The short definition of Steampunk is: Victorian science fiction.
Seventies clothing holds its own special place in American culture. Ranging from late 60's hippie looks to the eye popping styles of the disco era, 70's clothes were not designed to be ignored. The decade of the 1970s began as a carryover of late '60s fashion. The hippie influence was still very present. Shirts of tie dye and worn jeans were the look of the day. Hip huggers and bell bottom jeans were popular and were likely to be customized and decorated by the person wearing them. Donning patches and using a variety of bleaching and tie dying techniques was popular. Jean jackets of the day were often stylized by their owners with a variety of patches carrying whatever message the wearer felt like sharing.
The short definition of Steampunk is: Victorian science fiction.
The short definition of Steampunk is: Victorian science fiction.
A slightly longer definition is: what the world would have looked like if the technical revolution had arrived a little earlier.
We have steam-powered machines and robots, Victorian culture and adventurers and explorers, both male and female. Think "Wild, Wild West", think "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", think "Time Machine" and think Jules Verne.
There is a small but strong Steampunk culture growing in the Western world, and more and more are interested in it. After all, the Victorian times were interesting, that was when women were women and men were men, but this time you get all that but women are allowed to be independent and industrious and wear pants and you get all the comfort of modern technology, only with the Victorian era aesthetics.
If you would like to experiment with this subculture, you can start slow by dressing up as a Steampunk lady or gentleman this Halloween. If you like the experience, you can expand to Steampunk fairs and conventions, then start wearing Steampunk outfits at special events and weekends, and finally wear them every day. It really isn't too outlandish to wear Steampunk at work.
Some general points
What ever you choose to wear, remember that it must be in keeping with the Victorian era aesthetics. This is not a question of time travel, but about trying to create a believable illusion of what the world could have been during the late 19th century. Don't wear clothes with a clear label, sign or brand. It is a good idea to create a role. "The adventurer", "the inventor", "the explorer", "the aristocrat", "the engineer" and "the aviator" are all suitable roles for a Steampunk character. "Mad scientist" and "Villain" are also good choices. Brown (think sepia) is a popular color, but the Victorians used all colors with pleasure. Mauveine, a synthetic dye based on aniline, was invented during the Victorian era and was very popular. In fact, the more sober and "natural" color scheme of plant dyes was considered boring and dull. Cephalopods and arthropods are very Steampunkish motives, both as fabric print and decoration. Goggles and a pocket watch are almost indispensable accessories for a Steampunk outfit. You can replace the lack of these by using cogwheels, gears and buckles to decorate your clothes. All kinds of gadgets are appropriate, but they should be made to appear Victorian. It is not difficult to paint modern gadgets, so they look like wood or metal, and glue brass details on them, but if you lack the DIY skills, you can keep your gadgets in leather cases. Brass instruments, like compasses, telescopes, binoculars and measuring instruments are also very suitable. A revolver or pistol is a common Steampunk accessory, and you can transform any toy store gun into a Steampunk weapon with paint and brass details. Adding some wires and coils adds to the impression. It is not necessary though. Whether you wear a gun or not, tool belts, holsters and other such things are very useful in helping to create the desired impression. Wear a hat. The iconic Steampunk headgear is the top hat, usually adorned with the goggles, but an aviator's cap or helmet is also typical. You can also use a paperboy cap. Other accessories, for both men and women, are gloves, scarves and shawls. Don't forget the handkerchief. Spats are very Steampunkish, and you can even use leather gaiters or bracers with buckled straps. Use several belts on top of each other. Patterned and wildly colored socks are fine for both genders, but try to choose stripes, diamonds, checkers, or an ornamental pattern. Don't use socks with cartoon characters, cute bunnies or such. Any military items, like military jackets and medals are very suitable, for both genders. I suppose the big metal buttons and passementerie (trimming made using cords and braids etc.) belong to this category. Items that make you think of engineering are wonderful, like leather aprons and tool belts. Don't forget the proper underwear. Girls and women should be wearing bloomers or pettipants and petticoats with their skirts and a sleeveless chemise, with or without buttons, and boys and men should wear a one-piece.
Men
Victorian men always wore pants, but for Steampunk a kilt is a nice choice. The Victorian trousers have high waist and rather narrow or straight legs. Jeans would be an acceptable choice, but choose a worn pair that does not have a special dye or cut. Moleskin pants are also good.
You can use any kind of shirt, as long as it has long sleeves and sober coloring. You can even use a long-sleeved t-shirt, then preferably with buttons. The collar should be round. You can use sleeve holders, bracers or roll the sleeves up, but don't use short sleeves.
It is appropriate to use a vest, but if you don't use one, you should have braces. You can make the vest of some luxurious fabric, like brocade or jacquard, and add a matching cravat. There are several ways to tie a cravat, and you can use a wide tie or a scarf in stead of a cravat, what ever fits your character.
A jacket is fine, but you can also use a military jacket, duster or trench coat. If you use a trench coat, choose a simple one with refined pattern or no pattern at all in the lining, or one with no lining. Western style trench coat or riding duster is good.
You can use most shoes with laces, but oxfords or boots (with or without laces) are best. Canvas shoes can be used, but not sneakers.
