May 9 2008Is Steampunk Fashion The Next Big Trend?
Probably not. I would definitely throw myself in front of a train before I was caught dressing like one of those wanksteaks in the top pictures. The guys on the bottom are looking pretty sharp though. I could do that. Maybe. Well there was recently an article in the New York Times Fashion and Style section about the steampunk fashion trend. I tried to read the whole thing but I mostly just looked at the pictures and ate three oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for breakfast.
Quaint to some eyes, or outright bizarre, steampunk fashion is compelling all the same. It is that rarity, a phenomenon with the potential to capture a wider audience, offering a genteel and disciplined alternative to both the slack look of hip-hop and the menacing spirit of goth.
"As a subculture, we are not the spawn of Satan," Ms. Kriete said. "People smile when they see us. They want to take our picture."Steampunk style is also an expression of a desire to return to ritual and formality. "Steampunk has its tea parties and its time-travelers balls."
Stop the presses. I was this close to going out and buying a monocle and tophat until I read that. As a time traveler, I'm gonna have to take a stand against Steampunk taking my balls. I mean, that's just wrong. I need those for when I travel back to the Jurassic period to bang velocirapators dino-style.
A link to the NY Times article and several more pictures after the jump. And since it's Friday and I love you all, I included one of some smoking-hot steampunky chicks.
Steampunk Moves Between 2 Worlds [nytimes]
Thanks to Ross and Daniel, both of whom know how to get the ladies steamy without wearing a ridiculous topcoat
Reader Comments
1. Ray - May 9, 2008 10:42 AM
The tophat and monocle are definitely the way to go, but I've found the only way to complete the outfit is with a comically large diaper and a bottle of bourbon. Oh, and maybe a cane for beating orphans. Orphans, and most of the goofballs pictured above.
2. leeshka - May 9, 2008 10:47 AM
Looks like someone watched Howl's Moving Castle too many times in a row. Can I ditch the steampunk idea and just dress up like Raz? He looked SO much better in unnecessary goggles.
3. bigjerm - May 9, 2008 11:05 AM
haha, why is the prestige pictured here?
4. Scott - May 9, 2008 11:06 AM
There's another word for this: "Vintage" Duh!
5. Jan Hammered - May 9, 2008 11:06 AM
Hey, you're right; those chicks are hot, in the sense that they burned holes in my retinas with their galloping ugliness. I give Steampunk as anything more than an occasional art project a giant thumbs down. Just because you like a movie's esthetic shouldn't give you the impetus to style your everyday after it. I mean, I loved "Gladiator", but you don't see me running around dressed as a centurion, slave boy, or Roman emperor, at least when it's not Caligula night at the local gay club.
6. SlowMonkey - May 9, 2008 11:16 AM
Anything that replaces pants worn around the knees is an improvement. Seriously, the size 100XL shorts is the worst fashion mistake since the powdered wig.
7. SlowMonkey - May 9, 2008 11:17 AM
Why is Michael Caine up there?
8. Brandon - May 9, 2008 11:24 AM
Steampunk as a "Make new gadgets look like they're old" thing was kinda cool. The star wars steam punk was a little overboard, but still alright. But now its just gotten way out of hand. Although the steampunk taxidermy was still by far the worst.
9. SmokingGirl - May 9, 2008 11:32 AM
Michael Caine should be included in every post...who doesn't like Michael Caine? "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" anyone?
And Geekologie guy, adding pictures from movies doesn't really add anything to your point, just FYI.
10. SmokingGirl - May 9, 2008 11:37 AM
And oh, SlowMonkey, I agree with you on the whole "wearing your pants down at your knees" thing. That's not fashion, in my opinion, it's buying the wrong size which makes one look like a complete idiot.
So yippee for pants that fit properly.
You know, after Steampunk, we should bring back the Libertine style. That's right, powdered wigs, high heeled shoes with bigass buckles, and syphillis. We've already got syphillis making a comeback, might as well roll with it. I'll be reading my Marquis de Sade again so I can have the "total" Libertine look.
11. none - May 9, 2008 11:37 AM
i'd love to see a kid wear that to school and magically not get his ass handed to him for doing so. then again, i think i'd be the one kicking his ass before he even made to the school!!
12. gaah.... - May 9, 2008 11:39 AM
c-crap.... I think the nerdy guy's red jacket in the first pic is.....
c-c-cool....*shudder*
I don't think he's cool, just his jacket. Got it?
13. Rick - May 9, 2008 11:53 AM
Steamboy anyone?
:D :D
I like steampunk fashion. There are a ton of cool laptops, mice, motorcycles etc out there.
Just google Steampunk.
14. dude - May 9, 2008 11:55 AM
Steampunk....it's for ugly people.
Ugly people that want to punish their parents for making them ugly.
15. cc - May 9, 2008 12:24 PM
wow dude you totally got me with the "smoking-hot" chicks...
