Steampunks
Every guide on Steampunks
Fifty-three guides in nine sections, from what steampunk is to the Victorian world behind it. Each one is long enough to answer the question properly, with every fact checked and its source listed.
The nine sections
Section I
What steampunk is
The meaning, the look, where it came from, and how it differs from Gothic and Victorian.
- 1What Is Steampunk? The Meaning, the Look and Where It Came FromWhat steampunk means, where the word came from in 1987, what the style looks like, and how people read it, watch it, wear it and make it.About 12 min
- 2The Steampunk Aesthetic: How to Recognise the StyleThe colours, materials, shapes and details that make up the steampunk style, how it looks on a person, in a room and on screen, and a checklist for spotting it.About 12 min
- 3Where Steampunk Came From: Verne, Wells and a Letter in 1987The story of steampunk, from Victorian railways and Jules Verne's submarine to the airships, a letter to Locus magazine in 1987 and the gatherings of today.About 12 min
- 4Steampunk, Gothic and Victorian: How They DifferSteampunk, Gothic and Victorian all wear black, lace and top hats. Here is where each comes from, what each looks like, and how to tell them apart.About 14 min
Section II
Fashion and costume
Women's and men's outfits, a costume on a budget, Halloween, a steampunk wedding.
The section page- 5Steampunk Fashion: The Complete GuideWhat steampunk fashion is made of, from the Victorian clothes underneath to the brass, leather and goggles on top, with characters to dress as and a first outfit.About 13 min
- 6Women's Steampunk OutfitsWomen's steampunk outfits layer by layer, from the blouse and corset to the hat and goggles, with five outfits to copy and how to stay comfortable all day.About 12 min
- 7Men's Steampunk OutfitsMen's steampunk outfits layer by layer, from the shirt, braces and waistcoat to the frock coat, hat and goggles, with five outfits to copy and how to stay comfortable all day.About 14 min
- 8A Steampunk Costume on a BudgetHow to put together a steampunk costume for very little: what it really needs, what you already own, charity shop finds, simple alterations, and home-made goggles and gears.About 13 min
- 9Steampunk for HalloweenSteampunk for Halloween: the darker side of the style, the plague doctor, mad scientists and vampire hunters, brass-coloured make-up, children's costumes and a quick outfit.About 13 min
- 10A Steampunk Wedding: Dresses, Suits and IdeasA steampunk wedding from start to finish: the bride's dress, the groom's suit, the wedding party, rings, flowers and cake, the kinds of place that suit it, and keeping it elegant.About 14 min
- 11Steampunk Dresses and SkirtsWhat makes a steampunk dress or skirt, from bustles and pick-up skirts to the high-low hem and the corset built in, with fabrics, colours and how to make or alter one.About 12 min
- 12The Steampunk Theme in Dress to ImpressWhat the steampunk theme in Dress to Impress, the Roblox dress-up game, asks for: the pieces and colours that say steampunk, five looks to try, and how to wear it for real.About 12 min
Section III
Hats, goggles and accessories
Goggles, top hats, masks, corsets, waistcoats, coats, watches, jewellery, boots.
