What steampunks wear

– an explanation of the different outfits you might see at a steampunk event

PREFACE - click to read if you already have strong views about steampunk and retrofuturism

The article on this page concerns the outfits seen at steampunk events, not the steampunk literary genre and not the deeper philosophical side of the steampunk movement. If you already have strong views on steampunk's relationship to retrofuturism, please read the article to the end before passing judgment, and properly note its aim: An explanation of the different outfits you might see at a steampunk event.

If there was ever a subject guaranteed to spark debate and controversy about its origin and meaning, steampunk is it. It’s a literary genre, a subcultural expression, a social phenomena and more besides. It’s anachronistic science fiction and a genre of retrofuturism …or is it?

If there was ever a subject guaranteed to spark debate and controversy about its origin and meaning, retrofuturism is it. It can only take place between the 1930s and the 1960s and it has to feature robots and ray guns …or does it?

Steampunk and retrofuturism are both relatively new words that didn’t exist before the 1980s, so it is inevitable that their meanings have evolved in recent years through the process of common usage. The steampunk movement did not start out as a genre of retrofuturism, and it still isn't in many deeper philosophical respects that are beyond the scope of this article. But when it comes to the aesthetics of most outfits seen at a steampunk event, it is easy to see why steampunk is widely considered to be a genre of retrofuturism, regardless of how much deeper the movement goes.

Rightly or wrongly this article takes the meaning of retrofuturism to be: "A visualisation of the future through the lens of a past era's technological and cultural understanding." A simpler way of expressing this might be: "A style or aesthetic that was considered futuristic in an earlier era."

Most definitions of retrofuturism state that it can be based on any earlier era and feature any imagined technology. Accordingly, retrofuturism currently has dozens of genres and sub-genres including Cyberpunk and Raygun Gothic, but the four established genres that are most relevant to the article on this page are Clockpunk, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, and Atompunk.

Each genre is rooted in a specific historical period's technological outlook, but opinions vary on the precise start- and end-points of these periods. It doesn’t matter too much about the exact periods in the context of this article, but as it makes sense to keep each one both separate and convergent, let’s start with the one that many people agree on:

Atompunk - from the testing of the first atomic bomb in 1945, to the 1960s.

Working back from there, we know that diesel powered ships, submarines and locomotives became mainstream in the 1910s, so:

Dieselpunk - from the mainstream use of diesel in the 1910s, to the first atomic bomb in 1945.

Working back from there to define the age of steam, we know that the Watt steam engine began being used on a commercial scale in factories during the 1780s, so:

Steampunk - from commercial-scale use of steam engines in the 1780s, to the mainstream use of diesel in the 1910s.

And finally, as Clockpunk relates to the Renaissance era, and in order to make the two genres convergent:

Clockpunk - from the birth of the Renaissance era in the 1500s, to the start of the age of steam in the 1780s.

There is no definitive source of genre period dates, but the list above is what makes the most sense to this author in the context of this article.

The scope and variety of costumes and outfits seen at a typical UK steampunk event can sometimes seem perplexing, especially at some of the bigger festivals. However, there is an established system of classification that can help us make sense of most of what appears to be an 'anything goes' approach, with the ever-present caveat that actually, anything can go because it's a free world and creativity and counterculture are core tenets of the UK steampunk scene ...more about this later.

Retrofuturism …holding everything together

Steampunk as a genre of retrofuturism is loosely set in an age when steam engines powered trains and factories. By 'retrofuturism' we mean that if we look back in time to the 19th century, for example, and then jump forwards from there to a future as envisioned by the sci-fi writers of that era, such as Jules Verne, HG Wells and Mary Shelley, we end up with a vision of the future from a specific past perspective. A good definition of retrofuturism is: "A visualisation of the future through the lens of a past era's technological and cultural understanding."

by Alvim Correa, from War of the Worlds The writers of that past era (in this example: the Victorian age) were well aware of the scientific advancements being made with electricity as a potential new source of energy, but they had no knowledge of the fashions, transport or medical advancements that would follow those of the 19th century. So their vision of the future might have, for example, seen people with mechanical prosthetic limbs, dressed in Victorian era clothing, travelling in trains and submarines powered by electricity. Their imagination wasn't limited by what we now know to be the laws of modern science, so gravity-defying steel and copper airships, heat-ray shooting war machines on legs, and even suitcase-sized time machines, can all exist in the imaginative, retrofuturistic world of steampunk.

