
Steampunk fashion is a subgenre of the movement. It is the mixture of the romantic and fantastic vision of the Victorian era (in literature), combined with the elements of the industrial revolution of the 19th century. The aesthetic of the style is designed in a retro-futuristic perspective that adds an extraordinary touch to the classic Victorian style.
At conventions, steampunk enthusiasts are dressed up from head to toe, the costumes include clothes, hairstyle, jewelry and makeup. Steampunk is also enriched with gadgets and accoutrements from other styles that approach it, such as gothic, punk or post-apocalyptic.
Retro futuristic universes and the Steampunk movement

In steampunk settings, authors and artists imagine an alternate world where steam engines are the primary source of power and aesthetic elements are inspired by the Victorian era . This often includes elements such as airships, flying machines, complex machinery, period clothing, and accessories such as pocket watches, goggles, and top hats.
History of Steampunk Style and Clothing

Initially, women's clothing such as bustiers, corsets, blouses, bodices, jackets, and other items were mostly handmade and customized. But as the steampunk movement grew, entrepreneurs and companies became interested and began mass-producing steampunk clothing to be sold online and in stores.
Since the genre's inception, the aesthetics of steampunk have remained constant. New ideas in literature and advances in science and technology have brought about subtle changes. Although the genre did not become widely known until the late 20th century, steampunk and its fashion existed earlier.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the steampunk style developed alongside the gothic and punk movements. Cyberpunk and dieselpunk are variations of 1980s steampunk.
Victorian era inspires steampunk style

Steampunk fashion is influenced by the Victorian period of the mid-19th century with the corset, skirt or men's suits. The creativity of this period gives this unique look and all its personality to your wardrobe. The fashion was often dominated by long and flowing dresses, majestic bodices, lace-adorned jackets and deliciously vintage tastes.
The latter, also called a redingote, extended to the hips and only occasionally matched the fabric of the skirt. By the early 1860s, the bodice ended at the waist. New styles appeared and the Garibaldi blouse made its appearance. By the early 1860s, the hoops of skirts also took on an elliptical shape, with a much fuller back and a narrower silhouette in the front.
The conical skirts that followed also inspired steampunk. In the early 20th century, flared skirts at the hem became popular. Women's dresses were sometimes tailored for men and made to appear intimidating. Women's evening wear was decorated with sparkling beads, bracelets, and flashy embroidery.
Women's Steampunk Outfit: A Beginner's Guide
Inspiration from steampunk books
The works of late 19th-century writers such as Robert Louis Stevenson, G. K. Chesterton, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Jules Verne are among the most influential in steampunk fashion. Science fiction critics John Clute and Peter Nicholls have noted that steampunk also draws on a "strain of nostalgia."
However, modern steampunk literature, which only began in the 1980s, also influenced steampunk in the 1990s. Steampunk writers of this period are credited with creating Victorian-inspired fantasy tales, with stories that include dizzying action scenes and elaborately detailed baroque expeditions. Kevin Jeter's novel Morlock Night, published in 1979, is considered the first steampunk novel and the beginning of steampunk.
A wide choice in steampunk aesthetics for women and men.

Much like its counterparts in other art forms, primarily literature, steampunk is based on the aesthetic of alternate history, or uchronia. While critics disagree on whether it is rooted in fantasy literature, there is some evidence to suggest that some of its aesthetic is derived from books and films that present alternate history using fantasy. Interest in steampunk aesthetics may also be due to the fashion industry's increased interest in Victorian spiritualism during the 2010s.
There are a number of characters, or archetypes, such as the valiant explorer with pith helmet, telescope, brass shoes and binoculars; the debonair aviator with bird-shaped gadgets and devices, leather helmet, brass goggles and canvas coat; and the mad scientist, with lab coat and belt for all sorts of equipment and instruments.
The different styles of steampunk.
It is a mixture of influences from different historical periods. The clothes add the allure of 19th century characters, explorers, soldiers, lords, countesses and prostitutes, to punk, contemporary street, burlesque, goth, fetish and vampire fashion among others. Lolita fashion, which represents a youthful expression of femininity, is linked to the style.
While both draw inspiration from the Victorian era, Lolita is more modest and focuses on purchasing clothing from commercial vendors, as opposed to steampunk clothing, which is traditionally created from collecting goods purchased from thrift stores.
To accompany a steampunk outfit, here are some accessories to consider:
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Vintage jewelry with a Victorian look
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Accessories inspired by the Victorian era.
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Intricately patterned glasses on round, wide frames.
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Victorian hats like the top hat.
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Leather shoes or vintage studded boots.
Towards a real Steampunk culture?

In 2005, Kate Lambert, known professionally as "Kato", founded the first steampunk clothing company, "Steampunk Couture", mixing Victorian, post-apocalyptic and tribal influences with science fiction elements.
As early as 2010, high fashion lines such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Chanel and Christian Dior began introducing steampunk and neo-Victorian styles onto the runways.
Since the early 2000s, steampunk fashion has been frequently used in film, photography, and television. Examples include Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes and Warehouse 13.
Movies like The Golden Compass, Van Helsing, Sweeny Todd or The Three Musketeers also include steampunk elements. Steampunk has also made its way into music, as in Lindsay Stirling's music video "Roundtable Rival". The members of the alternative band Abney Park perform in costume and are recognized as the best current Steampunk.
The detective show Castle had a steampunk-themed episode in which the main character wears a full steampunk outfit after encountering a steampunk secret society.
Steampunk Style Trends

Steampunk clothing has morphed and evolved with its own unique choice and touch of madness. It is an imaginative clothing culture inspired by the aesthetics of a sublimated past. Today's fashion critics have actively sought to deconstruct steampunk as a term and a philosophy. Modern trends are grouped between historical hobbyists and sci-fi cosplayers with their retro-futuristic shirts and leggings.
Since the first steampunk conventions, enthusiasts have been dressing up as steampunk characters. Modern steampunk clothing is based more on leather and metal than cotton or natural fabrics. More recently, steampunk has also been linked to fetishism, the queer community, and modern paganism.
In 2010, women's steampunk entered the haute couture market with the arrival of designer John Galliano, who brought elements of the style to his spring runway show for Christian Dior. Another designer associated with the steampunk style is Jean Paul Gaultier, who frequently features corsets in different materials in his collections. By 2015, steampunk fashion began to influence all cultural circles.
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