For Those of You Afraid of Going Public...

[Crawford Mourne]

I've been browsing these forums for a few weeks now, and I see an awful lot of posts about how people are hesitant to wear their Steampunk garb in public.

I can understand that putting on a giant bronze gauntlet or carrying around fake sticks of dynamite may be impractical (and perhaps illegal as far as the mock dynamite goes), but don't be afraid to strut your stuff!

I would love to run into more people wearing their Steampunk clothing, it could spawn an instant friendship!

Believe me when I say that dressing Steampunk in public is no where NEAR as frightening as other lifestyle choices can be, and in fact, it's cool. People laughing at your goggles are just overwhelmed by the awesome they put off (or the fumes wafting from a newly modded pair).

Anywho, EMBRACE.
I wish to run into more of you.

EDIT: Took out a line to protect other's sensibilities, I'm not looking to hurt people's feelings, sorry if anyone misunderstood what I was getting at.

[Captain Brandsson]

While I understand this concept from an academic point of view, I come from a somewhat different perspective as my original "steampunk outfits" were my work clothes and dailywear.
In fact, it is only been within the last four months that I have acquired any pieces that I would consider impractical for day-to-day usage.

[Delireus]

Once, on a cool crisp morning, I wore my recently finished pirate coat to campus. Most people didn't really notice, as everyone had a longer coat on, but those that did loved it!

That being said, I go to Renaissance festivals a lot, and faire is pretty far from my home. We usually have to stop once or twice and get gas or what not in our garb. Sooometimes people can be jerks. Most people do know what a renaissance festival is, so they ask the obvious question "You going to a renaissance festival or sumthin?"  (to which I say no, it's just a normal Saturday) but I don't know what they'd say to someone in full steampunk gear, as it is less common and doesn't really fit with a faire as well. I don't know. I'm quite sure you'd make friends though, I certainly know I'd run up squealing to anyone wearing goggles and be their best friend, I just hope others would be nice too.

But, if you feel comfortable and happy in whatever you're wearing, even the weird looks shouldn't hinder you!

[darkshines]

This thread makes me giggle, being steampunk isn't like coming out as a homosexual or a born again Christian, it is something you have inherantly have always been from the outside (whereas sexuality and religion are not general visible, unless you are reall mincey......). It is how I and many others dress every day and always have! If you feel ashamed, then don't dress that way!

[D.Oakes]

It has been a week of going full Victorian (no goggles yet, but then I made them more for specific things) and now nobody notices, except people who have never seen me before.  Worse...it is starting to catch on, I had to give a friend of mine a vest that was a tad too big, it fits him perfectly.  When I did reenacting, I'd wear what I could so I did not have to pack so much.  It was rather interesting seeing a Red Army soldier walking into the most capitalist of places: Starbucks.  This old man seemed so scared of me, noticing his PSU hat, I smiled politely and asked him if he was going to the game.  He at once smiled and I may as well have been anybody else. 

Darkshines, I must say, I think I was the opposite.  I was always the history nerd who always wanted to study every bit that I could and when not doing that, I was reading Victorian and Belle Epoque poetry.  In fact Freshman year after some kid said I was drawing violent pictures (I was studying Civil War uniforms) to get out of trouble for beating me up in high school, I generally tried to keep quiet about my world outside of school.  My English and History grades were always rather high, but none of my peers seemed to know that I knew anything.  It was not until I caught Senioritis that I started having intellectual conversations, especially after I called out an English professor in class for getting a point on history wrong.  (That got a lot of stares from my friends who thought they knew me.)  I also always felt more comfortable in older clothes, but it has only been recently that I have gotten up the courage to dress completely how I want to.  In college, I'd say I was about 1910's-1930's, not quite diesel, not quite steam, and that was intermixed with some sheeple clothes. 

[darkshines]

I guess I never really cared what people thought. I used to get beaten up for "being a goff" and I didn't care, you can't beat the freak out of me.....

[The Abiliegh]

Most people do know what a renaissance festival is, so they ask the obvious question "You going to a renaissance festival or sumthin?"  (to which I say no, it's just a normal Saturday) but I don't know what they'd say to someone in full steampunk gear, as it is less common and doesn't really fit with a faire as well. I don't know.

The answer is always "I'm in a play." And if they inquire further, throw a friend under the bus and chuckle as they stutter for the moment. Good times.

Of course, after the fun, jump in and give a brief steampunk explanation. We've got a great thread up in metaphysical about "Steampunk in a sentence."

[JennyWren]

Try going out in a blouse, a skirt, and high heels to completely destroy your fear of Steampunking around town (this only works if you're a man, or a masculine woman).

Be careful of your phrasing, while i didnt take offense I know a few people who would, for many of us this isnt a choice.