It is worth reiterating that although steampunk retrofuturism is set in the age of steam, the sci-fi fantasies of that time almost universally focussed on electricity as a power source, not steam, due to the groundbreaking experiments of physicists such as Luigi Galvani. Think of Shelley’s 'galvanic energy' in Frankenstein, or Verne’s submarine Nautilus powered by rechargeable sodium/mercury batteries. The fashion and culture in the 19th century (for example) may have been distinctly Victorian when the alternative futures were envisaged, but those futures are the timelines that are explored by retrofuturism, rolling forwards in time for as many years as one wishes to. This is why steampunk is often referred to as the future that never happened.

Retrofuturism has many established literary and aesthetic genres including: Clockpunk, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, and Atompunk – all of which we are going to explore shortly. Any of these distinctly different genres might be seen in costume form at steampunk events and festivals in the UK, so does this mean that steampunk events should more accurately be called retrofuturism events in terms of aesthetics? ...well yes, probably, given that steampunk is just one genre among many. But Retrofuturism Weekend doesn't have the same ring to it as Steampunk Weekend, and rightly or wrongly, 'steampunk' has now become the accepted word for social events that have grown to encompass all genres of retrofuturism and more besides.

We'll come back to the issue of what steampunk may or may not be in different contexts, but first let's take a look at the most popular retrofuturism genres and other costume types seen at retrofuturism – I mean steampunk – events, or at least the genres used as a starting point for most outfits, as creative flair sometimes leads people to create mashups of the established definitions.

Early Steampunk

Photo of early steampunks by John Naylor In 1987, American author KW Jeter suggested 'steam-punks' as an off-the-cuff name for himself and two other authors of 'Victorian fantasies'. He didn't go on to use the term and it wasn't commonly seen again until the early 2000s when the single word 'steampunk' was used to label an emerging social and creative scene. This environment brought together gadget makers and artists who shared a love of what has now become known as the steampunk style and aesthetic. Championed by Margaret Killjoy's SteamPunk Magazine in 2007, a new literary genre grew out of this social and creative scene, but it should be noted that the literary genre grew mainly from the popularity of the social scene, not the other way round.

'Steampunk' stuck as a name for the new movement and also, eventually, for the era of retrofuturism relating to the age of steam. This, I would suggest, started in the 1780s when the Watt steam engine began being used on a commercial scale, and ended in the 1910s when diesel powered ships, submarines and locomotives started to become mainstream. Thus steampunk retrofuturism can legitimately reference any fashion style from the later half of the Georgian era (including the Regency era), through to the end of the Edwardian era. One of the UK community's professional costume designers, Elsie Tinker, playfully refers to this period as 'Geovicwardian'.

However, despite the age of steam covering the Geovicwardian period (let's run with that term), some of the most popular and significant sci-fi novels written during that time were penned during the 19th century, which is probably why, when references are made to those novels, steampunk has become more synonymous with the Victorian era than any other.

People who immerse themselves in the steampunk subculture, dressing to fit the aesthetic, are known as 'steampunks'. Some only dress this way for gatherings, others incorporate the steampunk aesthetic into their everyday lives and personal presentation. As the innovators of the steampunk social scene created and refined their pioneering outfits in the late 2000s, so a distinctive steampunk 'look' started to emerge – see pictures immediately above (with gadgets), below (without accessories due to venue restrictions) and further below (with accessories). Note that the photo directly below shows a Georgian and two Edwardian inspired outfits – not just Victorian fashion.

