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Steampunk’s true definition is a point of constant debate. Its roots laying in a Victorian/ Edwardian industrial aesthetic with a ‘do it yourself’ ethos. It is one of eclectic design and influence, flexible and adaptable. Perhaps this is why so many are adopting it as their own?








Jewellery by Learningtofly





The genre shouts out for those who take part to be creative, to become artisans. This ethos manifests itself whole heartedly in its fashion, as eclectic as the genre, so are the clothes. Body modification in the forms of tattoos and piercings, the creation of hand made goggles, belt buckles and jewellery, to produce items from found, 2nd hand or reclaimed objects that will become more than a sum of their parts. Victoriana and the Edwardian are blended with a non exclusive mix of Goth, Cyber and Punk. Not limited to the wear of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the combination of Cyber hair pieces, gas masks and bondage clothing reflect it’s whimsical and some times edgy, rebellious nature. Aside from this a more fanciful and less everyday approach comes from the Cosplay community, focusing on costume rather than fashion with individuals developing personas alongside their outfits. Of note Abney Park’s sky pirate stage personas bridge the gap between what could be considered fashion over to costume, dressing in home made outfits of worn fabrics, leather and salvaged militaria. Apart from a very general anachronistic aesthetic there are no true rules to follow, in this it is closely related to Punk, that any outfit or costume remains to be as individual as an individuals own interpretation.





NOTE: This is from my Aethr Emporium post, so Dont say I stole It, Because I wrote it!

I just did a paper on the difference between Loli and Steampunk for fashion history and I came up with this:

Lolita is younger and more whimsical with faeries and teaparties. It's the pretty part with little concern for the workings of the world.

Steampunk is older and 'dirty' with mad scientists and blimps. I saw this as the more realistic (i use the term lightly) version that revolved more around workers.

I personally like them both, but Loli is getting a bit hard to keep with as I get older. Mostly because I can't see everything as pretty rainbows anymore.

'Dirty' of course meanign the grime from the industrial revolution, not sexually related.

I hang out with learningtofly on Vampirefreks.com in a cult, lol!
Shes actuly what got me in to Steam Punk.

I think like all things of this nature, the definition is personal, to me its the maniacal side of the Victorian period meets the underground sub cultures of to day. You cant put it just one sub culture, its punk, goth, cyber, you can do it almost any way you wish, the thread tyeing all this together has I see it is the DIY ideas. Its just a logical progression.

Well said.
I often think of the professor from the newest "Around the World in 80 Days"
And when Jackie Chan first meets him (The train-like machine), That was an amazing movie moment ^^

Thank you all for posting this. I had come across some clothing pieces labled as Steampunk, and was totally clueless.
Now I am more interested ^^

Sadly, most of the books we studied have been out of print for 80-150 years (one was written in the late 1600s) and we were working with photocopies :O

Some that may be available in reprint or online library;
Symmzonia
The Divine Seal
The Secret of the Earth
The Coming Race

Basically, if you can find any hollow-Earth sci-fi printed before 1900, it'll be steampunk.