Ok rant over , sorry,  

I understand where you are coming from as a re-enacter,  and more resently a steampunk, i have appear in public in many period and SF costumes, and now steampunk attire, and i have had fun while doing it  :-)

[rovingjack]

Steampunk attire, hmm I don't know if anybody would be able to notice it as being truely outrageous here. Depends on what it is I guess.

I have wandered through the Walmart in my Jesus costume on halloween (that got looks and double takes as well as joking and laughs), I get comments about looking like jesus when I where plaid flannel shirts and cargo pants, figured might as well go all out with toga/robes and tunic for halloween. Went in and bought candy and water "They put me in charge of the wine for the party."

The other mind bending outfit I wore once was black clogs, with red and pink argile kneesock, a pair of womens mid calf trousers in green camoflage, a blue and gold astrological chart pajama top with black and white checkered waistcoat over it, and a sweater jacket that has been described by others as a technocolored dream coat (I usually refer to it as a disemboweled rainbow). I also had a pair of fingerless gloves that were fuscia and black zigzag and under that I had blue fingered gloves, Oh and my big black felt wizards hat.

I though it was fun and might give somebody a laugh, I do this mostly for family gatherings but occasionally have to stop for gas and groceries on the way. Unfortunately the response this time was more "Don't make eye contact and maybe we'll be safe."

I'm thinking apurple cummerbund and white spats over bicolored bowling shoes and a metallic gold bowtie might go over better. I really want to have a pair of blue and white camo knickerbockers with red plaid socks for it.

[D.Oakes]

Steampunk attire, hmm I don't know if anybody would be able to notice it as being truely outrageous here. Depends on what it is I guess.

I have wandered through the Walmart in my Jesus costume on halloween (that got looks and double takes as well as joking and laughs), I get comments about looking like jesus when I where plaid flannel shirts and cargo pants, figured might as well go all out with toga/robes and tunic for halloween. Went in and bought candy and water "They put me in charge of the wine for the party."

The other mind bending outfit I wore once was black clogs, with red and pink argile kneesock, a pair of womens mid calf trousers in green camoflage, a blue and gold astrological chart pajama top with black and white checkered waistcoat over it, and a sweater jacket that has been described by others as a technocolored dream coat (I usually refer to it as a disemboweled rainbow). I also had a pair of fingerless gloves that were fuscia and black zigzag and under that I had blue fingered gloves, Oh and my big black felt wizards hat.

I though it was fun and might give somebody a laugh, I do this mostly for family gatherings but occasionally have to stop for gas and groceries on the way. Unfortunately the response this time was more "Don't make eye contact and maybe we'll be safe."

I'm thinking apurple cummerbund and white spats over bicolored bowling shoes and a metallic gold bowtie might go over better. I really want to have a pair of blue and white camo knickerbockers with red plaid socks for it.

Oh in that case, for the high school powder puff game, just to try an impress a girl...I was the ugliest cheerleader that has ever lived.  (For some reason it did not impress her....but later on....)  For the girl who got me to buy the kilt, I did a show with my band in that ugly cheerleader skirt.  I have often thought about working on a female side of myself much like one of my favorite artists did as Rrose Selavy.  I tend to be flamboyant as it is, I don't think there is room for a female version of myself. 

[Cogni]

Haters gonna hate.

[Capt. Dirigible]

black clogs, with red and pink argile kneesock, a pair of womens mid calf trousers in green camoflage, a blue and gold astrological chart pajama top with black and white checkered waistcoat over it, and a sweater jacket that has been described by others as a technocolored dream coat (I usually refer to it as a disemboweled rainbow). I also had a pair of fingerless gloves that were fuscia and black zigzag and under that I had blue fingered gloves, Oh and my big black felt wizards hat.

Jeez! My eyes hurt just reading that!!

[Arceye]

Haters gonna hate.

 Pithy.
 My public style has been more punk than Steampunk for years, and what has amazed me, is just what people object to. I have had a young godbod on a train ask me if I thought my god liked the idea of me putting holes in my body, I said I was a Buddhist and moved to another carriage. I heard her on her phone asking somebody 'Wot's a Buddhist' With the 'Wot' pronunciation very clear.
          But I make my own stainless steel jewellery, and have had a lot of complements of that.

          Be Yourself.

[rovingjack]

black clogs, with red and pink argile kneesock, a pair of womens mid calf trousers in green camoflage, a blue and gold astrological chart pajama top with black and white checkered waistcoat over it, and a sweater jacket that has been described by others as a technocolored dream coat (I usually refer to it as a disemboweled rainbow). I also had a pair of fingerless gloves that were fuscia and black zigzag and under that I had blue fingered gloves, Oh and my big black felt wizards hat.

Jeez! My eyes hurt just reading that!!