It is common to use hats when dressing up in Steampunk gear, and in addition to the aforementioned top hat and leather helmet, you can choose a bowler or a fedora. It is a good idea to decorate this hat with something, preferably made of brass, like a couple of gear wheels or a brooch, but this is not necessary.
In the Victorian times both genders used jewelry. Suitable items for men are the aforementioned pocket watch, signet rings, cravat pins and cuff links, if one wears a shirt with sleeves unrolled, and a cravat or tie. It is acceptable for men to wear one earring, but it would then be a metal ring, and not a jeweled stud. If you want to wear a wrist watch, choose a simple design and mechanical, analog watch, and wear it on a leather strap. Brooches, especially medals, are good. You can also wear a ribbon in a buttonhole, or a boutonnière.
You can express yourself quite freely with your hairstyle. Practically anything is possible, the usual short and neatly combed Victorian hair is fine, spiked hair is quite OK and if you like, have dreadlocks with added leather straps and tubing.
Women
To create the Victorian impression, women today can dress up much more freely than Victorian women could. Nevertheless, there is one piece of clothing that is a must for a Steampunk outfit for women, and that is the corset. You can get away with a tight vest, but a corset makes almost any outfit appear Steampunkish, because the main requirement is femininity, and there are few things as feminine as corsets. You can also use a wide belt or a waist cincher.
A bustle will also help to create the illusion of times past.
It is fine to use some men's clothing items, like military jacket or pants, but you need to "girl it up". Use a bustle with your trousers, or use bloomers as trousers. (For Steampunk the bloomers can be of any length.) Wear a hitched skirt over the pants.
You can wear an authentic Victorian dress, or a reproduction, but these are not very comfortable and practical. One of the concepts behind Steampunk is adventure, and Victorian women used to wear a little shorter and simpler skirt for these occasions.
For Steampunk the skirt can be as short as above the knee, just as long as it has volume in the form of ruffles, rouches, pleats, drapes, hitches and gatherings. You can also use lace, ribbons, tassels and fringes to add to the volume in the skirt and bustle.
Your blouses, vests, jackets and coats should be fitted.
Women's hats are a much more elaborate thing than men's hats. You could also use a fascinator, which is something between a hair accessory and a hat.
You can add a parasol to almost any outfit.
If you use a handbag, choose something dainty, soft and round, like reticules and pouch bags, or something elaborately beaded or embroidered. Tapestry purses and carpetbags are a good choice too.
As shoes most laced boots work fine, so does laced shoes and ordinary boots. Your shoes can be of any color, but be careful with the heel. You should have shoes with a heel, and the heel should be either tapered or Louis heel.
Women should be wearing dangling earrings, but not too long, nor too big. A woman can easily wear necklaces on long chains. Lockets and medallions are a popular choice. Victorian women used rings and bracelets, sometimes in excess. Brooches are good, and medals fit women as well. Usual motives were flowers and animals, but to enhance the Steampunk impression, choose a cephalopod or arthropod - octopuses and insects always work. You can also wear a ribbon in a buttonhole, and flowers; corsage, nosegay or posy, are very nice as accessories for women. If you want to wear a wrist watch, it should be analog and on leather strap, but a pocket watch, necklace watch or brooch watch would be better.
The hairstyle is quite free for women too, but it is appreciated, that you have a long hair, either braided, in corkscrew curls or an updo.
Boys
Whether you choose a classic sailor costume or pants with braces and a shirt, perhaps add a sweater or pullover, you have to remember two things. The pants' legs were short, just covering the knee, and boys too wore long socks.
I would put children in pantyhose, both boys and girls, but some boys find this too girly and thus uncomfortable, and they shouldn't be forced to wear tights. If this happens, you give the boy stockings and call those knee socks. It might help to persuade the child to wear such uncomfortable and inconvenient pieces of clothing if you tell him that this is the origin of Christmas stockings, and the higher the stocking, the more space there is for presents. (Then you have to, of course, keep your promise and fill the stockings (both of them) to the brim, otherwise you will be considered a liar and a cheater, and it serves you right.)
I would choose laced boots for boys, but make sure that the shoes have separate heel and that the sole is made of one material. It really isn't easy to find shoes for boys' Steampunk outfits. You can also take a pair of ordinary leather "party shoes" and give the kid spats to "disguise" the modern details, or use simple canvas shoes that are the same color as the boy's stockings. Don't use sneakers.
Girls
Girls are usually easier to persuade to wear unusual clothing than boys, but even here you need to consider the child's personality.
Even when it was unheard of that a Victorian girl would wear pants, it is quite acceptable for a Steampunk girl to do so.
A Victorian girl's dress is usually one-piece, and you can choose the early Victorian dress with fitted bodice and wide skirt that falls from the waist, or the late Victorian dress that is straight and has a belt on the hips. A simple straw boater or beret is suitable for both styles, but a big hat with decorations shouldn't be used but with the late Victorian or Edwardian dress.
Use either black, white, or striped stockings.
You can choose ballerinas, strap shoes, laced shoes or boots, laced or buttoned, but don't choose shoes with too thick sole. Also, stay away from metallic shoes and shoes with figures or glitter, or much decoration.
Now your whole family is dressed up for a Steampunk adventure. Have fun!
A slightly longer definition is: what the world would have looked like if the technical revolution had arrived a little earlier.
We have steam-powered machines and robots, Victorian culture and adventurers and explorers, both male and female. Think "Wild, Wild West", think "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", think "Time Machine" and think Jules Verne.
There is a small but strong Steampunk culture growing in the Western world, and more and more are interested in it. After all, the Victorian times were interesting, that was when women were women and men were men, but this time you get all that but women are allowed to be independent and industrious and wear pants and you get all the comfort of modern technology, only with the Victorian era aesthetics.
If you would like to experiment with this subculture, you can start slow by dressing up as a Steampunk lady or gentleman this Halloween. If you like the experience, you can expand to Steampunk fairs and conventions, then start wearing Steampunk outfits at special events and weekends, and finally wear them every day. It really isn't too outlandish to wear Steampunk at work.
Some general points
What ever you choose to wear, remember that it must be in keeping with the Victorian era aesthetics. This is not a question of time travel, but about trying to create a believable illusion of what the world could have been during the late 19th century. Don't wear clothes with a clear label, sign or brand. It is a good idea to create a role. "The adventurer", "the inventor", "the explorer", "the aristocrat", "the engineer" and "the aviator" are all suitable roles for a Steampunk character. "Mad scientist" and "Villain" are also good choices. Brown (think sepia) is a popular color, but the Victorians used all colors with pleasure. Mauveine, a synthetic dye based on aniline, was invented during the Victorian era and was very popular. In fact, the more sober and "natural" color scheme of plant dyes was considered boring and dull. Cephalopods and arthropods are very Steampunkish motives, both as fabric print and decoration. Goggles and a pocket watch are almost indispensable accessories for a Steampunk outfit. You can replace the lack of these by using cogwheels, gears and buckles to decorate your clothes. All kinds of gadgets are appropriate, but they should be made to appear Victorian. It is not difficult to paint modern gadgets, so they look like wood or metal, and glue brass details on them, but if you lack the DIY skills, you can keep your gadgets in leather cases. Brass instruments, like compasses, telescopes, binoculars and measuring instruments are also very suitable. A revolver or pistol is a common Steampunk accessory, and you can transform any toy store gun into a Steampunk weapon with paint and brass details. Adding some wires and coils adds to the impression. It is not necessary though. Whether you wear a gun or not, tool belts, holsters and other such things are very useful in helping to create the desired impression. Wear a hat. The iconic Steampunk headgear is the top hat, usually adorned with the goggles, but an aviator's cap or helmet is also typical. You can also use a paperboy cap. Other accessories, for both men and women, are gloves, scarves and shawls. Don't forget the handkerchief. Spats are very Steampunkish, and you can even use leather gaiters or bracers with buckled straps. Use several belts on top of each other. Patterned and wildly colored socks are fine for both genders, but try to choose stripes, diamonds, checkers, or an ornamental pattern. Don't use socks with cartoon characters, cute bunnies or such. Any military items, like military jackets and medals are very suitable, for both genders. I suppose the big metal buttons and passementerie (trimming made using cords and braids etc.) belong to this category. Items that make you think of engineering are wonderful, like leather aprons and tool belts. Don't forget the proper underwear. Girls and women should be wearing bloomers or pettipants and petticoats with their skirts and a sleeveless chemise, with or without buttons, and boys and men should wear a one-piece.
Men
Victorian men always wore pants, but for Steampunk a kilt is a nice choice. The Victorian trousers have high waist and rather narrow or straight legs. Jeans would be an acceptable choice, but choose a worn pair that does not have a special dye or cut. Moleskin pants are also good.
You can use any kind of shirt, as long as it has long sleeves and sober coloring. You can even use a long-sleeved t-shirt, then preferably with buttons. The collar should be round. You can use sleeve holders, bracers or roll the sleeves up, but don't use short sleeves.
It is appropriate to use a vest, but if you don't use one, you should have braces. You can make the vest of some luxurious fabric, like brocade or jacquard, and add a matching cravat. There are several ways to tie a cravat, and you can use a wide tie or a scarf in stead of a cravat, what ever fits your character.
A jacket is fine, but you can also use a military jacket, duster or trench coat. If you use a trench coat, choose a simple one with refined pattern or no pattern at all in the lining, or one with no lining. Western style trench coat or riding duster is good.
You can use most shoes with laces, but oxfords or boots (with or without laces) are best. Canvas shoes can be used, but not sneakers.
It is common to use hats when dressing up in Steampunk gear, and in addition to the aforementioned top hat and leather helmet, you can choose a bowler or a fedora. It is a good idea to decorate this hat with something, preferably made of brass, like a couple of gear wheels or a brooch, but this is not necessary.
In the Victorian times both genders used jewelry. Suitable items for men are the aforementioned pocket watch, signet rings, cravat pins and cuff links, if one wears a shirt with sleeves unrolled, and a cravat or tie. It is acceptable for men to wear one earring, but it would then be a metal ring, and not a jeweled stud. If you want to wear a wrist watch, choose a simple design and mechanical, analog watch, and wear it on a leather strap. Brooches, especially medals, are good. You can also wear a ribbon in a buttonhole, or a boutonnière.
