How to choose your accessories for a Steampunk costume
| Accessory | Description |
|---|---|
| Steampunk Gloves | Leather or lace accessories, often personalized with mechanical elements. |
| Steampunk Goggles | Goggles or aviator glasses with industrial elements, often homemade to accentuate steampunk outfits. |
| Steampunk Corset | A key element of steampunk outfits, underbust or overbust, with extravagant and retro-futuristic details. |
| Steampunk bag | Leather accessory with buckles and straps, can be worn in various ways, and can be made of real leather or faux leather for ethical reasons. |
| Steampunk sunglasses | Metal frames with atypical shapes and industrial influences, ideal for adding a retro-futuristic touch. |
| Steampunk Coat | Trench coats, long coats, or military-style jackets, often worn in winter to complete a steampunk outfit. |
| Steampunk Hat | Variety of hats, from fascinators to bowler hats, essential to determine the social origin of the steampunk character. |
| Pocket watches | Classic Victorian era accessory, with chains to attach them, adding a touch of retro elegance. |
| Steampunk Leggings | Modern alternative to period pants, with sensational patterns and colors, comfortable and affordable. |
| Steampunk shoes | In leather, ranging from imposing boots to vintage city shoes, suitable for various steampunk styles. |
| Steampunk Belts | In leather with buckles and clockwork patterns, adding a retro-futuristic look to outfits. |
| Steampunk mask | Masquerade masks, welding helmets or gas masks with mechanical elements, often homemade for added originality. |
| Steampunk Bracelet | In bronze or copper, often with charms and mechanical elements, adding a bold touch to outfits. |
| Steampunk pendant | Necklaces with elaborate details, often featuring iconic steampunk animal motifs or gears. |
| Earrings | With industrial elements, feathers, gears, and other Victorian details, adding an elegant and unique touch. |
| Steampunk Rings | In gold or bronze, with natural stones or mechanical elements, suitable for different steampunk styles. |
| DIY Gears and Accessories | Using old objects to create unique steampunk accessories, a fun and ecological activity. |
| Steampunk Skirts and Dresses | Inspired by Victorian clothing, with modern influences, highlighting the expertise of the couturiers of the time. |
| Bustiers, blouses and shirts | Often overlooked but essential elements to complete a steampunk outfit, with varied influences. |
| Steampunk T-Shirt | T-shirts with steampunk designs, ideal for adding a touch of retro-futurism to everyday outfits. |
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy cultures. However, in recent years it has become a popular fashion movement that combines Victorian-inspired clothing with elements of the Industrial Revolution.
Although relatively new, Steampunk fashion has been around for decades, especially in the costume design community. It involves incorporating quirky fantasy or retro-futuristic industrial elements into mostly Victorian clothing (although it can be done with other influences like the Wild West).
Costume plays a prominent role in steampunk, ranging from "I'll rig my top hat with gears" (and who hasn't done that for their first costume) to arduous departures from conventional Victorian fashion. Popular themes often include "googles", tall, dramatic hats, lace, bustiers, and other unlikely coats.
Steampunk fashion effectively combines gothic, DIY cosplay elements, historical renaissance and burlesque styles, and a whole bunch of influences specific to each. At a steampunk convention, you will have the opportunity to see a retro version of Iron Man with functional wings to a Victorian remix of Princess Leia.
Steampunk costumes are some of the most intricate and imaginative you'll see at fan conventions, but the core tenets are still easy to recognize: Victorian-inspired silhouettes, leather, buckles, retrofuturistic armor and weaponry, and lots of bronze, copper, and brass.
Steampunk is all about the details. Elevate your favorite steampunk cosplay with vintage-inspired pieces. These accessories will help take your costume to the next level, whether it’s gothic, Victorian, or western inspired. You’ll find intricate goggles, necklaces, vintage jewelry, corsets, and delicate lace. Each embellishment adds to your overall look, making you stand out from the crowd of steampunks.
If you're new to dressing in the Steampunk style, you may be wondering how to accessorize to get the most out of your outfits. Luckily for you, it's a lot easier than you think, especially if you have a little creativity and know-how to make your own projects.
Some of the must-have accessories for a Steampunk outfit are:
1-Steampunk gloves.
Most gloves used in Steampunk fashion will be made of leather or lace. Some may be fingerless or have clockwork elements interwoven into them. Sometimes a vintage glove will do, and sometimes you can take a vintage glove and work it into something fantastic. Some steampunkers, especially at conventions, make some pretty impressive thick mechanical gloves.