My work here is done 

Actually I call myself something of an absurdist. Stretching the limits of the mind is a hobby, be it my mind or others. You don't have to applaud and throw money (though I could use some money) but I am never gruff or threatening. I don't hurt people and will give of my time and effort to be kind and helpful with nothing expected in exchange. When I dress absurd, the best responses would be: Dear god, what made you think that was a good idea? or just shake your head and roll your eyes. If you laugh, or tell your friends later about the kook you saw earlier then that is the gooey chocolatey center to it all for me. I've improved a day and created a story worth telling to others for amusement.


sans hat and gloves and not the best picture. It's true glory is only seen in person.

[Zthroo]

Disemboweled rainbow is a accurate description, I must say. 

[Deck5]

Kind of Worzel Gummidge meets Snuffleupagus.

[aldebaran]

Haters gonna hate.

That's my take on it. I'm old/big/mean enough to not care what other people think. If memory serves, I've never been heckled - I get a heck of a lot of compliments, though.

[lilibat]

I've been a goth for over 2 decades so this if funny to me. People are so much more accepting of unusual dress than they were even 20 years ago.

[rovingjack]

... If memory serves, I've never been heckled - I get a heck of a lot of compliments, though.

Cuz you are a Star   aparently also one from the constellation taurus too.

[Bezier]

I am anything but shy of my love of Steampunk. For me, it isn't a hobby, or something I only dress in to go out or to fit in with a crowd. I am Steampunk every day and everyone who knows me, knows that. Yes, I occasionally get heckled, but why change yourself for the sake of drunken, immature chavs who look like their parents still dress them? I am the only person I am interested in impressing, and I am impressed by Steampunk.

[inigo jameson-gatling]

I wear the 19th century clothing at work and out and about. At work it does cause a bit of a stir but as people just think I'm weird it doesn't matter, others link me to the Amish, Mennenites or Anabaptists and the other thing I am asked about is the Little House On The Prairie. It's funny how a demin jacket over the top "normalises" things. What will happen when my dolman, waist coat and duster jacket turn up I hate to think, although a colleague has a Drizabone so the people have seen them.

[Flightless Phoenix]

Firstly I must compliment rovingjack for his outfit- it reminds me of a wizarding attempt at muggle clothes (I'm sure the wizard's hat added to that effect).

I don't have any particularly overtly steampunk outfits as yet, but I have been goth for almost a decade and so have long come to terms with the heckling. Personally I found it refreshing- especially when I was younger- at school I was happy for people to insult my dress sense- becuse I had chosen to look that way. It made a nice change from insults about my intelligence, height, weight etc- things over which I had (almost) no control.

I have had a few compliments on my clothing- often from old ladies =]

This month has mostly just been people leaning out of car windows to shout 'It's not raining!!!' because a parasol is such an alien concept =P

[Orcon Windar]

I'm not really afraid of dressing steampunk in public so much anymore. The best time was when I was coming back from a steampunk LARP with my father and stopped in a Johnny Rockets for some dinner in full steampunk garb. It was a blast. There was some sort of "Moms" meeting going on, so there was a table full of small kids, and a table full of Moms. It was actually pretty entertaining to see (and hear) all of their reactions. The kids seemed confused, but the moms loved it. Every time I turned around I could sort of hear them talking about how they wished their kids would dress like that.

I also regularly wear tweed or a bow tie to school which is pretty well accepted. Most people think it's pretty cool, but whenever I ask them why they don't dress like that they just say I'm the only one in the school who could really pull it off. Oh well. Guess it's not for everyone. 

[Captain Brandsson]

This thread is interesting as it is very much casting into sharp contrast the two major (variances exist, of course) differences in approaching steampunk outfits.

The "it is an outfit I use to escape my daily life"* and "it is how I dress to express myself on a regular basis".

*Sometimes a "character" is involved, but not always.

[Dr Fidelius]

I've been browsing these forums for a few weeks now, and I see an awful lot of posts about how people are hesitant to wear their Steampunk garb in public.
[...]

Funny, I might not be reasing the right threads, but I have not noticed any "posts about how people are hesitant to wear their Steampunk garb in public."
I have been dressing like this since befoer I knew it was a subculture.  I recognize that a fifty-year-old man who likes to wear vests, bowties, hats and carry a pocketwatch to work is in a very different lifespace than a teenager who wants to express his individuality in school. 
BUT, I do have one piece of advice for the neophyte -- START SLOWLY.  Rome wasn't burned in a day; if you start incorporating more fashionable items into your wardrobe slowly, then within a few months no one will notice if you show up in a smoking jacket and fez.  I know you youngsters want everything right now, but a major style change will only attract negative attention while a gradual improvement in dress will slide in under the notice of the nay-sayers.
Welcome, and good luck!