While most fashion aficionados are currently looking to CBGB and the 1970s for style inspiration, a different set of “punks” are eyeing H.G. Wells and the 1870s. They’re called steampunks, a term coined some 20 years ago by science-fiction author K.W. Jeter to describe a cult aesthetic movement inspired by 19th century sci-fi and fantasy that envisioned what a modern world would look like if steam power fueled technology. Think “Sherlock Holmes,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and Will Smith’s 1999 camp classic “Wild Wild West” all squeezed into one kooky corset.
In “Anatomy of Steampunk: The Fashion of Victorian Futurism,” author Katherine Gleason dissects the fantastical subculture and its subscribers — people from all walks of life who create elaborate characters and costumes, made up of topcoats, lace and other Victorian trappings paired with goggles, gadgets and mechanical bits.
But everyday steampunks aren’t the only ones captivated by the likes of Captain Nemo. From Alexander McQueen to Olivier Theyskens, fashion designers have long flooded high-end runways with top hats, voluminous gowns and swashbuckling styles that have trickled down to highly wearable retail versions. Even Marc Jacobs went Victorian vamp for spring, sending models across a post-apocalyptic landscape in embroidered lace gowns and appliquéd jackets sure to earn a steampunk hashtag on Pinterest.
The style subculture is DIY by nature, and as Gleason emphasizes, there are no set rules or limitations to the look. “Out of the shock of the old explodes the rebellion of the new,” writes New York-based steampunk speaker Diana M. Pho in the book’s introduction. All you need is an inventive spirit and a little punk spunk.
Captain look
Rule the Seven Seas in a seasonal style blooming with feminine detail.
Helene Berman wool-blend peplum military coat, $370 at julesb.com
Bodice ripper
No corset? No problem. A trompe l’oeil tee will do just fine.
Love Moschino printed cotton T-shirt, $134 at farfetch.com
iTime machine
Protect you most important thingamajig so your life runs like clockwork.
Steampunk cog iPhone 5 case, $24.50 at cafepress.com
Riveting touch
Keep your hardware handy and pack a punk punch with studded gloves.
Studded leather gloves, $29.95 at H&M, 1328 Broadway
Velveteen dream
Cover those ankles with a stylish pair of Victorian-inspired boots before you reveal too much!
Velvet boots, $150 at Topshop, 478 Broadway
Cogs worth
Screw those old-fashioned trinkets with something original and clock-dead gorgeous.
Silver, brass and Swarovski crystal ring, $45 at victoriancuriosities.etsy.com
Outer sight
You can go-go-gadget all you like, but no steampunk look is complete without goggles.
Julbo sunglasses with leather side shield, $119.95 at backcountry.com