Steampunk is the name of a relatively new genre of science fiction, becoming much more popular in the 1980s and 1990s and growing in popularity today. It is a genre that takes a great deal of influence from Victorian-era England. As a result, the Victorian era very heavily influences everything from cultural practices to clothing to architecture.
The technology is especially notable in this genre, as it differs from the technology today. There are often things like dirigibles and analogue computers as opposed to airplanes and our modern computers. There is a somewhat underground enchantment with aesthetics, including fashion. While steampunk clothes often have a very Victorian flair, they also tend to have aspects of modern style. Women's clothes in this genre often incorporate corsets and dresses, while Mens steampunk clothing UK may have a Victorian military flare.
Steampunk clothes tend to be lighter and easier to move around in for both males and females. The clothing also tends to have a slightly more rugged feel because most of the technology in this genre is powered by steam and coal. Therefore it is not so unusual if clothes are darker colours with the presumption that it would hide coal soot better. One may often see a steampunk outfit involving goggles and leather, goggles to keep soot from the eyes and leather to ensure the business lasts.
Steampunk is about a lot more than Victorian-era clothing, brass watches, and industrial goggles. It offers followers a way to express their individuality and style in a sense that other more popular genres fail at. Choosing to wear various steampunk accessories and clothing makes it possible to give off an aura of being in touch with the past whilst remaining ultra-modern.
Steampunk fashion is not casual or unsophisticated; it embodies certain traits that make followers appear incredibly respectable. The combination of old-fashioned bespoke clothing with industrial age accessories sets a standard that most people would not be able to match.
Though often thought of as a sub-genre of fantasy fiction and science fiction, mixed with a passion for Victorian age steam power machines, it is a philosophy that stands out on its own and refuses to be pigeon-holed. It embodies a particular style of dress and integrates artistic concepts from a range of disciplines.
Novels and literature are as essential in this genre as are fashion and music. Steampunk is often used to describe a complete culture as well as a lifestyle. Though it would be wrong to use neo-Victorianism, this label is often bandied about to encompass the wide range of aesthetic principles that make up the steampunk genre.
At the heart of the philosophy lies a fascination with fantastic fictional machines, which were described by authors such as Jules Verne and HG wells. Though the views held by steampunk followers are often anti-establishment, it does not embody the same anarchist tendencies that were common in the original punk scene or the nihilism that existed in the goth movement. Instead, the philosophy encourages positive thoughts and optimistic views of the world.