The section page- 13Steampunk GogglesSteampunk goggles explained: the real goggles they copy, the parts, the four main kinds, how to wear them on a hat, seeing through them safely, making a pair and caring for brass and leather.About 14 min
- 14Steampunk Hats and Top HatsSteampunk hats from the top hat to the bowler, mini top hats, riding hats and hats for women, with how to decorate one, measure your head, keep it on all day and make your own.About 14 min
- 15Steampunk Masks and the Plague DoctorSteampunk masks explained: the disputed history of the plague doctor, why old gas masks must never be worn, half masks and masquerade masks, comfort and safety, and making your own.About 13 min
- 16Steampunk Corsets and WaistcoatsSteampunk corsets and waistcoats explained: overbust, underbust and cinchers, steel and plastic boning, lacing one comfortably, waistcoats for men and women, fabrics and sizes.About 14 min
- 17Steampunk Coats and JacketsSteampunk coats and jackets for men and women: frock coats, tailcoats, greatcoats, dusters and military coats, short jackets and boleros, fabrics, buttons and how to alter a coat.About 13 min
- 18Steampunk Watches and Pocket WatchesSteampunk watches and pocket watches: their place in Victorian life, open-face and hunter cases, chains and fobs, skeleton watches, wristwatches, clockwork and caring for an old watch.About 12 min
- 19Steampunk JewellerySteampunk jewellery explained: gears, keys and watch parts, necklaces, brooches, cufflinks and rings, Victorian jet, cameos and lockets, metals and their care, and making your own safely.About 14 min
- 20Steampunk Make-up and HairSteampunk make-up and hair: the Victorian face, brass and machine make-up, hairstyles for long and short hair, moustaches and beards, hair under hats, and trying make-up safely.About 14 min
- 21Steampunk BootsSteampunk boots explained: lace-up, button and buckle boots, riding, military and work boots, spats and gaiters, boots for women, comfort on a long day and dressing up a plain pair.About 13 min
- 22Steampunk Glasses and SunglassesSteampunk glasses and sunglasses: round wire frames, pince-nez, monocles and lorgnettes, tinted lenses and side shields, prescription frames, and sun lenses that really protect your eyes.About 13 min
- 23The Finishing Touches: Gauntlets, Wings and Other AccessoriesSteampunk accessories explained: gauntlets and gloves, belts and holsters, wings and mechanical arms, parasols and canes, badges and medals, bags, and what UK law says about props.About 13 min
Section IV
Home and decor
Lamps and lighting, clocks, furniture and ornaments, and a whole room in the style.
The section page- 24Steampunk Lamps and LightingSteampunk lamps and lighting: why warm light matters, the Edison bulb, pipe, cage and jar lamps, ceiling, wall and floor lights, LED filament bulbs and colour, and wiring a lamp safely.About 13 min
- 25Steampunk ClocksSteampunk clocks explained: skeleton clocks with open gears, wall, mantel and table clocks, railway time and the station clock, clockwork or battery, making your own, and where to hang one.About 14 min
- 26Decorating a Room in Steampunk StyleDecorating a room in steampunk style: walls, wallpaper and brick, floors and rugs, pipes and gauges on show, light, the Victorian study, maps and collections, and a whole room on a budget.About 12 min
- 27Steampunk Furniture, Shelves and OrnamentsSteampunk furniture, shelves and ornaments: Victorian pieces, leather chairs and the Chesterfield, pipe shelves, trunks and curiosity cabinets, globes and instruments, bell jars, and safe restoring.About 13 min
Section V
Art and making
Steampunk art and artists, how to draw it, robots and creatures, cogs and gears, props.
The section page- 28Steampunk Art and ArtistsSteampunk art and artists: the Victorian engravings and blueprints behind the look, painting, digital art, sculpture, comics, where to see the real things, and copyright.About 14 min
- 29How to Draw SteampunkHow to draw steampunk step by step: the pencils and tools to start with, gears and cogs, pipes, rivets and gauges, a figure, machines and airships, and shading metal.About 13 min
- 30Steampunk Robots, Animals and InsectsSteampunk robots, animals and insects: the real automatons that came first, mechanical men in old stories, how to design creatures, and making one safely at home.About 13 min
- 31Cogs, Gears and MachinesSteampunk cogs, gears and machines explained: how gears work, the main kinds, clockwork, steam engines, using real gears safely, and where to see working machines in Britain.About 14 min
- 32Making Steampunk Props SafelyMaking steampunk props safely: planning, foam, card, wood and metal, using tools, painting brass and rust, lights and batteries, and what UK law says about prop guns and blades.About 14 min
- 33Steampunk Wallpaper, Backgrounds and FontsSteampunk wallpaper, backgrounds and fonts: Victorian wallpaper patterns and colours, screen backgrounds, Victorian typefaces, copyright and licences, and making your own designs.About 13 min
Section VI
Films, TV, games, books and music
The films, the animation, the games, Minecraft builds, the books and the music.
