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Question by Lucid: What are some easy steampunk things to make?
I’m trying to make a steampunk costume, and I’m stuck with little money, not a lot of patience, and not a lot of time before a steampunk party coming up.
I have 2 weeks to gather up items for a costume, and so far all I have is a ruffled shirt and black vest, and an eyepatch I made. Any other easy suggestions for a costume?

Best answer:

Answer by Renee G
Okay – running a search to make sure that I knew WHAT you were looking for I find that steampunk is a bit of a combination of Victorian steam tech with science fiction of the era (I wasn’t sure if it was a music based or literature based idea – but it didn’t seem familiar from going to an anime convention with my son).

If there is a costume shop nearby where you could rent something Wild West or Victorian to glam up a bit with accessories of your own – that would give you something now for the party. Keep track of what works so that you have an idea of what to look for in thrift shops or garage sales to keep on hand for later.

Have you checked out the Steampunk Workshop website (neat ideas on what to do for a keyboard & monitor – not so many suggestions on costuming)?

The movie Back To The Future 3 would be an idea – see what Dr. Brown and his family are wearing in the end sequence? Any Jules Verne illustrations from books or the internet would give ideas – as it would be period art on what THEY thought that the future would look like.

The idea seems to be combing Victorian elaborations with science fiction or fantasy elements to come up with someone very clearly NOT quite from the world as we know it.

A digital watch could be painted to look like it was made from brass with interesting engravings (get a cheap pocket watch to insert it into?) or check the jewelry at thrift shops or clearance racks to get interesting shapes to glue around the face of your existing watch to steampunk it up. You don’t want to get to the party LATE, do you?

Shoes could be dressed up a bit – have you thought about taking an older but still wearable for a few hours pair of your usual running shoes and painting them up to look like polished black leather? Clearly not Victorian but not quite the usual streat gear!

Denim jeans or a LONG denim skirt would work for guys and girls (the skirt only for girls) – Levi’s Jeans were available at the time for Gold Miners in California after all – just drop a reference to having been there for a while and having picked up these pants. Adding a pocket watch with a digital watch insert would be the “touch” that makes it steampunk………..

It occurs to me that the machinery in the movie version Wild Wild West might also have the right look – I’m not so sure about the clothes…….but it’s a fun movie to watch if you have the popcorn, soda, and the time! And it keeps you inside where it’s cooler!

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