Whether your costume or your characters attire is a Steampunk ghost, pirate, vampire, mechanic, world explorer, airship crew member, a proper Victorian lady or something altogether different, I wanted to share helpful pointers from panels at Comicpalooza, this past Memorial weekend.
Since I’m a Lolita at Steamed, let’s start with Lolita fashion.
When developing a steampunk persona and the costuming for it, you may find yourself building a lot of drama and hardship to your characterization. However, Lolita personas are lighter, let’s just have fun, let’s have a tea party. For that reason many women are attracted to Steampunk/Lolita fashion crossovers. For a good start to Lolita fashion, take a nice white blouse, add a frilly petticoat and a skirt trimmed in lace. Goodwill, Salvation army, and local thrift stores are excellent places to get accessories and props to build a costume.
Whether you’re a Lolita blending steampunk into your costume, a steampunk persona mixing Lolita concepts into your outfit or working with a straight stempunk characterization for your attire, one thing to keep in mind is well fitted garments flatter any figure. Garments that are too large are as bad as clothing that’s too small. Regarding corsets, use those with steel bones, avoid the plastic ones as they bend when it’s hot, and become lumpy. Queen size women should ensure their corsets fall a bit longer in front. Corsets should close to about 4″ all the way for a comfortable, even fit. It’s less expensive to invest in a custom fitted corset, than buying a dozen inexpensive ones that don’t look or feel quite right.
Don’t foreget bustles, they add a lot to an outfit. They don’t make your butt look big; they make your skirt look full. Certain silhouettes require a bustle to fill out your skirt and add a polished, proportional look to your dress.

Steampunk Sweethearts – Comicpalooza 2013
Other than a corset, the most expensive part of your costume may well be your shoes. Granny boots are always popular for steampnk. Consider investing in a good pair of Doc Martins that appeal to your steampunk self. For dancing at a a Steampunkb all you will need something more feminine. Cherries Jubilee is a great source for source for Steampunk shoes, her emeblishmens are amazing.
Regarding menswear, a man’s waistcoat or vest needs to be long, such as one purchased from a big and tall store,
- Shiny As A Copper Penney
so it covers the shirt to the top of the trousers. That prevent the tummy from bulging under the vest. Pants should be worn at the waistline, around the belly button, not beneath it. Most men will find suspenders work best. Men should keep spats in mind, to add a touch of completion and pizazz to their outfit.

Steampunk Poision Ivy
For both men and women, stemapunk costumes should look complete, from head to toe, for example don’t wear tennis shoes with a period dress. Also, though accessories are key to a Steampunk look, don’t’ go overboard, keep to the less is more fashion philosophy.
For examples and ideas, I’ve included a few photos I snapped at Comicpalooza in Houston Texas. So have fun and enjoy creating your or your characters’ Steampunk costumes.
I love the Steampunk look! There’s such a variety within the genre. I think many people tend to overlook that. I’m glad you noted the different choices of costuming that all fall under the Steampunk umbrella.
I have a Steampunk book in the works that will get finished…someday… LOL. Maybe then I’ll get a Steampunk outfit to wear in conjunction with the book promo.
My fiancé, author Scott Harper http://www.scottharper.net is not a fan of Steampunk, but I hope to eventually convert him, hehehehe.
Carpe Noctem,
Des
Author Desirée Lee
Putting the Romance back in Necromancy
http://www.desireelee.com
Dear Desiree, thank you so much for your comment. I appreciate it so much. Best wishes for the Steampunk book your writing. Delphine Dryden and I had a panel at Comicpalooza – “steampunk tips and quips” – which was for the purpose of converting readers and writers over to steampunk. With you at his side, I have high hopes that your fiancé will be converted over to Steampunk at some point in time.