Many steampunks like to create personas straight from the novels that define the steampunk literary genre. Popular themes include airship captain, prehistoric jungle explorer (e.g. from Journey to the Centre of the Earth), gadget inventor, survivor or defender of an alien-invaded Earth (e.g. from The War of the Worlds), mad scientist, time traveller, deep sea diver (e.g. from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas), engineer, and adventurer action-hero. The American frontier was full of cowboys and outlaws in Victorian times, so outfits fit for the American Old West have always been particularly popular and are usually referred to as 'Steam Western'.

Photo by John Naylor The first wave of steampunk outfits were unquestionably inspired by Geovicwardian fashions, and because the most prevalent materials used to make machines in that period were iron, brass, copper, leather and wood, so these materials became central to the steampunk aesthetic. Blacks and sepia tones with brass accents, along with deep muted colours and earthy tones, soon became the quintessential colour palette for steampunk outfits in the 2010s, but not for long when it was realised that bright aniline dyes were first developed during the 1850s.

The word 'punk' in steampunk references rebellion and counterculture, so the Geovicwardian fashion base was often jazzed-up or accessorised with outrageous boots, industrial or explorer goggles, corsets worn as outer-garments, dresses hitched up, and/or mock mechanical body enhancements worn around the head or arms.

Modern Steampunk

As the steampunk social scene grew into the 2020s, so some steampunks chose to move even further away from the darker colours and sepia tones of the early steampunk fashion aesthetic, wearing outfits made from even brighter materials than might have been historically correct. Not that historical accuracy has ever been an issue with steampunk fashion as we are dealing with a future that never actually happened, so who can say for sure that anything is right or wrong?

And thus there now exists what might be called the classic steampunk look, which some like to stay true to, alongside a more modern approach, with brighter colours and patterned fabrics that incorporate steampunk images such as hot air balloons, airships and kraken (giant octopus). Neither approach is right or wrong as long as they loosely reference the Geovicwardian era, else they become a different genre of retrofuturism, as explained shortly.

Shown above and at the top of the page are a few 2025 outfits that more-or-less follow the formal side of the early steampunk aesthetic approach. Formal outfits ('attire') and military uniforms tend to be seen more often at modern events than informal or engineer/adventurer/explorer type outfits, but it does rather depend upon the venue. This may be a product of what is readily available 'off the peg' or at the back of the wardrobe, and of course not everyone has the skills, time nor inclination to adopt the 'make it yourself' steampunk ethic complete with homemade leather and brass accessories. However, even with relatively straightforward formal outfits, steampunks still thrive to be creative and expressive, which is at the heart of the steampunk sub-culture.

Below and left (or further down the page if using a phone) can be seen some examples of what might be considered modern steampunk outfits (to various degrees of modernity) seen in 2025.

Pirates - although the Golden Age of Piracy ended in the 1730s, piracy in the Caribbean didn’t end until the 1830s ...excuse enough then for steampunks to add pirate costumes to their ensemble! The recent rise in popularity of UK pirate festivals in places like Brixham, Swanage and Whitby, has seen many steampunks enthusiastically attend those events as well as steampunk festivals, with a resultant trendy increase in the number of pirate outfits to be seen at some steampunk events.

Goths - the goth subculture has nothing to do with retrofuturism and everything to do with a style of introspective music that usually features tribal drum beats, dominant bass lines and reverb-heavy guitars. Most goth fashion is very dark - on many levels - and among the many sub-styles is Victorian Goth, which draws its aesthetic inspiration directly from the funeral and mourning rituals of the Victorian era. This creates an obvious potential for a crossover of fashion styles, as per the example shown on the right. More than a few steampunks are goths at heart, either actively so, or just below the surface, so it is not uncommon to see steampunk/goth mashups (aka 'Steam Goth') or gothic style influences at steampunk festivals.

