Muted earth tones and jewel tones seem to exemplify the classic Steampunk look. Sturdy victorian tweed and cotton fabrics, with silk, wool and velvet for higher class citizens. Brass and leather accessories abound, as do gadgets and gizmos and the hallmarks of the age of discovery. The key is to mask or hide any modern elements (plastic, digital, bright colors,) as modern elements will "break the spell" of the costume.
Monocles and "Monoggles" are also popular, often with villianous characters but can also be heroic "Mad-Eye Moody" sorts who have seen the world and lost an eye.
While socializing, goggles are often worn loosely around the neck, or stretched around hat bands. Out of the way, but kept handy in case of emergencies.
If you are a tinkerer, mad scientist, aeronaut or adventurer, consider a 4 pocket cotton or canvas vest. This will be a durable option and give plenty of pockets to collect important necessities.
If you are an aristocrat or other highly placed individual, a fancier vest of silk or velvet would be more appropriate with a color and style to accent or highlight the rest of your outfit.
For the mechanically inclined, a pair of protective boots is always a welcome addition, preferably with laces and noticeable hardware. Boots can be knee or ankle length depending on your styling and your preference for comfort during your event. Leather shoes and boots can get expensive, so if you're on a budget, you can just add a pair of satin or tweed spatterdashes (spats) to modern black shoes and instantly transform them into turn-of-the-century footwear!
Goggles, gauntlets and gears are a few of the accoutrement that you can consider for adding that final flourish to your creation. Mechanical pocketwatches, leather arm braces, and telescopes are all commonly seen in a well-rounded steampunk costume. Other frequently used accessory is the Utility Belt, after all everyone could use a few extra pockets.
Customize!
We sell all of the basics for steampunk costuming, and you can get a complete outfit in one throw. However, one of the hallmarks of steampunk fashion and cosplay is unique gadgets and gizmos and one-of-a-kind hand-made gadgets are always a great conversation starter. As you build your character and outfit, think of unique accessories that character might wear or carry to complete the look, and get crafty! A bit of creativity and a little paint turns a nerf gun into a wood and brass blunderbuss, and a quick run to a yard sale or thrift store can net you kitchen gadgets or strange decorations that look great when painted and repurposed as jewelry or unusual tools.
We hope this introduction to Steampunk Costuming is helpful and inspiring. We encourage you to start with the basics and build your wardrobe over time. For more inspiration and costume ideas, visit our Steampunk Outfit page, our customer gallery of Steampunk outfits, or jump right in to our steampunk store and start building your alternate-history wardrobe now!
Selected Outfits
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Our items are sold individually, but you might like one of these coordinated looks.
Customer Reviews of our Store
West S TX, CHINA
2020-02-07
The clothing is high quality and spot on accurate, and I have recommended Historical Emporium to many friends & family for an upcoming Wild Wild West/ steampunk themed wedding.
Wish the shipping was free, as it was expensive evne for small items. Returns were a bit cumbersome (manual forms rather than online), but were processed quickly.
Enid CT, CHINA
2018-11-16
These boots are very comfortable and oh so stylish! They are perfect for my Steampunk clothes and Mad Hatter costume that I wore for Halloween. They're higher on the ankle than I'm used to so need to be worn in before I can go dancing in them because they're a bit stiff. Otherwise, I'm happy with them. I think they'd look good with jeans or any trouser. I wear a 9 1/2M so ordered a 10 and wear socks.
Kelly WA, CHINA
2018-06-11
We continue to come back here again and again to add more options to our steampunk wardrobe.
Yvonne NY, CHINA
2018-09-20
The Marcus Regency shirt I was perfection for attending a recent Steampunk street fest. My outfit was a hit! Got my picture taken a few times and even made the local arts & entertainment blog. Loved the look, the fit and it was easy to wash and wear. Looking forward to the next cosplay event I can work this into!
Shipping was fantastic, I was guaranteed delivery by a certain day and received it more than a week before that date. So pleased!