You can express yourself quite freely with your hairstyle. Practically anything is possible, the usual short and neatly combed Victorian hair is fine, spiked hair is quite OK and if you like, have dreadlocks with added leather straps and tubing.
Women
To create the Victorian impression, women today can dress up much more freely than Victorian women could. Nevertheless, there is one piece of clothing that is a must for a Steampunk outfit for women, and that is the corset. You can get away with a tight vest, but a corset makes almost any outfit appear Steampunkish, because the main requirement is femininity, and there are few things as feminine as corsets. You can also use a wide belt or a waist cincher.
A bustle will also help to create the illusion of times past.
It is fine to use some men's clothing items, like military jacket or pants, but you need to "girl it up". Use a bustle with your trousers, or use bloomers as trousers. (For Steampunk the bloomers can be of any length.) Wear a hitched skirt over the pants.
You can wear an authentic Victorian dress, or a reproduction, but these are not very comfortable and practical. One of the concepts behind Steampunk is adventure, and Victorian women used to wear a little shorter and simpler skirt for these occasions.
For Steampunk the skirt can be as short as above the knee, just as long as it has volume in the form of ruffles, rouches, pleats, drapes, hitches and gatherings. You can also use lace, ribbons, tassels and fringes to add to the volume in the skirt and bustle.
Your blouses, vests, jackets and coats should be fitted.
Women's hats are a much more elaborate thing than men's hats. You could also use a fascinator, which is something between a hair accessory and a hat.
You can add a parasol to almost any outfit.
If you use a handbag, choose something dainty, soft and round, like reticules and pouch bags, or something elaborately beaded or embroidered. Tapestry purses and carpetbags are a good choice too.
As shoes most laced boots work fine, so does laced shoes and ordinary boots. Your shoes can be of any color, but be careful with the heel. You should have shoes with a heel, and the heel should be either tapered or Louis heel.
Women should be wearing dangling earrings, but not too long, nor too big. A woman can easily wear necklaces on long chains. Lockets and medallions are a popular choice. Victorian women used rings and bracelets, sometimes in excess. Brooches are good, and medals fit women as well. Usual motives were flowers and animals, but to enhance the Steampunk impression, choose a cephalopod or arthropod - octopuses and insects always work. You can also wear a ribbon in a buttonhole, and flowers; corsage, nosegay or posy, are very nice as accessories for women. If you want to wear a wrist watch, it should be analog and on leather strap, but a pocket watch, necklace watch or brooch watch would be better.
The hairstyle is quite free for women too, but it is appreciated, that you have a long hair, either braided, in corkscrew curls or an updo.
Boys
Whether you choose a classic sailor costume or pants with braces and a shirt, perhaps add a sweater or pullover, you have to remember two things. The pants' legs were short, just covering the knee, and boys too wore long socks.
I would put children in pantyhose, both boys and girls, but some boys find this too girly and thus uncomfortable, and they shouldn't be forced to wear tights. If this happens, you give the boy stockings and call those knee socks. It might help to persuade the child to wear such uncomfortable and inconvenient pieces of clothing if you tell him that this is the origin of Christmas stockings, and the higher the stocking, the more space there is for presents. (Then you have to, of course, keep your promise and fill the stockings (both of them) to the brim, otherwise you will be considered a liar and a cheater, and it serves you right.)
I would choose laced boots for boys, but make sure that the shoes have separate heel and that the sole is made of one material. It really isn't easy to find shoes for boys' Steampunk outfits. You can also take a pair of ordinary leather "party shoes" and give the kid spats to "disguise" the modern details, or use simple canvas shoes that are the same color as the boy's stockings. Don't use sneakers.
Girls
Girls are usually easier to persuade to wear unusual clothing than boys, but even here you need to consider the child's personality.
Even when it was unheard of that a Victorian girl would wear pants, it is quite acceptable for a Steampunk girl to do so.
A Victorian girl's dress is usually one-piece, and you can choose the early Victorian dress with fitted bodice and wide skirt that falls from the waist, or the late Victorian dress that is straight and has a belt on the hips. A simple straw boater or beret is suitable for both styles, but a big hat with decorations shouldn't be used but with the late Victorian or Edwardian dress.
Use either black, white, or striped stockings.
You can choose ballerinas, strap shoes, laced shoes or boots, laced or buttoned, but don't choose shoes with too thick sole. Also, stay away from metallic shoes and shoes with figures or glitter, or much decoration.
Now your whole family is dressed up for a Steampunk adventure. Have fun!
Young women of the day could be quite unpredictable in their choice of fashion. The same girl wearing torn and faded jeans might next be seen in "hot pants" accompanied by long knee socks or wearing a floral patterned granny dress, all on top of very high and clunky looking heels. Women were asserting themselves in fashion and it was difficult to miss. The mini skirt was still alive and well but "midi" dresses that came to the mid calf region and ankle length "maxi" dresses were also popular, especially in more formal situations. You never knew what to expect.
In some ways, 1970's clothes for men were quite a change from what was commonly worn in the late 1960's. Tight shirts with bright prints or sometimes outrageous patterns could be seen. Huge collars topped off the look. Although the hippie look was still alive, and many people proudly wore the uniform of t shirt and jeans, things were changing and some would say it was not necessarily for the better. Many men today would prefer not to see photos of themselves in those days which are sometimes considered some of the more tasteless times in fashion history.
