothes you wore, it was more about how you lived your life and what you were doing while you were here. I always liked that you could see me on the street and you'd maybe have me pegged for listening to some other music other than what I was listening to on my headphones. I'll never forget when I was flying way before transition and I was in a suit with headphones on, like 2000 or 2001 I think. This punky looking kid next to me saw the ipod song that I was listening to (it was some Rites of Spring song) and tapped me on my arm and started a conversation. He couldn't BELIEVE that "a businessman" was listening to Rites of Spring. Sometimes the "alt" people around you might look like your mom or dad or the librarian or the banker. But lurking on their itunes is a playlist that looks like this:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi184.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx153%2Fmeghanandrews%2F013011playlist.jpg&hash=2ffd1b382ae0f64146e3692237300f1f9b8be936)

I've seen My Bloody Valentine live.

I think my ears are still suffering for it a few years on.

I recall a couple of my students dragging me with them to Lollapaloza II (I had worked L1, so I was aware of the deal) and they kept on going on about how these bands were different from other bands because they were 'alternative'.  So I inquired about what exactly made these band so different - because as far as I could tell they were using the same equipment, the same style of songs, the same chord changes as the non-alternative bands were using.  So they told me that what really made them 'alternative' was that they were not bound to the old school/old standard of success like people like Frank Sinatra or the Beatles were.  So I pointed out to them that their favorite 'alternative' act on the bill was represented by the William Morris Agency, and were recording for Reprise Records, which just wasn't the old school standard, but pretty much the old school gold standard.  And Reprise Records?  Founded by the very same Frank Sinatra.

Quote from: tekla on January 30, 2011, 10:13:01 AM
So they told me that what really made them 'alternative' was that they were not bound to the old school/old standard of success like people like Frank Sinatra or the Beatles were.  So I pointed out to them that their favorite 'alternative' act on the bill was represented by the William Morris Agency, and were recording for Reprise Records, which just wasn't the old school standard, but pretty much the old school gold standard.

Lol, Tekla! Yeah, being at Lollapalooza and talking about bands that weren't bound to the "old school" standard of success is pretty funny. It's like when I go back and listen to the Sex Pistols (who I think went on to play in stadiums or something recently) and the music, which was considered so offensive and "punk rock" in the 70's and now it seems tame.

I was joking one night with my favorite local punk-rocker - after he drove up in a brand new state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV luxury vehicle - 'so are you selling out now?'  He laughed and told me "Hell, I'm not even finished buying-in yet."

Quote from: tekla on January 30, 2011, 10:26:35 AM
I was joking one night with my favorite local punk-rocker - after he drove up in a brand new state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV luxury vehicle - 'so are you selling out now?'  He laughed and told me "Hell, I'm not even finished buying-in yet."

Reminds me of SLC Punk.

My favorite character in that was Mike.

I get weird looks and conversation due to my playlists too. My favorite music scene is the one in Oakland, CA. A white girl that loves folk music (well, they see boy)!  :)

Akira is pretty much the only Anime that I'm semi-familiar with. My brothers are huge into all sorts of anime / steampunk / gaming. I did the Final Fantasy and D&D binge in High School. I was a dungeon master, it was fun, like allowing your friends to move through pictures that you painted. Life happens though, and here I am.

Yeah, except that he is a real punk star in SF and LA.  But what's punk without a luxury SUV?

I played in a Punk and progressive bands for most of my life. We were even on a label for a short while (really short LOL).  I still carry myself a little that way through my transition.  It's actually made it easier for me in the eyes of those around me.
I grew up listening to the Smiths, Duran Duran (yep), The Cure, Depeche Mode, INXS, The Smithereens, Suzie and the Banshees, The Cult, The Police...and a whole lot more.

I've always been into the punk music scene and at times it's been obvious by looking at me.

I'm sure once I ultimately begin to transition, I'll continue to sport the look from time to time.

I'll certainly continue listening to the music and going to shows.

Does metal count? You wouldn't guess besides asking me and band shirts/metal coat with patches, though. I guess though typically there's not much more to it besides maybe having a beard, but naturally that's out of the question.

I was very into the gothy, darkwave type stuff, especially when I was younger. I still love listening to a lot of it. Switchblade Symphony, Bauhaus, Siouxie of course. I even played the guitar in a gothy band called Elenora.

I listen to alt, indy, and basically whatever sounds good... I don't discriminate. A small cross-section of alternative and alternrock I have includes: This is Fort Apache, The Beat(En) Generation Volume 1, Local H, Garbage, Filter, Lowest of the Low, Matthew Good, Modest Mouse, The New Pornographers, Stars (my fave), The Weakerthans, Travis, Sloan, Moseley Shoals, etc. You get the point. :laugh: As for clothing style, I don't know, I still have to define it! As a guy I dressed more alt than anyone in my peer group; girls thought I looked cool, guys thought I looked gay (so did my parents, and they made sure I knew they knew). hahaha

Proudly Geek Chic; arcade jewelry, geek chic wear, 80s flouros, D20 bracelets and earings.
Hell, I even have a Jester's Cap tattooed on me:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtgvault.com%2Fimages%2Fcards%2FICE%2FJesters_Cap.jpg&hash=75bb34904d3851a96c82c0fb88473b7e308c50b7)

Quote from: Caitj on January 31, 2011, 06:39:20 PM
Proudly Geek Chic; arcade jewelry, geek chic wear, 80s flouros, D20 bracelets and earings.
Hell, I even have a Jester's Cap tattooed on me:

I disbelieve, no one could have so much awesome.

Quote from: Serra on January 31, 2011, 08:11:22 PM
I disbelieve, no one could have so much awesome.

Pics or didn't happen, eh?
I'll post some images of my goodies on here when I get home  :D

Here ya go:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnoobtown.co.nz%2Fgeek1.jpg&hash=94ad6fb265be0d4124a79b815543d5e4ea749f14)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnoobtown.co.nz%2Fgeek2.jpg&hash=1cc165c64663da45ce5fad8fafd6e158e434869e)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnoobtown.co.nz%2Fgeek3.jpg&hash=baae73718527d6354e1f801e8dfa50c519ea562e)

Quote from: Helena on January 28, 2011, 01:04:56 PM
Emo, Goth, geek chic, into body mods, tattoos, piercings...you know, just alt.

Surely there must be more than just me out there in the wilds of susan's?

Nope, it's just you, and all those replies were just from your multiple personality alter egos

I love tattoos and piercings. I have sailor sparrows tattooed on my feet, a monroe piercing, and I have a couple more ideas for other tattoos I want to get eventually. :)

Cait; That purple one is so purty  :D

I once gifted a little underprivileged girl a set of pink and black dungeon dice and an entire three book set of D&D core rule books that I had laying around. She was adorable, reminded me of myself. I hope she turns those dice into a necklace someday now :)

Note: NO i didn't read any comments before posting...

Does steampunk qualify as alternative? Cuz Iz wear goggles and a trenchcoat lol