In the last two weeks I’ve come across more references to Steampunk in the mainstream than I have all year. One was the episode of the ABC show Castle, where the main character, who’s a writer happens to stumble into an exclusive steampunk club as part of a murder case he’s following. The second is this clip by the band Sugarland, in which they describe their influence for their latest album–Steampunk of course! Check out their costuming and stage set up, it’s just awesome.
There’s also steampunk fashions at your local mall. Check out Wet Seal and the “military” look popping up in fall fashions. All of these show me how Steampunk is merging more and more into the mainstream. People are beginning to get a glimpse of the amazing Victorian idealisim, romanticism and creativity that is inherently part of what we love.
If you haven’t explored Steampunk, now’s the time to check it out! There are a dozen or more steampunk conferences and conventions all over the country, several in Canada and even more in Europe. Some are a weekend, some are just a day, all are a dip in an absolutely amazing font of creativity.
Right now (as I finish writing up The Hunter – my paranormal steampunk due out in Nov. 2011) I’m using the costumes I want to create for Steamcon II as my carrot to get my daily pages finished first. I’ve got my science assistant costume complete with a modified tan raincoat I’ve modded into a spencer length in the front with two long tails in the back (and replaced all the plastic buttons with gold ones – naturally), that I’m going to pair with brown knee breeches, brown boots, a white peasant blouse, a mini underbust corset from Clockwork Coture and my first set of goggles! I’m still at work on sewing the Lady Vampire high society outfit (taken from my vampire countess in the second book of the series – The Legend). I’ll admit I had my tophat made for me, but I’m sewing the dress (with bustle, overcoat, skirt and underskirt) myself. And because Steamcon II’s theme this year is Wild Weird West, I’m working on a western outfit as well that’s got a fringed black leather jacket with beading on it, a high-necked white blouse, a longer skirt and of course a cowboy hat and boots. I’ve still yet to completely figure out how to mod a gun into a replica of my sting shooter in my stories…but I’m working on it!
Where else have you seen Steampunk showing up in the mainstream?