In recalling 1970's fashion, one must also acknowledge the extremely strong ethnic influence that exploded upon the scene after first being introduced in the 1960's. Brightly colored scarves and large jewelry are just a couple of examples of this. Looking at photographs of the time, even otherwise conservatively dressed women could be found with large pieces of jewelry, sometimes featuring some type of "tribal" element. Tiny jewelry was not the norm.
A slightly longer definition is: what the world would have looked like if the technical revolution had arrived a little earlier.
We have steam-powered machines and robots, Victorian culture and adventurers and explorers, both male and female. Think "Wild, Wild West", think "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", think "Time Machine" and think Jules Verne.
There is a small but strong Steampunk culture growing in the Western world, and more and more are interested in it. After all, the Victorian times were interesting, that was when women were women and men were men, but this time you get all that but women are allowed to be independent and industrious and wear pants and you get all the comfort of modern technology, only with the Victorian era aesthetics.
If you would like to experiment with this subculture, you can start slow by dressing up as a Steampunk lady or gentleman this Halloween. If you like the experience, you can expand to Steampunk fairs and conventions, then start wearing Steampunk outfits at special events and weekends, and finally wear them every day. It really isn't too outlandish to wear Steampunk at work.
Some general points
What ever you choose to wear, remember that it must be in keeping with the Victorian era aesthetics. This is not a question of time travel, but about trying to create a believable illusion of what the world could have been during the late 19th century. Don't wear clothes with a clear label, sign or brand. It is a good idea to create a role. "The adventurer", "the inventor", "the explorer", "the aristocrat", "the engineer" and "the aviator" are all suitable roles for a Steampunk character. "Mad scientist" and "Villain" are also good choices. Brown (think sepia) is a popular color, but the Victorians used all colors with pleasure. Mauveine, a synthetic dye based on aniline, was invented during the Victorian era and was very popular. In fact, the more sober and "natural" color scheme of plant dyes was considered boring and dull. Cephalopods and arthropods are very Steampunkish motives, both as fabric print and decoration. Goggles and a pocket watch are almost indispensable accessories for a Steampunk outfit. You can replace the lack of these by using cogwheels, gears and buckles to decorate your clothes. All kinds of gadgets are appropriate, but they should be made to appear Victorian. It is not difficult to paint modern gadgets, so they look like wood or metal, and glue brass details on them, but if you lack the DIY skills, you can keep your gadgets in leather cases. Brass instruments, like compasses, telescopes, binoculars and measuring instruments are also very suitable. A revolver or pistol is a common Steampunk accessory, and you can transform any toy store gun into a Steampunk weapon with paint and brass details. Adding some wires and coils adds to the impression. It is not necessary though. Whether you wear a gun or not, tool belts, holsters and other such things are very useful in helping to create the desired impression. Wear a hat. The iconic Steampunk headgear is the top hat, usually adorned with the goggles, but an aviator's cap or helmet is also typical. You can also use a paperboy cap. Other accessories, for both men and women, are gloves, scarves and shawls. Don't forget the handkerchief. Spats are very Steampunkish, and you can even use leather gaiters or bracers with buckled straps. Use several belts on top of each other. Patterned and wildly colored socks are fine for both genders, but try to choose stripes, diamonds, checkers, or an ornamental pattern. Don't use socks with cartoon characters, cute bunnies or such. Any military items, like military jackets and medals are very suitable, for both genders. I suppose the big metal buttons and passementerie (trimming made using cords and braids etc.) belong to this category. Items that make you think of engineering are wonderful, like leather aprons and tool belts. Don't forget the proper underwear. Girls and women should be wearing bloomers or pettipants and petticoats with their skirts and a sleeveless chemise, with or without buttons, and boys and men should wear a one-piece.
Men
Victorian men always wore pants, but for Steampunk a kilt is a nice choice. The Victorian trousers have high waist and rather narrow or straight legs. Jeans would be an acceptable choice, but choose a worn pair that does not have a special dye or cut. Moleskin pants are also good.
You can use any kind of shirt, as long as it has long sleeves and sober coloring. You can even use a long-sleeved t-shirt, then preferably with buttons. The collar should be round. You can use sleeve holders, bracers or roll the sleeves up, but don't use short sleeves.
It is appropriate to use a vest, but if you don't use one, you should have braces. You can make the vest of some luxurious fabric, like brocade or jacquard, and add a matching cravat. There are several ways to tie a cravat, and you can use a wide tie or a scarf in stead of a cravat, what ever fits your character.
A jacket is fine, but you can also use a military jacket, duster or trench coat. If you use a trench coat, choose a simple one with refined pattern or no pattern at all in the lining, or one with no lining. Western style trench coat or riding duster is good.
You can use most shoes with laces, but oxfords or boots (with or without laces) are best. Canvas shoes can be used, but not sneakers.
It is common to use hats when dressing up in Steampunk gear, and in addition to the aforementioned top hat and leather helmet, you can choose a bowler or a fedora. It is a good idea to decorate this hat with something, preferably made of brass, like a couple of gear wheels or a brooch, but this is not necessary.
In the Victorian times both genders used jewelry. Suitable items for men are the aforementioned pocket watch, signet rings, cravat pins and cuff links, if one wears a shirt with sleeves unrolled, and a cravat or tie. It is acceptable for men to wear one earring, but it would then be a metal ring, and not a jeweled stud. If you want to wear a wrist watch, choose a simple design and mechanical, analog watch, and wear it on a leather strap. Brooches, especially medals, are good. You can also wear a ribbon in a buttonhole, or a boutonnière.
You can express yourself quite freely with your hairstyle. Practically anything is possible, the usual short and neatly combed Victorian hair is fine, spiked hair is quite OK and if you like, have dreadlocks with added leather straps and tubing.
Women
To create the Victorian impression, women today can dress up much more freely than Victorian women could. Nevertheless, there is one piece of clothing that is a must for a Steampunk outfit for women, and that is the corset. You can get away with a tight vest, but a corset makes almost any outfit appear Steampunkish, because the main requirement is femininity, and there are few things as feminine as corsets. You can also use a wide belt or a waist cincher.
A bustle will also help to create the illusion of times past.
It is fine to use some men's clothing items, like military jacket or pants, but you need to "girl it up". Use a bustle with your trousers, or use bloomers as trousers. (For Steampunk the bloomers can be of any length.) Wear a hitched skirt over the pants.
You can wear an authentic Victorian dress, or a reproduction, but these are not very comfortable and practical. One of the concepts behind Steampunk is adventure, and Victorian women used to wear a little shorter and simpler skirt for these occasions.
For Steampunk the skirt can be as short as above the knee, just as long as it has volume in the form of ruffles, rouches, pleats, drapes, hitches and gatherings. You can also use lace, ribbons, tassels and fringes to add to the volume in the skirt and bustle.
Your blouses, vests, jackets and coats should be fitted.
Women's hats are a much more elaborate thing than men's hats. You could also use a fascinator, which is something between a hair accessory and a hat.
You can add a parasol to almost any outfit.
If you use a handbag, choose something dainty, soft and round, like reticules and pouch bags, or something elaborately beaded or embroidered. Tapestry purses and carpetbags are a good choice too.
As shoes most laced boots work fine, so does laced shoes and ordinary boots. Your shoes can be of any color, but be careful with the heel. You should have shoes with a heel, and the heel should be either tapered or Louis heel.
Women should be wearing dangling earrings, but not too long, nor too big. A woman can easily wear necklaces on long chains. Lockets and medallions are a popular choice. Victorian women used rings and bracelets, sometimes in excess. Brooches are good, and medals fit women as well. Usual motives were flowers and animals, but to enhance the Steampunk impression, choose a cephalopod or arthropod - octopuses and insects always work. You can also wear a ribbon in a buttonhole, and flowers; corsage, nosegay or posy, are very nice as accessories for women. If you want to wear a wrist watch, it should be analog and on leather strap, but a pocket watch, necklace watch or brooch watch would be better.
The hairstyle is quite free for women too, but it is appreciated, that you have a long hair, either braided, in corkscrew curls or an updo.
Boys
Whether you choose a classic sailor costume or pants with braces and a shirt, perhaps add a sweater or pullover, you have to remember two things. The pants' legs were short, just covering the knee, and boys too wore long socks.
I would put children in pantyhose, both boys and girls, but some boys find this too girly and thus uncomfortable, and they shouldn't be forced to wear tights. If this happens, you give the boy stockings and call those knee socks. It might help to persuade the child to wear such uncomfortable and inconvenient pieces of clothing if you tell him that this is the origin of Christmas stockings, and the higher the stocking, the more space there is for presents. (Then you have to, of course, keep your promise and fill the stockings (both of them) to the brim, otherwise you will be considered a liar and a cheater, and it serves you right.)
I would choose laced boots for boys, but make sure that the shoes have separate heel and that the sole is made of one material. It really isn't easy to find shoes for boys' Steampunk outfits. You can also take a pair of ordinary leather "party shoes" and give the kid spats to "disguise" the modern details, or use simple canvas shoes that are the same color as the boy's stockings. Don't use sneakers.
Girls
Girls are usually easier to persuade to wear unusual clothing than boys, but even here you need to consider the child's personality.
Even when it was unheard of that a Victorian girl would wear pants, it is quite acceptable for a Steampunk girl to do so.
A Victorian girl's dress is usually one-piece, and you can choose the early Victorian dress with fitted bodice and wide skirt that falls from the waist, or the late Victorian dress that is straight and has a belt on the hips. A simple straw boater or beret is suitable for both styles, but a big hat with decorations shouldn't be used but with the late Victorian or Edwardian dress.
Use either black, white, or striped stockings.
You can choose ballerinas, strap shoes, laced shoes or boots, laced or buttoned, but don't choose shoes with too thick sole. Also, stay away from metallic shoes and shoes with figures or glitter, or much decoration.
Now your whole family is dressed up for a Steampunk adventure. Have fun!
I went on a winter vacation in Europe with family friends. I looked like a bag lady with all those layers of clothing, even though at that time, I was underweight. My friend looked fabulous. Slim, elegant and she was as warm as a toast.