Alice In Wonderland - Lewis Carroll's 19th century novel Alice's Adventures In Wonderland is an iconic work of Victorian literature that reflects the Victorian fascination with the inner workings of the mind. It is dark, kooky and fits in perfectly with everything that steampunk embraces. Steampunks even use the expression 'falling down the rabbit hole' to describe the fascination and enthusiasm that newbies experience when they first discover the world of steampunk. Because of all this, it is not unusual to see costumes and outfits inspired by Lewis Carroll's surreal works at steampunk events.

Steampunked Sci-Fi

In 2009, Weekend at the Asylum founder and director, John Naylor, created a steampunked version of Darth Vader's iconic mask in the melded style of a 19th century German soldier's helmet. The result is distinctively steampunk in its aesthetic, whilst also being instantly recognisable as Darth Vader's helmet - Star Wars had been 'steampunked' and a new trend was born.

Many years later and nearly every principal Star Wars and Star Trek character has been seen 'steampunked' at one or another of the larger UK events, including various fully working R2D2 robots fashioned from wood, brass and copper. Star Trek uniforms perfectly meld Victorian fashion with styling cues straight from the USS Enterprise, and a Victorian Captain America might be found chatting to a brass Cyberman. Anything can be 'steampunked' as long as the underlying aesthetic is obviously Victorian or steampunk in style.

Clockpunk (chronologically precedes steampunk)

Put simply, 'clockpunk' is a genre of retrofuturism based on the period of history before the age of steam. More specifically, clockpunk outfits are usually inspired by the Renaissance, Baroque and Early Modern fashions, with accessories sometimes portraying an understanding of technology based around intricate clockwork gears, springs, levers, and the sort of machinery and imagery that Leonardo da Vinci would have been proud of. 'Lacepunk' is not too dissimilar but is not such a popular term these days.

Venetian masks were worn at the Venice Carnival from the 12th century, right through to the end of the 18th century, so any Venetian masks seen at steampunk events – of which there are usually a few – are an instant nod to the clockpunk or lacepunk genres of retrofuturism.

Dieselpunk (chronologically follows steampunk)

Photo by Craig Jenkins Diesel powered ships, submarines and locomotives became mainstream in the 1910s, marking the start of the age of diesel, and the basis of dieselpunk retrofuturism. This genre focuses on diesel-powered machinery made from steel and iron with riveted surfaces, 1910s to 1940s military and industrial aesthetics, and also sleek Art Deco influences such as Streamline Moderne. In the setting of steampunk social events, the most common dieselpunk influences are black or grey overt military uniforms with peaked caps and jackboots, which is the darker side of where the people of that era saw their future heading. Fedoras, aviator hats, aviator goggles and military-style leather gauntlets are also typical dieselpunk accessories, with pinstripe suits, flapper dresses, bomber jackets and trench coats getting a look-in too. When outfits specifically reference the lavish, self-indulgent Jazz Age, they are sometimes referred to as a subgenre known as Decodence.

Atompunk (chronologically follows dieselpunk)

Atompunk or Atomicpunk relates to a pre-digital, Atomic Age retrofuturism based on the short but culturally important period from the mid 1940s to the late 1960s. Think Space Race, nuclear technology, the Cold War, communism, espionage, robot butlers and ray guns. It is rare to see an all-out atompunk outfit at a steampunk event, but the Fallout video game and TV series has brought the genre more attention recently.

Gaslamp Fantasy

Carnival Row by Amazon Gaslamp or Gaslight Fantasy is a subgenre of Historical Fantasy, not retrofuturism, but it is nonetheless a popular costume theme at steampunk social events. Chronologically speaking, gaslamp fantasy follows the Geovicwardian era, but it depicts life during that period as if magic exists openly and, along with other supernatural influences, as if it has affected the historical course of events.

The story, characters and aesthetics of the Carnival Row TV series perfectly depict the gaslamp fantasy subgenre with its mythological beings such as winged faeries and horned fauns, all set in a distinctly Victorian steampunk setting. Add orcs, wizards and dragons into the mix – even vampires – and you end up with a visual aesthetic akin to a cross between steampunk and Lord of the Rings.

