The short meaning of Steampunk is: Victorian science fiction. A rather longer definition is: what the world would have looked like if the technical revolution had arrived a little earlier.
If you wish to test out this subculture, you could start slow by dressing up as a Steampunk lady or gentleman this Halloween. If you want the experience, you can expand to Steampunk fairs and conventions, then start wearing Steampunk outfits at special events and weekends, and finally put them on every day. It really isn’t too outlandish to wear Steampunk at work.
To make the Victorian impression, women today can dress up a lot more freely than Victorian women could. Nevertheless, there is one piece of clothing that is a must for a Steampunk outfit for women, and that is the corset. You can get away with a tight vest, but a corset makes nearly every outfit appear Steampunkish, because the main requirement is femininity, and there aren’t many things as feminine as corsets. Also you can use a wide belt or a waist cincher.
A bustle will also help to create the illusion of times past. It is fine to use some men’s clothes, like military jacket or pants, but you should “girl it up”. Use a bustle with your trousers, or use bloomers as trousers. (For Steampunk the bloomers can be of any length.) Wear a hitched skirt over the pants. You can put on a traditional Victorian dress, or a reproduction, but these aren’t very comfortable and practical. On the list of concepts behind Steampunk is adventure, and Victorian women used to wear a little shorter and simpler skirt for these occasions.
For Steampunk the skirt is as short as above the knee, provided it has volume in the form of ruffles, rouches, pleats, drapes, hitches and gatherings. You may also use lace, ribbons, tassels and fringes to add to the volume in the skirt and bustle. Your blouses, vests, jackets and coats should be fitted. Women’s hats are a more elaborate thing than men’s hats. You can also use a fascinator, which is something between a hair accessory and a hat.
You can add a parasol to nearly every outfit. If you use a handbag, choose something dainty, soft and round, like reticules and pouch bags, or something elaborately beaded or embroidered. Tapestry purses and carpetbags are the ideal choice too. As shoes most laced boots work fine, so does laced shoes and ordinary boots. Your shoes can be of any color, but be careful with the heel. You need to have shoes with a heel, and the heel should be either tapered or Louis heel.
Women really should be wearing dangling earrings, but not too long, nor too big. A woman can certainly wear necklaces on long chains. Lockets and medallions are a popular choice. Victorian women used rings and bracelets, sometimes excessively. Brooches are good, and medals fit women as well. Usual motives were flowers and animals, but to enhance the Steampunk impression, choose a cephalopod or arthropod – octopuses and insects always work. You can even wear a ribbon in a buttonhole, and flowers; corsage, nosegay or posy, are very nice as accessories for women. If you wish to wear a wrist watch, it should be analog and on leather strap, but a pocket watch, necklace watch or brooch watch would be better. The hairstyle is quite free for women too, but it is appreciated, that you have a long hair, either braided, in corkscrew curls or an updo.
Go to Victorian Costume – The Steampunk Costume Ideas For more information..