Seventies clothing holds its own special place in American culture. Ranging from late 60's hippie looks to the eye popping styles of the disco era, 70's clothes were not designed to be ignored. The decade of the 1970s began as a carryover of late '60s fashion. The hippie influence was still very present. Shirts of tie dye and worn jeans were the look of the day. Hip huggers and bell bottom jeans were popular and were likely to be customized and decorated by the person wearing them. Donning patches and using a variety of bleaching and tie dying techniques was popular. Jean jackets of the day were often stylized by their owners with a variety of patches carrying whatever message the wearer felt like sharing.
Men's wear in the 1920s is not very different from men's business attire today. A good suit, tie, hat, and shoes were all a man needed to dress in the day. Evening events were much more formal will full tuxedos even for a dinner party with friends.
The clothing styles of the vast continent of Africa, with its different cultures, reflect the people, the place, the status, and the religions of these diverse peoples. Below is a look at several types of cloth which are commonly used, as well as the cultural and regional influences of the various regions of Africa.
When looking at men's formal wear you need to follow some simple basic guidelines to get an instant classic look which
projects a sense of style.
Military surplus stores and auctions have been around for some time now but only in recent years have risen in popularity through online auctions. They are convenient and allow you to bid on all types of military goods and memorabilia from the privacy of your own home without the "hustle and bustle" of a live auction. For those of you who don't know, army/navy surplus stores sell or hold auctions for military goods and equipment that are no longer able to be used by our military because they have been replaced by newer models or that simply no longer meet the military's demanding technology and other specifications.
So you desire to be warm this winter... and you've heard parkas are hot even in arctic temperatures... but what's a parka? Originally, parkas had been worn by the Inuit and other Arctic peoples. The regular parka layout is actually "a pullover model outer garment built from caribou skin having a fur lining around the hood". The notion being that if animals could remain warm, humans could put on their skins and remain hot also, even in probably the most inhospitable conditions.
So you desire to be warm this winter... and you've heard parkas are hot even in arctic temperatures... but what's a parka? Originally, parkas had been worn by the Inuit and other Arctic peoples. The regular parka layout is actually "a pullover model outer garment built from caribou skin having a fur lining around the hood". The notion being that if animals could remain warm, humans could put on their skins and remain hot also, even in probably the most inhospitable conditions.
So you desire to be warm this winter... and you've heard parkas are hot even in arctic temperatures... but what's a parka? Originally, parkas had been worn by the Inuit and other Arctic peoples. The regular parka layout is actually "a pullover model outer garment built from caribou skin having a fur lining around the hood". The notion being that if animals could remain warm, humans could put on their skins and remain hot also, even in probably the most inhospitable conditions.
As you make your way past your forties and into your fifties, you may feel the need to do a wardrobe overhaul. Clothing that would have looked great in your thirties no longer holds the same magical qualities. Many women fear that becoming fifty means getting rid of fashion and fun for some elastic pants and bulky sweaters. Don't surrender your fashion sense yet. You can still look great and age appropriate with these tips.
Use Caution with Trends and Fads:
The super trendy clothes are often best saved for "twenty somethings" who are still experimenting with their style. Women in their fifties, who aren't quite ready to surrender their fashion sense yet (And you shouldn't be!), often make the mistake of assuming dressing young will keep you looking young. In actuality, shopping in the juniors department well into your fifties can work against your age.
Buy Clothes that Fit:
Many women in their fifties make the mistake of trying to cover up their body. Your body is a testament to the path you've traveled for forty or fifty years, the last thing you want to do is wear over sized and frumpy clothes.
Accessorize with Awareness:
Accessories offer a great way to add a little trend to your wardrobe without looking like your trying to look like you shop in the juniors department. They also have the ability to draw attention from areas that you find less than desirable.
Be Skin Savvy:
Unfortunately, the amount of skin that is acceptable to show decreases as your age increases. In your forties and fifties, it's no longer appropriate to wear shirt that show extreme amounts of cleavage or miniskirts that leave little to be imagined. Even if you have the perfect body, there is just a societal agreement that seems to say that the more mature you are the more sophisticated your expected to be.
The fashionable parka jacket is built from synthetic resources and zips up the entrance for closure. Down-filled parkas are presently the norm, but synthetic fills can also be incredibly warm and more animal friendly for you vegans out there. Basically, parka jacket style has remained the same together with the exception of front zip closure, along with the use of breathable, fast-wicking water-proof outer materials. Inuit people today now hardly ever don the classic caribou skin parkas in favor of the modern equivalent.
It might be a bit confusing to navigate the wide range of parka jackets that have adopted the name "parka". Parka has been adopted by firms like North Encounter and Bugaboo (and others) to essentially mean "super warm thigh-length jacket with a hood!". Even so, if it's a true parka you desire, it doesn't get any much better than the Canada Goose Expedition Parka, one of the best made garments you will ever own. Growing up in Canada, and having endured hundreds of minus thirty degree wintertime days, there simply no other jacket I would ever want hanging in my closet for cold days.
