Steampunk or Cosplay Style & Your Own Twist Link Up #24
Monica and I are back again putting our own twist on a super challenging theme…Steampunk or cosplay.
Your Own Twist is a link up collaboration between me and Monica of Jersey Girl, Texan Heart. We decided to host a fun link up once a month (since we are both super crazy busy so why not add more projects to our calendars)! On the third Thursday of every month, we will host the Your Own Twist Link Up with the goal of inspiring some of our fashionista friends out there.
The idea behind this collaboration is to take one common piece or theme and style it our own way with our own twist…Monica and I have both taken a lot of fashion inspiration from one another over the past few years even though we have totally different styles. It is always fun to see how we can interpret similar items in unique ways. We will let you know the themes well in advance in the event that you would like to use the theme for your own post and add it to the link party. However, any fashion posts are welcome regardless of whether you used the theme or not.
I chose the theme for this month and then I got stumped. Utterly and royally stumped. I mean, I had a general idea of what Steampunk and Cosplay should look like, but I didn’t really know how to style either of these themes.
But first, I should probably talk briefly about these two styles of dress and how they are similar to one another.
According to Wikipedia,”Steampunk is a retrofuturistic subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.”
When it comes to steampunk style, there are no set rules but the focus is on a combination of Victorian era fashion synthesized with modern style and industrial type accents. The types of garments you will see styled in steampunk fashion include bustles, corsets, gowns, petticoats, and parasols which are accented with industrial accessories like timepieces, mechanical gears, and aviator goggles. The steampunk genre also can include post-apocalyptic elements such as gas masks, tattered clothing, and weapons.
Clearly, I did not style a steampunk outfit. While I absolutely adore this genre, I just didn’t have anything that would work. But do check out my friend Eva of Style My Thrift with her upcycled steampunk outfit. It is so brilliant!
I went the cosplay way…
Wikipedia defines cosplay as a “portmanteau of the words costume play.” It “is a performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear and fashion accessories to represent a specific character.”
Cosplay has become a major phenomenon since the 1990’s where participants find inspiration for their characters from anime, cartoons, comic books, television shows, movies, and video games. Cosplay grew and expanded from the costumes that could be found at science fiction conventions. The costumes at these conventions probably fall into the steampunk genre. So cosplay is sort of a derivative of, or maybe more accurately, an expansion of steampunk fashion.
If you are interested in knowing more about cosplay, check out this introductory guide to the fascinating world of cosplay. The cosplay community has grown over the years and many cosplayers participate in events like the San Diego Comic-Con International, Anime Expo, and Anime Matsuri. Many large events like these have been cancelled due to the current pandemic, but you can always consider attending future events when normal scheduling resumes.
Cosplay is an excellent hobby to unleash your creativity and express yourself. People who are passionate about this hobby dedicate a lot of time, energy, and resources into making their costumes and, in a sense, becoming the characters they are cosplaying. If that sounds interesting to you, you are going to love cosplaying.
Cosplay was a bit easier for me to style because it incorporates a larger pool of inspiration. While I did not model my outfit after any particular character, I did draw on some elements from anime school girls with some Harry Potter vibes.
I absolutely loved the final result of this bit of costume play!
What are your thoughts on costume dressing? Silly or stupid? Fun or ridiculous? Stylish or insane?
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Shop my look…
Outfit Details: Jacket-c/o Rosegal / Skirt-c/o Dresslily / Shirt-Gap / Tie-Thrifted (Hugo Boss) / Belt-Cato / Sock-Sock Dreams / Sock Garters, Boots, Earrings-All Super Old
27 Comments
Nancy
Oh I love steam punk! Not to wear myself, but t see on others. We have, in the Netherlands, a 50+ couple that always dress steam punk. And they always look magnificent! I love the tie!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Nancy! I really love steam punk, too. I just have no idea how to wear it or else I probably might! That couple sounds like really cool people!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You drew those anime characters?? They are soooo good!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
No, no, no, I didn’t draw them! I probably could copy them but I am not talented enough to draw something like that from nothing! I suppose I should have put an image source tag on it, but they came from different sources. Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
Very fun outfit! And you look just like those anime characters! Well done!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mireille! I had a lot of fun with this one!
xoxo
Shelbee
eva @ StyleMyThrift.com
Even though I FAILED MISERABLY on creating a Steam Punk look for this post, I am so glad I had your nudge and inspiration to create my dress and petticoat skirt….
In my FaceBook groups, people have said I was so close! I just needed to add a corset!!!
Enough about me! now about YOU!
I must have those boots!!! wow! love them! they are so beautiful!
I am going to revisit Steam Punk again next month for a month of costumes!
xo Eva
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Eva! These boots are so insanely old that I can’t even remember where or when I got them. I have definitely had them longer than my husband! And you absolutely did not fail at your steam punk inspired outfit! I think when we are simply drawing inspiration from different style genres that we can do whatever we want with them. You absolutely succeeded at creating a steam punk inspired outfit! And I freaking love it. My outfit would probably not fit the definition of cosplay to cosplayers because I think it has to be the costume of an actual character. My outfit was inspired by a few different cosplay ideas and so it is not any specific character…other than Shelbee playing dress up! All in the name of fun and fashion and self expression!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
You did a very nice job there. Looks fun.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I hope you are having a fabulous day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar A Strauss-Benjamin
Rock it girl!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ha, thanks, Tamar!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nanchi
Aaah….You look goregeous! How have you been Shelbee?
https://nanchi.blog
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nanchi! I have been well. Hanging in there, getting through the days! I hope you are well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
You nailed your inspiration with this look! Love it all. That skirt and those boots are fabulous.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Kathrine! This was super fun even though it was challenging. Although I think when it’s a difficult style challenge and you get it right, there is always a sense of satisfaction! These boots are so old, I cannot even remember where or when I got them. They are definitely older than my marriage! Haha. Have a great weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Fun outfit in any case! Steampunk is so fun and interesting, but the outfits are always so elaborate, I think it would require collecting pieces over time, and even then I’m not sure I would know where to start. I will definitely check out Eva’s post.
You might enjoy looking at Anita’s blog. She makes Steampunk decorations among other things. https://uniquecreationsbyanita.com/
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Michelle! Yeah, I really do like steampunk, but it leans a bit too heavily in the direction of costume for regular every day wear. Eva’s steampunk dress is actually very wearable for everyday. I would say it is steampunk inspired rather than full on steampunk. I think with a cosplay inspired outfit, it is easier to create an outfit more suitable for everyday wear. I am heading over to check out Anita’s blog! Thanks for the recommendation.
xoxo
Shelbee
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 16.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Dee! I hope you have a great week!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anita Holland
Really cool outfit and the boots are just amazing. I will have to try making some of them as a steampunk project. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a great comment.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Anita, thanks so much! Oooh, I look forward to more steampunk creations of yours! You are so talented! I hope you have a great week.
xoxo
Shelbee
Anna
You totally nailed the look Shlebee, love the inspiration and interpretation. Every bit of it, down to the garters screams punk.
https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Anna, thank you so much! I had nearly forgotten that I had the garters. I am so glad I remembered because that might be favorite detail of this whole outfit. I hope you are having a wonderful week.
xoxo
Shelbee
Edwige
You are just so beautiful and so fun to watch! 🙂
Edwige | http://www.hypnozglam.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, Edwige! You are too kind! Thank you so much. You are absolutely stunning yourself, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Pingback: