Steampunk Costumes and Clothing Fashion

admin — Wed, 21 May 2008 00:59:49 +0000

Steampunk costumes feature the styles and aesthetics borrowed from the English Victorian and Edwardian time periods. Steampunk costumes can resemble the gentry or the common man or woman from these eras, with hats, shirts, pants, dresses and footwear suitable for this look. Traditionally, steampunk costumes have been popular at cosplay events, however, steampunk is now bridging the gap to mainstream culture, and certain styles are becoming common in everyday wear. Steampunk clothing continues to influence modern fashion, and it is expected to climb in prominence and popularity as the genre becomes better known.

Steampunk goggles

Commonly featured in steampunk fiction, brass goggles are a definitive item for this genre. These goggles, which often feature a leather harness, brass lens holders and thick optics designed to enhance or protect eyesight, are a hot item among steampunk fans.

Steampunk Watches and Timepieces

Faithful to the steampunk genre, timepieces are a prominent accessory, featured in many works of steampunk fiction. Perfectly fitting in with the Victorian era look, watches and pocket watches, with brass exteriors and visible mechanics, like elaborate and intricate gears and switches, are essential possessions for any steampunk fan.

What is Steampunk?

Steampunk is a genre of fantasy fiction that is set in an alternate history during the Victoria and Edwardian era in England. Steampunk is known for its unique clothing fashion, which features European Goth and American western influences. In addition to steam punk clothing, accessories, like timepieces, goggles and mechanical gadgets, are frequently portrayed by characters of this genre. Technology from this fantasy world is limited to non-electric and non-gas powered devices. As such, machines, such as analog computers, airships, locomotives and other grand inventions, utilize the mechanics of gears, levers, switches and buttons al powered by steam or some unexplained means of power. Steampunk has been popularized in films, books, anime and manga, and continues to penetrate mainstream culture.

Steampunk and Victoria Gothic Lolita

admin — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:01:44 +0000

Steampunk fashion often borrows heavily from Victorian Goth. In Japan, Elegant Gothic Lolita is a niche of Lolita fashion that favors black and white clothing with intense details and accents. Much of this clothing style draws from the Edwardian, Victorian and Rococo periods. Girls typically dress heavy, wear dense makeup and carry accessories like parasols and handbags fitting for the style.

Gothic Steampunk Accessories

Accessories are a major feature that identifies steampunk Goth and Gothic Lolita fashion. Props like crosses, bats, coffins and skulls often decorate the wearer. Pocket watches, small books and teddy bears are also accessories that they may carry. For men, gadgets like timepieces and optical devices are commonly seen. Steampunk goggles are one of the most popular items of the genre, and are usually featured with large brass frames and a fitting leather harness.

Gothic and Steampunk Culture

Gothic Lolita culture is popular in various Japanese districts, such as Harajuku, but it remains largely unknown outside of the country. Steampunk fashion, however, is gaining popularity around the world, and because the two styles are based in the same time period, they frequently show many similarities. As cosplay, or the act of dressing up as anime characters, becomes a global phenomenon, it is likely that steampunk and gothic fashion will spread more readily.

More About Steampunk and Gothic Fashion

Gothic steampunk is set in the 19 th century, usually within the Victorian or Edwardian periods in England. The style borrows heavily from the overall Gothic movement, and blends fantasy elements from an alternative history where electricity and gas powered engines are absent. In this fictional universe, steam powered machines are at the height of technological progress, and many analog gadgets with key, cranks, gears and levers dominate the setting. Steampunk clothing can come as plain as the working class of the Rococo period, or as pompous and exuberant as the tastes and lifestyles of the aristocrats and royalty of that period.