What matters is to make a reminder with either the shoes, or the glasses or the hat. It is then a detail that will bring a real plus to your outfit.
Steampunk Gloves are quite easy and fun to make, otherwise you haveSteampunk gloves in our collection that will surely be to your taste.
2-Steampunk glasses called “googles”.
The type of glasses chosen to accentuate steampunk outfits are of two kinds. The so-called protective ones are often homemade (DIY), where you can store all the fantastic glasses with integrated lighting, magnifying glasses and other visors and industrial elements.
There is also talk of transformed vintage aviator or biker goggles, welders' goggles or bottle-bottom goggles that are accented with gears or spikes.
They are a quick and effective way to get a Steampunk look. You have good examples in our Steampunk Goggles collection.
3-Steampunk corset.
The modern corset is the essential garment of steampunk. Underbust or overbust, these do not borrow much from Victorian clothing. The corsets of the time were essentially underwear made to hold up and support thin and slender silhouettes. The steampunk corset, flashy and often rigid, allows you to bring a stunning retro-futuristic look. All the details, in addition to the material and colors, set the tone for the entire costume.
Corsets are difficult to make and only experienced seamstresses can make one. You will find what you are looking for in our collection ofSteampunk Corsets .
4- Steampunk bag.
A Steampunk bag is made of leather, full of details like buckles and straps. It can be worn on the belt, over the shoulder or even as a backpack depending on your mood. Genuine leather or faux leather, it will depend on the model and therefore the price of the bag. We now prefer to try to do without animal leather for ethical reasons, even if it is not always possible.
You will surely find what you are looking for in our collection ofSteampunk Bags .
5-Steampunk and Vintage Sunglasses
Alternative-inspired glasses made like they were in the old days. There are a plethora of styles that are suitable for a costume. We favor thick metal frames like copper, brass or bronze which are in the colors of steampunk. The shapes can be atypical, the lenses diamond-shaped or square, the idea being to mix the industrial influences of the industrial revolution with fantasy. A simple way to accessorize wise period outfits by adding a touch of retro-future well-measured. You can find beautifulSteampunk Sunglasses in our collection.
6-Steampunk coat.
While you don't always want to wear a coat based on the temperature or season, during the colder months you may want to wear a trench coat or long coat. Some people even wear military style jackets, such as bomber jackets, and others wear Victorian-era coats that look great. Of course, a coat needs care, so it's not always a good idea to customize it.
We have a collection ofSteampunk Coats for women if you are interested.
And Steampunk Clothing for Men , including steampunk coats.
7-Steampunk hat.
Small pin-up hats called fascinators, oversized bowler hats, scaly caps or standard Victorian hats are very popular among vaporists.
There are several schools, such as those who swear by DIY, and others who prefer more conventional period costumes. The hat is perhaps the most important accessory, be careful to choose it according to your Steamsona. It generally determines the social origin of the wearer. Thus the nobility and its high hats differentiate themselves in the blink of an eye with a street urchin like Charles Dickens.
DiscoverSteampunk Hats .
8-Pocket Watches.
The pocket watch is a dream accessory. They come in all sizes and shapes. Victorian watches are essentially of this type. Indeed, wrist watches only became popular later. Thus, apart from a few bourgeois women, the pocket watch is the standard.
Like hats, expensive watches were unaffordable for the people and the most beautiful gold and silver models were rare. Think carefully about the chain to hang it on, I myself broke two or three through clumsiness.
You will find otherpocket watches to your taste in our collection.
9-Steampunk Leggings.
If we move away a little from the Victorian standard, leggings are an effective and quick way to dress up at a lower cost. In addition, there are latest generation printed models (like ours), which resemble real period pants in their pattern and others completely steampunk with sensational colors
Steampunk Leggings are also easy to wear in everyday life, in addition to being pretty and comfortable.
10-Steampunk shoes.
Choose leather shoes that are more or less imposing, depending on the style of big boots or city shoes with a vintage style will be impeccable. For a dressy style, loafers will do the trick, high heels for us ladies. Choose your steampunk shoes from our store's collection.
11-Steampunk belts.
Leather belts with buckles and clockwork patterns are a great way to accentuate the retro-futuristic look. There are also variations between the corset and the belt to bring a delicious vintage feel to your period outfits. There are a number of details that will make your belt a true Steampunk accessory.
