Vintage Goggles with Steampunk Style

If you're at all familiar with Steampunk, you probably have already seen many awesome pairs of vintage goggles and other types of eye wear. But if you've had trouble finding your own pair at the local army & navy store (often a great source), you might want to take a look at some of the options here.

You don't always have to buy expensive vintage goggles to get the right look for the outfit you are wearing. Some newer goggles work just as well -- you'd be surprised how steamy a pair of brand new welding goggles can look and for a lot less money. Even simple safety glasses or goggles can work with the right outfit. So don't be afraid to experiment. You can always pop out and replace lenses, or simply use spray paint to get the right color.

I own a pair of vintage Royal Air Force goggles that I picked up in an army surplus store for about $30. They are very similiar (in fact, I'd say identical) to the Swiss Military goggles and those are easily found on Ebay.

Almost all of these types of vintage goggles feature laces that tie at the back of your head, but you can easily replace these either with an adjustable band or with leather laces.

If you decide to paint the frames, be sure to protect the piece of velvet that lines the inner frame.

Some sellers on Ebay have clued to the fact that the Steampunk and Cosplay communities are actively seeking cool pairs of vintage goggles to wear. So if you are hunting on Ebay, be sure to look for vintage steampunk goggles or cosplay goggles in your searches.

If you are looking for a pair of quintessential brass goggles, there also some Ebay sellers who specialize in custom work, so if you aren't handy yourself, you should still be able to find a hot pair of brass goggles to wear.

If you would like to make your own goggles, here is a tutorial for making brass goggles that should get you started. This pair is quite high end, made with actual brass and leather.

For something much cheaper, but still pretty sharp looking, check out the tutorial for costume goggles that you can make out of toilet paper rolls! Just spray paint them and you are all set for your photo shoot! If you need more props, you can also find tutorials for making your own ray guns.

Here's a tip if you are doing a photo shoot. Want to get a nice vintage look? Try using a Holga camera or another toy cam like a Diana for your pictures. Or try doing some thru the viewfinder shots with an old twin lens reflex or a Kodak duaflex. Any of these camera will create a unique look.

If an authentic pair of vintage goggles is a little too pricey for your wallet, get yourself a cheap pair of welding goggles. You can pick up a pair for less than $10 and then modify them without having to worry about ruining an expensive pair of vintage glasses.