Of Brass and Steam

Today sees the second ever guest post on my blog, again by Marie Sumner.

The Essentials of a Good Steampunk Party

Steampunk is a fantastical, semi-nostalgic, extravagant celebration of the Victorian and early industrial era. Intricately detailed, mechanical when possible, unconcerned with practicality, and loosely based around Victorian codes of behavior and dress, steampunk is a playground for imagination and inventiveness. If you want to throw a steampunk party that makes an impression with the right costumes and atmosphere, there are a few essential things you’ll need to keep in mind.

Décor

Clockwork Items

Besides actual steam powered items the next most iconic representation of the steampunk genre is clockwork mechanics. Hang up a few different types of clocks and use things like music boxes and clockwork toys as decorative items on tables and shelves.

Pipes

Metal pipes aren’t something you’d install for decorative purposes yourself unless you’ve got a lot of money to burn, but when picking a venue you would be lucky to get hold of an old building with exposed piping on the walls. Pipes are obviously necessary to conduct and condense steam, and when used correctly can add to the atmosphere significantly.

Gears

Big gears, small gears, they’re all good as far as steampunk is concerned. Arrange several gears together and hang them on the walls as decoration. These are used to represent clockwork mechanics and will look excellent in whatever capacity you choose to use them.

Old-Timey Phone or Other Gadgets

Any old-timey machines make excellent background decorations for your guests to admire. Find things like old phones, sewing machines, velocipedes, or a steam engine (large, small, or incomplete, doesn’t matter). If you happen to locate Tesla coils or gas lanterns, display them prominently as these are the kinds of detailed additions that really set the scene.

Costumes

Ladies

Ladies generally have two options as far as steampunk costumes are concerned. They can go with the neo-Victorian lady approach, or the steampunk mechanic. The typical neo-Victorian lady is dressed in a corset, Victorian style dress, gloves, hat (either a top hat or any of the various lady-hats popular during Victorian times), and of course goggles. Typically all of this will come in shades of brown or black, but there is no real restriction on color choices, you can go nuts if you so choose.

The mechanic look also wears a corset on top with pants or a more conventional skirt on bottom. Instead of a hat you’ll just go with the goggles, and the whole outfit will be completed by some knee high boots. Possible accessories include monkey wrenches, clockwork based jewelry, or canes.

Gentlemen

Like the ladies, gentlemen also have two options with a spectrum in between, the neo-Victorian gentleman or the mechanic. A neo-Victorian gentleman should be dressed in a tailcoat, vest, starched Victorian-style shirt, top hat, and boots. He should be well accessorized with a watch and fob, cane, and the requisite goggles.

The mechanic should be dressed in the manner of 19^th century workers with a loose shirt, suspenders, a canvas cap, heavy canvas pants, and boots. Wrenches, goggles, or blunderbusses make excellent accessories for this costume.

Gentlemen should also consider that they have a powerful effect on the era that they represent through their choice of facial hair. Wearing a well maintained, luxurious moustache is a perfect complement to your outfit and if you can grow one you should take the time to do so.

Costume Consultant Marie Sumner is an avid cosplayer and passionate writer who owns more superhero movies and comic books than anyone should be allowed to.