How to Ease Steampunk Chic into Your Life

For anybody wanting to look that little bit different and yet still remain fashionable and elegant, steampunk chic is for you. Adding that touch of Victorian elegance or hint of industrial technology to modern clothing or décor helps you really stand out in a crowd and allows you to express yourself in a far more unique way than other fashion trends. Steampunk chic doesn’t require you to replace your whole wardrobe and furnishings either. The great advantage of steampunk is that a lot of it is down to accessories, so you don’t have to do a radical overhaul and deck your house out in Michael Amini furniture or buy loads of new clothes.

For those not quite sure exactly what steampunk is, or whether it’s a fashion for you, think of it as a combination of modern clothing and design mixed in with the ideas and accessories from the Industrial Revolution, usually Victorian England or Wild West America. This combination of old and new provides unlimited combinations and a touch of eccentricity that makes steampunk fashion original and unique.

Origin of Steampunk

Steampunk is essentially a genre of science fiction. When Bruce Bethke coined the phrase “cyberpunk” in the 1980’s science fiction short story of the same name, he described a future where people implement modern technology into fashion and their way of life. Steampunk became an alternative to this, describing a future where steam powered machines co-exist with modern technology. Steampunk mixes Victorian industry and antiquated fashion items with modern, contemporary clothing and furnishings. It is retro and sci-fi futuristic all in one. Think Jules Verne and HG Wells, or films such as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Wild, Wild West or the modern version of Sherlock Holmes.
Incorporating steampunk chic into your life is neither expensive nor difficult to do. In fact, for steampunk fashionistas, flea markets, antique stores and second hand retailers are the best places to find that little touch of steam. Almost anything can become a fashion item, as steampunk is more about modifying contemporary clothes and decor than replacing everything with new items.

Steampunk chic for her

The great advantage of steampunk feminine fashion is the elegance. Victorian and Edwardian women used to pride themselves on their appearance and many of the accessories they adopted are ideal steampunk accompaniments. Corsets, bustles and petticoats were once fashion items of near torture, but the steampunk chic girl doesn’t have to wear them in the same way as her Victorian ancestors. You can wear a loose-fitting corset over regular clothes to provide an eccentric steampunk twist, while long gowns similar to those worn in Victorian and Edwardian society look great when ripped, faded or altered to modern styling. You can even adapt old wedding dresses for that real steampunk eccentricity, like a punk version of Miss Haversham.
Accessories are the key to a great steampunk outfit. Items such as parasols, fans and metal jewelry add that steam touch to almost any set of clothes. Steampunk jewelry doesn’t have to be expensive, either, as all sorts of brass and metal trinkets, such as old clock gears and brass handles, make great necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Steampunk chic for him

The great thing about steampunk for the male fan is the eccentricity and uniqueness it offers, and there is no shortage of male accessories to play with. A top hat, Victorian military tunic or waistcoat mixed with flying goggles, pocket watch or monocle can create a great steampunk look. Or what about an old brass telescope in your inside pocket or a belt made out of old clock parts? For the more adventurous, you could even decorate gloves or boots with brass cogs, pistons and copper pipes to give that true science fiction steampunk look.

Steampunk Decor

All sorts of interior furnishings can also be given the steam makeover. The great thing about steampunk fashion is that anything goes, and if one accessory doesn’t work, you can always try it with something else. You can incorporate all sorts of items such as old clocks, valves, pipes, gears and cogs to turn regular furniture into something steampunktacular.
Grandfather clocks and barometers look great nestled next to a modern TV or computer, while a coffee table with old brass pistons instead of legs gives that quirkiness befitting steampunk chic, and even modern gadgets like cell phones or laptops can have that retro look by attaching old-fashioned clock dials and brass piping to them.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at 6:20 pm and is filed under steampunk, steampunk clothing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.