As the steampunk/goth coalition continues to conquer the fashion world, I offer you some steampunk fashions from actual Real World clothing stores. (For some reason, they cling to the idea that they are “military” fashion themes, but 19th century-WWI military is what they’re thinking of. Just admit you long to be Jaegers and aviators, already….)
This coat looks rather nice, and doubles as a Jaegercostume.
A nice jacket. This one’s a lot cheaper.
I am an extremely wealthy aviatrix and captain of industry.
I live next door to Jane Austen and the Great Sophy is my fashion guru.
(They want you to wear this with a deliberately holey t-shirt. If you do this, anonymous wellwishers will knock you over the head and steal your nice coat.)
The doublebreasted, silver-buttoned, Confederate gray hoodie. For men. Alas, no “property of VMI Phys Ed Dept” is emblazoned across the back. (Note to fashionistas: That wasn’t a serious suggestion.)
Fitted and befrogged leather jacket. Sharpe on a motorcycle.
I couldn’t wear this jacket, but it looks mighty cute.
This waistcoat seems… um… unnecessary?
This tailcoat cardigan is apparently the product of going out drinking bowls of punch with 18th century reenactors.
(The sad thing is, it doesn’t look half bad with indigo blue jeans in the pictures. It really does look nice from the back. If it didn’t have the front panel that looks so odd, I’d find it fully acceptable; and it looks pretty good in the closeups, even so. Anybody want to knit me a tailcoat sweater?)
Possibly the most Gothic t-shirt dress I’ve ever seen. Holy Equus, that’s creepy. (If it were a dinosaur skeleton wreathed with flowers, however, that would be okay as a T-shirt. I can’t ever see it as a dress.)
Sort of a WWII miniskirt. If you have to do it, this isn’t too horrible looking.
I told my dad about these fashions, and he was sure they couldn’t bring back these standup collars on shirts. Apparently, fashion defies mere good sense. At least when it comes to what women will stand.
Union army-like blue jeans. With buttoned flies and pantslegs. For women of course, since you couldn’t force men to wear this stuff. The front just looks persnickety, but the back looks horrendous.
In general, the fashionistas seem to be pushing extremely skinny khaki trousers and shorts and puttees, or bizarre brown and black versions of various 19th century military pants.
The accessories include all sorts of army boots, including ankleboot versions of them. Um. Well. I guess the army surplus look is always bound to come back. Either that, or people bought their imitation cavalry boots and pilot boots in the last couple seasons, and are done with looking snazzy.
There are some relatively sober versions of these fashions out there, too — normal looking peacoats, fitted clothing that doesn’t have all the frogs and epaulets and such. It’s a very strange time in fashion, though, and you might very well find some fun stuff out there. It doesn’t seem to have hit the malls yet, though.
