How to Cosplay Steampunk

If the works of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells or Phil Foglio set your imagination spinning, if the sight of pocket watches, leather and aviator goggles make you reach for your wallet or if you've ever wondered just what might have happened if we'd stayed in the pre-electric era of the late 19th century you might just fit in well with the Steampunk culture. Steampunk replaced the cybernetics of cyberpunk with steam and clockworks, and usually reflects the fashions and aesthetics of the Victorian era, even though the stories may be set in an alternate future rather than the past. That's not to say that all Steampunk is inspired by Victorian styles; I've even seen Steampunk pirates! Here are some dress-up ideas for you Steampunks.

Things You'll Need

• Patterns
• Fabric
• Thrift Store
• Watches and Watch parts
• Creativity
• Lightweight metal and tools
• Polymer clay

Instructions

1. Start with the basic silhouette by searching for Victorian-style patterns on the Internet or checking out the costume patterns at your local fabric store. Women would have normally worn a skirt, sometimes with a bustle or narrow hoops, with a fitted jacket over a high-necked blouse. Men would wear slacks, a shirt, cravat, vest and jacket. These can be changed up in the interest of creativity, of course, and vests look stellar on both sexes. Lab coats for the mad scientists are very popular as well as coveralls for the mechanically inclined.

2. Work with the types of fabrics and materials that were common in that time. Leather, tweed, wool and felt were all very common along with cottons, silks and twill. There's nothing to say you can't substitute modern synthetics for some of those fabrics, but the natural fibers will often be more comfortable if you will be cosplaying outdoors in the heat of summer.

3. Shop at local thrift stores for any pieces you might be able to alter rather than starting from scratch. Some things like coats and shirts stay pretty much uniform over decades--a dress shirt with the collar turned up and tied with a cravat or embellished with a couple of ruffles will do as a quick stand-in for more tailored looks. Also be on the lookout for materials that you can harvest from other garments (like lace on wedding dresses and leather or suede items) that you can get for pennies on the dollar compared to buying off the bolt in a fabric store. Table cloths and drapes can be a good source for some yardage as well!

4. Add some fantastical Steampunk details by swapping out plain buttons for larger, metallic ones, or even use rivets or bolts. Epaulets made of lightweight metal or distressed leather can be placed on the shoulders of both men and women's garments. Use lightweight chain to trim lapels or hems or drape strategically among different sections of the garment.

5. Use your accessories to drive home the genre's influence. Pocket watches and broaches are de rigueur for the time period and can be ornately inscribed or constructed to add interest. Parasols for women and walking sticks or canes for men are perfect places to add faux mechanisms. Aviator goggles trimmed with leather and bronze make great headwear along with the more traditional hats of the age, with perhaps a pieced metal hat band or mechanical bird on the brim. Spats are a very nice addition and can help disguise a plainer, more modern shoe.

Tips & Warnings

• The Victorians adored ornate scroll work on their metal and wood. You can either explore the world of etching these designs or fake it with rub-on decals or substituting carved clay for wood or some metals.

• When adding metal to an outfit, make sure you do not add too much weight. After all, you will be wearing this, not just looking at it on a dummy.

Resources

• Brass Goggles Steampunk Blog
• The Steampunk Workshop
• Datamancer's Steampunk Jewelry