12-Steampunk mask.
Masquerade masks, welding helmets or gas masks are also very popular in Steampunk culture. If you don't like the idea of wearing them, strapping them to your hip can also create visual interest. At conventions or festivals, vaporists perform feats of originality to create their own masks. We like the Venetian influences, the references to old classic books like Frankenstein or Vampire masks. There are also masks of all styles with their steampunk versions that integrate mechanical elements like that of the Phantom of the Opera or those of post-apo influence like mouth cover.
See Steampunk Masks .
13-Steampunk Bracelet.
Choose something with bronze or copper tones as a bracelet, a watch, and charm bracelets with a rustic or vintage feel. Steampunk bracelets are meant to be bold statement pieces. Gold and copper colors are prominent, but there are a number of gothic-influenced bracelets that pair well with steampunk.
SeeSteampunk Bracelets .
14-Steampunk pendant.
Steampunk necklaces or pendants have elaborate details. Opt for the iconic steampunk animals like an owl or a mechanical butterfly. There are also the famous necklaces with gears and cogs. Choose a long pendant, a choker or a multi-chain necklace in zinc or copper alloy to make a difference on a shy outfit.
Choose from our collection ofSteampunk Pendants .
15-Earrings.
Earrings with industrial elements are a great way to get into Steampunk style. There are ones with feathers, gears, keys, wings and other vintage elements. But, you can also look at Victorian-inspired earrings which are an endless source of gorgeous creations.
We have our collection ofSteampunk Earrings here.
16-Steampunk Rings.
Make sure your Steampunk rings are more of a gold or bronze tone to go with the natural look of the genre. Again there are several influences:
- Already the Victorian era with its big rings with natural stones as decoration.
- Then again and again the rings with mechanical elements and other industrial elements.
- And finally the rebel rings (Gothic, Biker, Punk, Rocker)
Each style has its own interesting aesthetic depending on your outfit or costume. Check out our collection ofSteampunk Rings .
See allSteampunk Jewelry on Steampunk Store.
17-DIY gears and accessories.
If there is one inexpensive and very fun way to create your own retro-futuristic costume, it is homemade, or DIY, do it yourself, do it yourself in French.
Remember that old clocks, old furniture and all kinds of objects and accessories can be adapted and transformed into their Steampunk version.
This is a way of not throwing things away, so of being a little eco-friendly. Then we can make very beautiful things with little means. Personally I like to do this with my children, it's fun and enriching.
18-Steampunk Skirts and Dresses
Steampunk women's clothing such as Victorian skirts and dresses represent the fashions worn by the wealthy in the 19th century, reflecting their lives and aspirations. The clothing featured here also illustrates the high level of skill of Victorian dressmakers and tailors in tailoring and design. We are trying to honor them by trying to repopularize this incredible fashion that is far from being old and outdated, but is on the rise. The Victorian era is having a revival, and Steampunk is the main reason for this.
Choose from our collection ofSteampunk Skirts and Dresses .
19-Steampunk bustiers, blouses and shirts
Often you can miss out on a sensational style just because of a detail. The top is often neglected due to cost-cutting or lack of attention. Indeed, it is more attractive to try on googles and other hats. However, you have to think about your outfit as a whole.
There are bustiers, finer than corsets with real Victorian influences. Just like shirts and blouses, it is interesting to look for the bustier in styles other than steampunk and mix styles. Sometimes strictly classic, the top can be of gothic, rococo or art deco influence. Don't forget to push the limits from time to time, we can think ofDieselpunk or Westernpunk...
See the collection of Steampunk Blouses and Bustiers .
20-Steampunk T-Shirt
There are splendid patterns, each one more Steampunk than the other, the prints on the t-shirts, like the leggings have improved. It is always nice to dress up from day to day with a little steampunk in our usual outfits. Note that there are T-shirts resembling, thanks to trompe l'oeil effects, Victorian and vintage tops in general.
See the Steampunk T-Shirt collection.
Don't forget that there are many other accessories you might want to take with you: umbrellas and parasols, a walking stick, decorative weapons, leather cases.
Ultimately, Steampunk fashion is about being comfortable in your own skin and showing off your unique style.
This is the end of this article, thank you for reading and do not hesitate to share it if it can give ideas to other people.
See you soon, vaporiste, for a new exciting article on the world of Steampunk.