Steampunk fashion, art and culture owes its origins to an amalgam of
1980s and 1990s comic book, science fiction and movies. In addition,
steam punk borrows heavily from old Victorian era dress, typically in
combination with goth and turn of the century fashion.
One of the key styles of steampunk clothing are corsets. Steampunk corsets are similar to gothic corsets. Look at both and you see similar black base colors with red accents, silver fasteners and black lace on the sides. For contemporary pop culture references to the corsets, look at the mid 1990s Will Smith movie, "The Wild Wild West". In this movie, the female lead wears corsets that are the impetus for many modern Steampunk corsets.
Other reasons the corsets are similar to gothic corsets are the color choices. Goth clothing and fashion relies heavily on black, grey, red and overtones of drab. Steampunk corsets take this trait and modify it with tans and greys, all set to invoke images of dystopian worlds and gothic settings.
To make the corsets more comfortable in the modern setting, most wearers choose to use spans or other midriff restricting and molding undergarments. When these are used under the corsets, the wearer achieves the rubinesque styles that were common with the Victorian era, and then adapted for modern day science fiction, vampire and comic book worlds.
Many Steampunk artists and fashionistas make their own clothing, corsets included. Most seek out authentic fabrics that were used in the prior era clothing. These include lace, linen, silk, leather and cotton. There are many resources, on and off line, for patterns and instructions on constructing the corsets used by such fans and artisans.
Even the haute couture world has taken to the alternate world fashions. Look at the catwalks in Paris, London and New York and you see designs and clothing that use the colors and styles of the newly created genre of clothes and art. When it goes mainstream, it is highly likely that the movement has reached the masses.
With the popularity of teen fiction that has dystopian themes and vampires, it is a pretty good bet that the style is here to stay. Like any style, it is sure to morph and evolve over time, keeping the haute couture and Steampunk's worlds on the edge.
One of the key styles of steampunk clothing are corsets. Steampunk corsets are similar to gothic corsets. Look at both and you see similar black base colors with red accents, silver fasteners and black lace on the sides. For contemporary pop culture references to the corsets, look at the mid 1990s Will Smith movie, "The Wild Wild West". In this movie, the female lead wears corsets that are the impetus for many modern Steampunk corsets.
Other reasons the corsets are similar to gothic corsets are the color choices. Goth clothing and fashion relies heavily on black, grey, red and overtones of drab. Steampunk corsets take this trait and modify it with tans and greys, all set to invoke images of dystopian worlds and gothic settings.
To make the corsets more comfortable in the modern setting, most wearers choose to use spans or other midriff restricting and molding undergarments. When these are used under the corsets, the wearer achieves the rubinesque styles that were common with the Victorian era, and then adapted for modern day science fiction, vampire and comic book worlds.
Many Steampunk artists and fashionistas make their own clothing, corsets included. Most seek out authentic fabrics that were used in the prior era clothing. These include lace, linen, silk, leather and cotton. There are many resources, on and off line, for patterns and instructions on constructing the corsets used by such fans and artisans.
Even the haute couture world has taken to the alternate world fashions. Look at the catwalks in Paris, London and New York and you see designs and clothing that use the colors and styles of the newly created genre of clothes and art. When it goes mainstream, it is highly likely that the movement has reached the masses.
With the popularity of teen fiction that has dystopian themes and vampires, it is a pretty good bet that the style is here to stay. Like any style, it is sure to morph and evolve over time, keeping the haute couture and Steampunk's worlds on the edge.
Check out these links to learn more about steampunk corsets, steampunk literature and steampunk design.
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