3/05/2013

Sub Genres of Steampunk Styles

Steampunk is a great style. It combines futuristic technology with the Victorian period of history. Steampunk's aesthetic is a blend of industrial age machinery and postmodern sensibilities. The sub-genres of steampunk stem out into a variety of darker or more dystopian points of view.
Clockpunk
steampunk costume

steampunk costume
Clockpunk is characterized by the gear. Whether the steampunk carries a pocket-watch on a chain or wears a necklace with a cog hanging from it, these sorts of accessories put them in the clockpunk sub-genre. Instead of images and clothing that recalls steam power, clockpunks prefer a much more love in mechanical aesthetics. For this reason, clockpunks appear almost robotic. The derivative is cleaner than steampunk, often metallic.
Western Steampunk
Black Steampunk Guard Coat for Men

Black Steampunk Guard Coat for Men

As in the popular film “Wild Wild West”, western steampunk combines the old west cowboy clothes with science fiction elements. This style is different from the Victorian foundation in that it uses fashion from the American west. Steam locomotives are associated with western steampunk.
Steamgoth
steampunk costume

steampunk costume
When applying the dark elements into the steampunk style, it becomes the steamgoth. Steamgoth usually keeps clothing dark and dingy, the most popular color being black. Unlike the generic goth style which merely blends flowy, vampire-inspired all-black clothes and white face makeup, steamgoth maintains the steampunk style clothing like vests and metallic accessories. One particular accessory that is popular in steamgoth is goggles. Top hats are also acceptable forms of headgear, especially for male steamgoths.
These three are the most well known sub genres in steampunk style. If you are interested in this style, you can take them into consideration to be a more various steampunk.

1 comment:

  1. Very informative post! My style seems to flow more into clockpunk and steamgoth... My steampunk outfit is usually androgynous, black and always with vest, pocket watch and top hat... so there isn´t much "steam" in it, nor a lot of "punk". Maybe I´m really more of a victorian inspired "clockgoth" than anything steampunk. ;)

    ReplyDelete