The section page- 34The Best Steampunk FilmsThe best steampunk films: what makes a film steampunk, the Verne and Wells adaptations, live-action and animated films, Victorian mysteries, television series and where to start.About 13 min
- 35Animated Steampunk Films and SeriesAnimated steampunk films and series: Studio Ghibli, Steamboy and other Japanese films, Western films, the television series, family films with BBFC ratings, and where to start.About 12 min
- 36Steampunk GamesSteampunk games: video games set in steampunk worlds, strategy and city-building, board and card games, role-playing games, games for children with PEGI ratings, and finding more.About 13 min
- 37Building Steampunk in MinecraftBuilding steampunk in Minecraft: which blocks stand in for brass, copper, iron and wood, how copper weathers and is waxed, airships, clock towers, moving parts, mods and playing safely.About 13 min
- 38Steampunk BooksSteampunk books: the Victorian novels behind the style, the first steampunk novels of the 1980s, novels since 1990, books for younger readers, graphic novels and where to start.About 12 min
- 39Steampunk Music and BandsSteampunk music and bands: what it sounds like, the instruments it borrows, the bands that call themselves steampunk, Steam Powered Giraffe, Victorian music hall and making a playlist.About 12 min
- 40Steampunk Names and CharactersSteampunk names and characters: real Victorian names for women and men, titles, ranks and trades, the inventor, explorer and aviator, famous characters, and writing your own story.About 13 min
Section VII
Steampunk events in the UK
Where steampunks gather, with the dates from each organiser's own site.
The section page- 41Steampunk Events in the UKSteampunk events in the UK: what happens at a steampunk fair or weekend, the larger regular events, finding events near you, what to bring, events for families and starting a meet-up.About 12 min
- 42The Whitby Steampunk WeekendThe Whitby Steampunk Weekend: what it is, why Whitby suits steampunk, who runs it and where to check the dates, what happens, getting there, what to wear and Whitby's other weekends.About 12 min
- 43Lincoln's Weekend at the AsylumLincoln's Weekend at the Asylum: what the steampunk festival is, who runs it, the castle and cathedral, what happens, tea duelling, getting there, and what to wear and bring.About 14 min
- 44What to Wear to Your First Steampunk EventWhat to wear to your first steampunk event: whether you need to dress up, a simple first outfit, the weather and a long day, shoes, what to carry, props and the rules, and photographs.About 13 min
Section VIII
Airships and machines
Steampunk airships, and the real ones that went before them.
The section page- 45Steampunk AirshipsSteampunk airships: why they belong to the style, the flying machines of Verne and Wells, what a steampunk airship looks like, airships in films, games and books, and building your own.About 12 min
- 46The Real Airships: the R101, the Hindenburg and AfterThe real airships: the first balloons, Count Zeppelin, Britain's R34 and R100, the R101 airship's crash in 1930, the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, and the airships still flying.About 13 min
- 47Steampunk Trains, Cars and MachinesSteampunk trains, cars and machines, and the real ones behind them: steam locomotives, Victorian stations, traction engines, Brunel's ships, Nemo's Nautilus, walking machines and where to see steam.About 13 min
Section IX
The Victorian world behind it
Victorian fashion, London, architecture and the Gothic Revival.
The section page- 48Victorian Fashion for Women, 1837 to 1901Victorian fashion for women from 1837 to 1901: early Victorian dress, the crinoline, the bustle, the big sleeves of the 1890s, corsets, bonnets, hats and gloves, and mourning dress.About 12 min
- 49Victorian Men's FashionVictorian men's fashion from 1837 to 1901: the frock coat and the morning coat, waistcoats, collars, braces, the top hat and the bowler, beards, and dress for work, sport and evening.About 14 min
- 50Victorian LondonVictorian London from 1837 to 1901: the railways and great stations, the first Underground, fog and the Great Stink, Bazalgette's sewers, rich and poor, and where to see it today.About 12 min
- 51Victorian Architecture and InteriorsVictorian architecture and interiors: Gothic, Italianate and Queen Anne styles, brick, iron and glass, the terraced house and parlour, wallpaper and tiles, and gas and electric light.About 13 min
- 52Gothic Revival ArchitectureGothic Revival architecture explained: Strawberry Hill, Pugin and the Houses of Parliament, Victorian churches and town halls, St Pancras, how to recognise the style and where to see it.About 14 min
- 53Victorian Mourning DressVictorian mourning dress explained: why grief was worn so openly, Queen Victoria's years in black, the stages of mourning, crape and jet, hair work, and how the custom ended.About 12 min