So is it all Steampunk? …yes and no.

Can an obviously dieselpunk outfit be classed as steampunk retrofuturism? …not really, I suggest, because although a Victorian-envisioned future could conceivably have led to what we would now recognise as 1930s fashion, if an outfit looks like 1930s-based fashion then by well-established definition it becomes dieselpunk, otherwise retrofuturism classifications might as well not exist.

However, English is a constantly changing and evolving language, so where the term 'steampunk' is repeatedly used to label what should technically be called 'retrofuturism' festivals and gatherings, because some attendees of these events often dress to fit in with any and all of the above genres and other categories, there has to come a point where the word takes on a new secondary meaning (depending upon context) through common usage.

Put another way: there are very few clockpunk or dieselpunk events in the UK, and only a handful of gaslamp fantasy events, so people sometimes attend steampunk events in clockpunk, dieselpunk and gaslight fantasy outfits. And because it is now quite normal to see outfits from all these genres within steampunk events, the author suggests that common usage has extended the meaning of the word 'steampunk' to include the clockpunk, dieselpunk and atompunk genres, and even gaslight fantasy, when specifically referring to retrofuturism and fantasy events in a blanket sense.

Cosplay

One other 'look' that you might see at a steampunk event is the occasional presence of people in cosplay costumes, representing non-retrofuturism characters from anime, manga, film or video games. Cosplayers – especially the younger ones – see steampunk festivals as a 'safe space' to dress up and have their photographs taken, and this sometimes becomes a foot-in-the-door for cosplayers to become steampunks as one year they might attend as a carbon-fibre-clad Marvel character, the next they might turn up as a reimagined Victorian Batman with an armoured suit made from linen, leather and brass.

The same goes for anime characters and furry animal costumes, which might then be replaced for costumes of foxes or badgers dressed in Victorian attire (a popular aspect of steampunk literature). It's an element to steampunk events that can seem odd, even to regular steampunks, but as with everything in the steampunk community, it is accepted in good spirit and mutual respect because the watchwords of the steampunk social scene are tolerance, acceptance, fun, and being splendid in everything one does.

...and now for something completely different

Every now and then you might see an elaborate costume that defies categorisation or explanation and wonder what on earth is going on (examples shown below, including steampunk Mark as Penelope Pitstop on a penny farthing). Ask the wearer why they are dressed as they are and they'll probably reply: "Because I can!" Some steampunks love to raise eyebrows, some like to attract attention, and some just find it difficult to meet societal norms, even if the 'norms' of steampunk are already fairly outrageous. And thus we end up with outfits that whilst defying any particular label – even one as broad in scope as retrofuturism – bring an extra touch of flamboyance and a smile to people's faces.

– Roy Sinclair, November 2025

Acknowledgement

The author thanks Weekend at the Asylum director John Naylor for his patience and helpful critiques during the long discussions necessary for the author to be able to write this article with a greater understanding of steampunk's early days and founding philosophies than he would otherwise have had.

Photography: Move your cursor over the images for copyright credits. Thank you to all the photographers who have allowed us to use your images on this page.

In this section:

What is Steampunk? What steampunks wear What to expect at a steampunk event Dressing for your first steampunk event Personal Views Steampunk Gallery Steampunk Resources Interesting Articles The Ministry of Steampunk The Steampunk Sallys Articles Wanted

Any Questions?

If you're thinking about joining in at a UK steampunk social gathering, and you've read this page and others such as What is Steampunk, but you still have questions, a companion Facebook Group will hopefully provide you with some answers, courtesy of experienced steampunks who are kindly willing to try and help.

Join the SteampukHub.uk Facebook Group, introduce yourself and post your questions, but remember that responses are freely made to try and help you – please don't be too demanding!

Some examples of 2025 steampunk outfits – click or tap to view at full size.