Steampunk
aka Neo-Victorian, Gear-core
"The future that never was"
A subgenre of science fiction that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.
Atmosphere
The sensory world of Steampunk
Steam-filled workshops, airships, clockwork cities
Philosophy
Innovation through the lens of the past
Who Lives Here
The character archetypes that embody Steampunk
The Inventor
The Airship Captain
What It Rejects
Steampunk exists in opposition to:
Plastic
Digital sleekness
Mass production
Daily Rituals
The practices and behaviors that define this way of living
Modding gadgets with brass
Attending conventions
Origin
Literature-based (H.G. Wells, Jules Verne) before becoming a full visual subculture in the 1980s and 90s.
Era
1980s-Present
Regions
London, San Francisco, Global Conventions
Trend Score
Key Elements
Key Garments
- •Corsets
- •Top hats
- •Aviator goggles
- •Vests
- •Pocket watches
Silhouettes
- •Victorian
- •Industrial
- •Tailored
Color Palette
Metallic industrial tones and Victorian earthiness
Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
Accent Colors
Key Brands
Materials
Cultural Context
Historical reimagining, maker culture, DIY industrialism