16. Josh - May 9, 2008 12:56 PM
Two Project Runway contestants last year actually turned out a steampunk overcoat and trousers. Actually several of Jillians outfits were steampunkish. I doubt thats the word she would associate with it though.
17. pickle - May 9, 2008 1:04 PM
do you notice that the geekologie writer thinks the white people look like shit but the black folks look stylish. why is that, i wonder? maybe because that is exactly how real life usually is.
18. serene - May 9, 2008 1:20 PM
The Maker Faire in the bay area last week was swarming with Steampunk yahoos. Everywhere I looked, an old timey engineer and his full bosomed wench, probably sporting a monocle or some goggles -- yknow, because they've just come from their secret laboratory where they were welding some brass shit to a wheelchair. I liken this to REN FAIRE.
19. Neverwhere - May 9, 2008 1:44 PM
Steampunk is HOT, when done right and worn by hot people.
Just because some fools don't know how to dress themselves even when *not* in character, doesn't make Steampunk fashion any less awesome.
20. Nat - May 9, 2008 1:46 PM
I was promised hot chicks. What is this?!
All I see is a semi-decent chick and some fatty wearing goggles.
21. Jan Hammered - May 9, 2008 1:52 PM
17. pickle - May 9, 2008 1:04 PM
do you notice that the geekologie writer thinks the white people look like shit but the black folks look stylish. why is that, i wonder? maybe because that is exactly how real life usually is.
ahhhhhhh...The fresh scent of racism...How intoxicating...Black people always look stylish, and white people always look like shit???Perhaps you should examine the diabetes and alcohol/drug dependency rates in minority neighborhoods.
22. Jan Hammered - May 9, 2008 1:54 PM
BTW, those black guys are GAY. And everyone knows gays are more stylish than straight folks.
23. Amy - May 9, 2008 2:11 PM
Uhhhh...Nat, you say there's a "decent" looking chick and a fat one wearing goggles.
Decent.
*shakes sadly* It's a sad, sad day for the gene pool, my friend.
24. thatotherguy - May 9, 2008 2:31 PM
@23.
Sorry for not conforming to your leggy blonde fake tits stereotype Amy, but there's a lot of us who prefer a girl with some curves, character and personality.
25. SlowMonkey - May 9, 2008 5:25 PM
@10 Concur, SmokingGirl. It would be great to have the guys wearing the high heels and makeup instead of me. Wait a minute..........I think they already are down on Montrose Avenue in Houston.
26. SmokingGirl - May 9, 2008 5:37 PM
The transexuals don't count, SM.
Although, wait, we are looking at the Libertine French...so perhaps the transexuals do count.
27. Joe Homie - May 10, 2008 2:25 AM
I think that SteamPunk is so cool I want a new car styled after it. Anyone want to make it for me?
Serious. I bet old steam tech would out power and out whatever this stupid crap they call cars.
I also want a mobile phone welded to my wrist, and a WII remote on the other. But that's just me. Ask my wife, she hates it.
Whoever did the taxidermy stuff, I have some animals you can work on... paid of course :)
Sweet. I wish we had this when I was 10, my life would be much different. Instead all we had was BBS's and ASCII Pwrn.
Have a good day all you SteamPunk haters, when Guess gets ahold of this you will wonder... maybe I could have made that first?
28. Absinthe - May 10, 2008 3:24 AM
@24. Bull---shit, I would rather take a blond with fake tits and nice legs over those with curves only a planetoid could love and a personality that can recite every book by Anne Rice.
Steampunk used to be interesting. Now it is nothing but a club of those who can't even pass as gothic. I loved it's concepts in the past but it's gone now, ain't cool anymore. If you want to have a genuine Steampunk car, make it run on steam.
29. Stolencheese - May 10, 2008 2:03 PM
I love the Geekologie writer so much.
"Is Steampunk Fashion The Next Big Trend?"
"Probably not"
Made me lol. :P
30. Dizzy - May 10, 2008 9:46 PM
I have a new word..."Wanksteak!"
31. Yud - May 11, 2008 1:40 PM
@ Jane Hammered
Wait, wait. Who is being racist? Pickle was being a dick, but you definitely take the racist cake
What doeshaving diabetes or drug dependence have to do with looking good? I want you to open up a dictonary and look up "logic" and maybe "argument". Oh and "fact".
Hey excellent follow-through with the homophobic sentiments as well, you're one class act.
Seriouly, those "white" peoples' (there is clearly an Asian chick on the right, and I'm not even sure about the one on the left, but essentially, who cares?) clothes looked like shit, period. Those black guys looked good because they weren't dressed like nerds in a park. Tell me, how exactly did you pick their sexual orientation by looking at them? That's certainly a useful talent.
32. Crazy eye - May 11, 2008 1:51 PM
@ Jane Hammered
Wow talk about repressed. I suppose 'immigrants' stole your job and way of life while 'gays' raped your kids am I right?
Get off my planet, you're dead weight