Favorite Steampunk Costume?

(image: Matt Mechtley)



What is your favorite Steampunk costume?


Post your answer here!

Steampunk Aviator Costume Kit >>

Top 3 Tips for Women's Steampunk Clothing

(image: stephane)

Are you planning to rev up your wardrobe? Or are you a lover of Steampunk clothing and want to know how to look your best in such attire? Steampunk has gained momentum in recent times and is slated to become the next big fashion trend. Dont stay behind the trends. Try your hand at this fashion subgenre with information that will help you make the most of dressing in the Steampunk style.
If you are wondering how to start your Steampunk collection, here is help for you. Here we discuss the top three things that you should focus on while building your own collection of womens Steampunk clothing.
Top 3 Tips for Womens Steampunk Clothing
Womens Steampunk clothing combines the elegance of the Victorian era with the appeal of the industrial revolution and offers you something that caters to the modern taste. Whether it is Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes or Jessica Alba in a leather corset to lose her pregnancy weight, there is something for everyone with this fashion trend. But it isn't just about what you wear, it also needs you to have the right attitude to carry off this style with elan. Here are some tips to help you look you best in womens Steampunk clothing.
1. Be Original
Although any fashion trend is about following the latest conventions, originality always counts. Corsets remain a favorite among women, while the ultra stylish goggles add extra glitz to your look. As the name suggests, womens Steampunk clothing incorporates robust Victorian elements,such as the curvaceous feminine figure of the Victorian era, mixed with a pinch of mechanical futurism. You can try to mix and match different clothing items to come with a brand new look.
2. Love the Corset
If you want to be in the limelight in style, we suggest you make the tight-fitting corset your best friend. Although there are various forms and variants of corsets available, you need to consider your body shape before buying one for yourself. For instance, if you have larger breasts, wearing a corset is more comfortable than a bra, and the base rule should be that it should not stop you from sitting and breathing comfortably. You could also avoid wrapping the laces around your waist to prevent damage to the corset. One good reason to love the corset is that it has the power to make you look sexier.
3. Use Accessories to Add Authenticity to Your Outfit
Womens Steampunk clothing can be fun when you add accessories that bring authenticity to the outfit. You can try hats, reticules and eyewear, such as goggles, with the conventional leather corset and the Biker-styled Lycra trousers. It can be a perfect celebration of the fusion of hi-tech gadgets like your smart phone or the sleek tablet placed smartly in Victorian style cases.
Womens Steampunk clothing, which mimics the aesthetics of the 19th century, gives the modern woman an edge over those that actually lived during the Victorian era. You have the best of both worlds, with opportunities galore, whether it is in choosing what you wear or what your profession should be. So, make your own personal statement in style and flaunt not only your personality but also those luscious curves with the best in Steampunk wear.
Suman Bharti is a fashion designer and has expertise in designing steampunk and gothic clothing. To view his collection, visit Vintage Goth.
Victorian Plus Size Bolero Corset Top >>

3 Quick Steampunk Outfit Ideas

(image: Warvan)


Steampunk attire for women is based on Victorian-era clothing style, but incorporates elements of the industrial. Brass gears, fittings, leather and rivets are plentiful in steampunk fashion. Certain designers have described steampunk in general as the junction of romance and technology. Anything anachronistic and fictional are both mixed as well as matched with diverse elements. For example, it's totally acceptable for women to wear baby t-shirts with bustle skirts, goggles or corsets along with pantaloons plus riding boots. Steampunk attire can range from brown and neutral colors to deep and bold ones. It has a tendency to sport multiple layers with only a little skin exposure. Although hints of cleavage are often present, having high necklines is a must, as well as having your legs covered by stockings
lets talk women
1. Corsets
Although these weren't introduced during Victorian times, the narrow-waisted silhouettes they give is a trademark of the era. Cotton, pinstripe and velvet corsets all possess a steampunk vibe.
Now, corsets are often considered outerwear and in the context of steampunk, you will see them worn over blouses or shifts.
2. Bustle Skirts (often with padded backsides)
Bustle skirts provide the other half of the characteristic female silhouette in the victorian area. These skirts could be either straight in a "pencil" style, or round and full circle with many variations in between. One modern version seen today includes miniskirts with gathered lace back pieces attached. its really easy to be creative with bustle skirts not to mention how really nice they look.
3. Menswear and the Military for all
Women's steampunk [http://squidoo.com/steampunk_attire] attire is quite open to adopting fashion elements known as being worn traditionally be men or of a masculine style. Vests as well as waistcoats can be seen worn over ruffled blouses. Instead of skirts, well-tailored trousers are acceptable. Men's coats and tails might even be worn over bustles. to give that extra flavor of uniqueness. Earth tones were very common in the victorian era. Brown and black leather belts, suspenders, or boots will absolutely shout 'steampunk'. They are also easy to match to nearly any outfit so they can be a cost saving feature as well.
Lace on women, and even to a lesser extent on men, is another way to provide any ensemble with just the rite touch.military coats and other various jackets have been added to the unisex fashion that provides a fashionable look for both especially when topped off with accessories.
eye patches, pocket watches, and top hats are also known as stylish accessories for both men and women alike.
There is no limit to what one can create with his or hers imagination. the best part about the Steampunk style is YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG.. its purely creativity and everyone expresses it in very uniques ways.
for more information, ideas and cool pictures visit my squidoo [http://squidoo.com/steampunk_attire]

Steampunk: Is There Substance Behind the Style?

