What is Steampunk Fashion?
Steampunk fashion is a distinctive style of clothing that combines retro-futuristic 19th-century steam-powered technology aesthetics with Punk, Goth, and other alternative fashion styles from the 1970s and 80s.
The Steampunk dressing style draws inspiration from the Industrial and Victorian eras and originated from the Steampunk SCI-FI fiction subgenre of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Origin of Steampunk Fashion
The aesthetic of Steampunk fashion is inspired by the Industrial Era (1760-1840), when the steam engine came to life.
As a steam engine is more complex, large, and loud, steampunk fashion is also a statement look with extravagant details and unique accessories.
Steampunk fashion also draws from the Victorian Era (1837-1901), during which steam-based technology was booming in Europe and the United States.
However, the most critical aspect of Steampunk fashion is its retrofuturistic aesthetic.
Steampunk fashion is inspired by how Victorians imagined a future based on steam technology and its possible implications in their lives, including clothing.
The dream never came true due to the industrial production of electricity at the end of the 19th century and its vast adoption as the primary power source.
Yet Steampunk remains one of the most popular retro-futuristic aesthetics and a central theme of many successful SCI-FI fictions.
One of those fictions is Morlock Night, an SCI-FI novel by K.W. Jeter in 1979, which popularized the idea of Steampunk.
Officially recognized as a style of its own in the late 80s fashion, steampunk became a hot topic in the cinema and the fashion industry.
The first steampunk convention, called SalonCon, took place in 2006 and has seen steampunk enthusiasts dressed in costumes depicting a blend of Victorian romance and retro-futurism.
Nowadays, steampunk fashion thrives in the world of Cosplay due to its eclectic style, which blends old and new.
However, many people wear steampunk outfits as part of their daily fashion style.
Steampunk Fashion in Books, Movies, and TV Series
The steampunk genre and aesthetics are found in past works such as The Brothers Grimm, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Sucker Punch, depicting explorers, soldiers, countesses, harlots, and lords.
Alan Moore’s comic book series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen represents steampunk aesthetics.
The story occurs in an imaginary Victorian age and features famous 19th-century characters like Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, and the invisible man.
Hollywood also depicted several facets of steampunk fashion in world-famous movies like Sherlock Holmes, Van Helsing, Mad Max, and Wild Wild West.
Another source of great steampunk outfits and a steampunk society is the crime show Castle, which has an entire episode dedicated to steampunk fashion.
American reality television series America’s Next Top Model is also a great source of steampunk dresses, notably a 2013 episode where models competed in a steampunk-themed photoshoot.
Steampunk on the Runway
During the 20th century, steampunk fashion grew alongside the punk movement and the Goth fashion style.
Nowadays, there’s an overlap between Punk, Goth, and Steampunk aesthetics, with the genres often interlinked.
However, while all three genres include bustiers, bodices, jackets, hats, and handmade leather items, Punk, Goth, and Steampunk fashion looks are pretty different and easily recognisable.
In 2010, designer brands like Prada, Versace, Chanel, and Christian Dior started introducing neo-Victorian-inspired steampunk fashion on their runways.
Over the last decade, steampunk fashion has grown to accommodate gadgets and accoutrements, costumes and hairstyles have become more detailed, and make-up and jewellery have become closer to the depicted historical era.
How to Dress in Steampunk
The ‘steam’ element is what gives steampunk attire its Victorian style—a steampunk style with a retro look.
Also, a Steampunk-style outfit has to give a vibe and feel of posy, apocalyptic aesthetics and romantic allusions.
Steampunk Style Clothing for Women
For women, steampunk fashion styles are dominated by long, flowing dresses and regal jacket bodices.
Skirt hoops had an elliptical shape with a fuller back and a narrower silhouette at the front.
In the 20th century, flared skirts and oversized dresses made to look ‘intimidating’ became quite popular.
Also part of a steampunk dress, corsets acted as a statement piece instead of a functional undergarment.
Victorian-era steampunk corsets came in brocade or leather with steel and metal details like brass beads.
Over time, the embroidery and the details became more elusive, and the dresses featured sparkling beads, bangles, and other elaborate embroideries.
Modern steampunk outfits combine streetwear fashion, Goth clothing, burlesque, and fetishistic details.
Steampunk Style Clothing for Men
Men’s steampunk outfits include Victorian-style clothing, punk combat boots, and steam-tech accessories.
Sturdy Victorian tweed and cotton fabrics in muted earth tones, silk, wool, velvet, copper embroidery, golden details, and leather accessories are the main components of a classic Steampunk look for men.
Avoid modern elements, such as synthetic fabrics and bright colours.
Another essential Steampunk fashion item for men is a vintage Victorian-style waistcoat that goes over a white shirt.
It was infrequent to see men in public without a waistcoat during the Victorian Era.
The man’s shirt was considered the equivalent of an undergarment and was expected to be covered by a vest and coat.
Holding a Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication & Film Media from Arizona State University and having worked in the past for NBC, MGM, and NETFLIX, Steffanie Moyers is a prolific writer (four novels on Amazon, working on the fifth one) with editorial pieces published in Sotheby's, Power X, JAL Organics, and of course, The VOU.
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