Steampunk Fashion 101 by @AWExley + #Giveaway
Author of The Artifact Hunters series
First
off, let me say that contrary to rumours circulating, steampunk is
NOT
what happened when goths discovered brown! Lol Steampunk fashion is
about bringing to life Victorian fashion with a twist. There is only
one basic rule - start off Victorian or Edwardian and then add to it,
or subtract in the case of hemlines…
In
my novels the heroine, Cara, doesn't follow fashion but wears what
she likes and what is practical for her lifestyle. With such
structured social classes as the Victorian era, displaying her
personal style is one way Cara thumbs her nose at others and shows
she is not a part of society, or the "punk" part of
steampunk.
For
starters you want a cute skirt or pair of pants, whatever you are
comfortable wearing. I bet you have something in your closet right
now that you could grab. You don't have to rush out and custom order
a bustle skirt. Simple skirt hitches will transform an ordinary long
skirt into something different.
Now
find a pair of boots. If you can, pick something with a bit of extra
detailing, maybe they lace up, have cut-outs or a funky heel. Another
option is spats over high heels, which gives you a unique look. Or if
you are creative, decorate a pair of plain boots. Paint the heel a
metallic colour and then let yourself loose on the rest of the boot.
You could add small gears or chain if you wanted.
Next
add a corset, but leave the tight lacing to those dedicated souls who
wear a steel boned corset for 20 hours out of every 24. A corset
should feel like that alpha male has his arms wrapped around you in a
firm embrace. A good rule of thumb is if it hurts, or your lips are
turning blue, your laces are too tight! The internet is littered with
places to buy corsets these days, my personal favourites are Damsel
in this Dress for fab front lacing corsets or Dracula Clothing for
authentic leather and steel boning. Most important thing to remember
for the novice corset wearer - boots
then corset.
Believe me, it doesn't work the other way around.
Don't forget a hat. No
outfit is complete without some form of headwear be it hat or
fascinator, or maybe you will carry a parasol? Pick something that
expresses your character, remember there are no rules. If the
steampunk police try to write you a citation for not following "their
rules", tell them to go stick a cog in it!
If
you were a character in your own steampunk novel, who would you be?
Would you be a society lady, a femme fatale, an airship pirate, mad
scientist or an explorer?
About A.W. Exley
Books and writing have always been an enormous part of Anita's life. She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.
Today, Anita writes steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.