(Image: Steampunk Family the Von Hedgwicks)
Steampunk: Is There Substance Behind the Style?
By Gunner Hildebrand
The emergence of steampunk as a genre and a style has arguably been one of the more significant developments of 21st century pop culture. Steampunk itself is difficult to define, due to the fact that there has never been any "official" organization present to provide those definitions or parameters. But this is the paradox of the steampunk movement itself-not having a specific set of criteria for what is or is not steampunk is one of the appeals of steampunk. Some people have even commented that steampunk is "whatever you or I declare that it is", but in my opinion that's a little too loose of a definition to count for much.
Since we don't have any "written-in-stone" standards for what qualifies as steampunk, the least we can do is put on our detective hat (pipe optional) and determine what themes are common among images, movies, and art that are labeled "steampunk", and hopefully draw our clues from that. One of the most common themes we see present in steampunk imagery is a sort of fantasy world where past meets future; specifically Victorian-era or Edwardian-era fashion and sensibilities of the past meeting possible technological advances of the future. One of the most appealing aspects of steampunk to me personally is the emphasis on anachronistic machines that are "tweaked" in some manner to also appear futuristic. In the world of steampunk, many things are steam-powered and carry the look of the early Industrial Age, where corsets, handlebar moustaches and top hats abound, but yet they may be combined with clothing or devices that appear centuries later in history's timeline.
Steampunk (according to many definitions) falls loosely under the category of costume play, or "cosplay" for short. The reason for this is that steampunk enthusiasts will attend gatherings where they can wear their latest cyber-influenced monocle or necklace made of old watch gears and the like. I think that most of us who are somewhat fond of steampunk appreciate the combination of elements of early Industrial Age machinery and more modern cyberspace references. I've even heard some people refer to steampunk as cyberpunk for the same reasons.
I think that what lends steampunk its strength is the emphasis on creativity, and on the process of using somewhat "ready-made" objects of the past to create something new and innovative. This, to me, provides substance to the style of steampunk. Although steampunk (along with practically every other thing in life) will have its detractors and critics, one thing that nobody can refute is that it is a great channel for creative expression.
Gunner Hildebrand is an observer of the steampunk phenomenon. His interest in steampunk prompted him to start a website that highlights cheap steampunk clothing. Visit cheapsteampunk.com to see the latest deals on items such as cheap steampunk goggles, costumes, boots, and otherwise.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gunner_Hildebrand
http://EzineArticles.com/?Steampunk:-Is-There-Substance-Behind-the-Style?&id=7354351

What is Steampunk?

(image: Bernard Goldbach)
Steampunk - What is Steampunk?
By Garrett Mickley
There's a culture called Steampunk that is dedicated to a revamp of the Victorian age. Typically filled with massive steam powered mechanics and extravagant dirigibles, this classic age is mixed up with fantasy. The steampunk genre includes not only clothing, but music, art, and literature.
In the fashion industry, steampunk has become a major hit. Classic steampunk designs including cogs and gears are being incorporated into the clothing lines of various designers. However, it is in the cosplay scene that steampunk is seen as a growing trend. Many cosplayers get together to wear steampunk costmes, including modified and stylized Victorian clothing, and portray themselves as pirates, adventurers, explorers, and victorian socialites. They wear outfits adorned with top hats and goggles, decorated coats, and even mock ray guns! The do-it-yourself community supports steampunk because most steampunk stuff has to be made your self. The aforementioned ray guns are simply modified and painted Nerf or Airsoft guns. Some are even good enough to use wood and metal to build their own ray guns or other accessories!
There is no definitive style of music that is steampunk; rather steampunk qualities can be found in all different artists from all different styles of music, including rock, rap, electronic, and others. Steampunk qualities in rock tend to have dark beats, gritty guitar, and sometimes a hint of folk. A once industrial band named Abney Park proclaim themselves a Steampunk band. They are influenced by steampunk not only in their music, but in their clothing, design of their instruments, and even the fictional personas that they carry with them on stage. Aside from steampunk rock, there is rap and hip-hop music influenced by steampunk, and usually includes a deep but up-beat bass and lyrics that either depict the life of a mad scientist, or a post-apocalyptic world. The best example of this is Dr. Steel. He has catchy but heavy-hitting beats, and his stage-persona is of a mad scientist.
Steampunk has been picked up by the art culture surprisingly fast. You can easily find paintings of dirigibles and other flying machines traversing grey skies above vast, desolate landscapes. Such art can be found online, at your local art shows, and in galleries. While the purpose and perspective of such paintings is unlike anything else, the art styles can be very similar to other styles you have seen. While being dark and dreary, the artwork often depicts a violent sea, a dungeon-like-lab, or a deadend world, sometimes Frankenstein-esque. It is easy to point out anything steampunk inspired because the style is particularly unique compared to others.
There has been a breakthrough in literature within the steampunk culture. H.G. Wells is said to have birthed this trend, along with Jules Verne. The base of the modern steampunk community is based on their inventions, worlds, and knowledge that they depict in their works. First there's the brass time machine in "The Time Machine", and then the massive submarine in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea," which were both considered futuristic. Presently, we would refer to them as retro, regardless of the fact that time machines don't actually exist. However, both machines seem out of place in such time periods. These ideas have been the driving force for many steampunk fans, and the basis of steampunk.
Steampunk is the coolest thing ever, and hopefully by now you think the same. If you're interested in seeing more steampunk [http://steampunkguides.com] stuff, you should check out http://www.steampunkguides.com [http://steampunkguides.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garrett_Mickley
http://EzineArticles.com/?Steampunk---What-is-Steampunk?&id=4496039

Steampunk Epic Meal Time

Fighting Trousers - Professor Elemental

Functional .22 Cal Steampunk Gatling Gun

How to Make a Steampunk Hat

Get Your 9 FREE Steampunk Classics...!