So, what kid of parka jackets do we recommend? And which outfitters make the very best quality arctic parkas? Here's a list of the best five parka jackets:
CANADA GOOSE EXPEDITION PARKA. Our #1 suggested arctic parka jacket. Simply the warmest garment you may ever wear. Duck down-filled, which has a nylon lining. Arctic tech shell with DWR finish. Comes with lifetime restricted warranty. NORTH FACE McMURDO PARKA. Well manufactured and extremely warm from our friends at North Deal with. The McMURDO PARKA functions waist and hem cinch cords, internal media pocket, detachable faux fur trim, down-filled insulation, breathable, waterproof. COLUMBIA WHIRLIBIRD PARKA. This jacket is actually a shell design, no fur trimmed hood, a lot tighter fitting style and design. Whilst it doesn't necessarily seem like the classic arctic parka, this jacket is no joke. The Columbia Whirlibird Parka capabilities a 100% Nylon Ultra Contact Shell, Lining: 57% Recycled Polyester, 43% Polyester Mesh, 100% Polyester Chamois Touch Tricot, 100% Nylon, that has a 100% Polyester Microtex Lite liner. Manufactured for skiing, this could be the best powder jacket. M-51 FISHTAIL PARKA. Inspired by the 1951 U.S. Army situation parka jacket. The Fishtail Parka features 2 front flap pockets, drawstring waist and bottom, snap up back again flap with button quilted polyester liner, brass zipper entrance with snap storm flap and a drawstring hood. For underneath 0, you can't do a lot much better. PATAGONIA DOWNTOWN LOFT DOWN PARKA. Women, if you need to really feel like that you are wearing a slim-fit sleeping bag this the winter season, this parka jacket is for you. Featuring 800-fill-power premium European goose down, the satiny polyester outer shell sheds light snow and keeps the chilly-chills out. Although the Patagonia Downtown Loft Down Parka is warm and stylish, it is not waterproof against freezing rain, so think about what you need before you choose this one.
So, that's it - our prime 5 arctic parka jackets. We truly like these jackets and that is why you see them featured right here. When you live up north, bundle up inside the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. If you're a Skiier, take a look at the Columbia Whirlibird. If military model is to suit your needs - grab your M-51 Fishtail Parka. Ladies, you can keep your silhouette in a slim-fitting sleeping bag all wintertime long with the Patagonia Downtown Loft Down Parka!
The modern parka jacket is based on a time-honored design, tested and proven on the glaciers of the arctic by native northern peoples, and perfected for Antarctic expeditions to keep scientists warm in impossibly cold temperatures. The parka jacket is the fashionable version of the original Inuit pullover - ideal for keeping the chilly-chills out, regardless of how cold it gets this winter.
The fashionable parka jacket is built from synthetic resources and zips up the entrance for closure. Down-filled parkas are presently the norm, but synthetic fills can also be incredibly warm and more animal friendly for you vegans out there. Basically, parka jacket style has remained the same together with the exception of front zip closure, along with the use of breathable, fast-wicking water-proof outer materials. Inuit people today now hardly ever don the classic caribou skin parkas in favor of the modern equivalent.
It might be a bit confusing to navigate the wide range of parka jackets that have adopted the name "parka". Parka has been adopted by firms like North Encounter and Bugaboo (and others) to essentially mean "super warm thigh-length jacket with a hood!". Even so, if it's a true parka you desire, it doesn't get any much better than the Canada Goose Expedition Parka, one of the best made garments you will ever own. Growing up in Canada, and having endured hundreds of minus thirty degree wintertime days, there simply no other jacket I would ever want hanging in my closet for cold days.
So, what kid of parka jackets do we recommend? And which outfitters make the very best quality arctic parkas? Here's a list of the best five parka jackets:
CANADA GOOSE EXPEDITION PARKA. Our #1 suggested arctic parka jacket. Simply the warmest garment you may ever wear. Duck down-filled, which has a nylon lining. Arctic tech shell with DWR finish. Comes with lifetime restricted warranty. NORTH FACE McMURDO PARKA. Well manufactured and extremely warm from our friends at North Deal with. The McMURDO PARKA functions waist and hem cinch cords, internal media pocket, detachable faux fur trim, down-filled insulation, breathable, waterproof. COLUMBIA WHIRLIBIRD PARKA. This jacket is actually a shell design, no fur trimmed hood, a lot tighter fitting style and design. Whilst it doesn't necessarily seem like the classic arctic parka, this jacket is no joke. The Columbia Whirlibird Parka capabilities a 100% Nylon Ultra Contact Shell, Lining: 57% Recycled Polyester, 43% Polyester Mesh, 100% Polyester Chamois Touch Tricot, 100% Nylon, that has a 100% Polyester Microtex Lite liner. Manufactured for skiing, this could be the best powder jacket. M-51 FISHTAIL PARKA. Inspired by the 1951 U.S. Army situation parka jacket. The Fishtail Parka features 2 front flap pockets, drawstring waist and bottom, snap up back again flap with button quilted polyester liner, brass zipper entrance with snap storm flap and a drawstring hood. For underneath 0, you can't do a lot much better. PATAGONIA DOWNTOWN LOFT DOWN PARKA. Women, if you need to really feel like that you are wearing a slim-fit sleeping bag this the winter season, this parka jacket is for you. Featuring 800-fill-power premium European goose down, the satiny polyester outer shell sheds light snow and keeps the chilly-chills out. Although the Patagonia Downtown Loft Down Parka is warm and stylish, it is not waterproof against freezing rain, so think about what you need before you choose this one.
So, that's it - our prime 5 arctic parka jackets. We truly like these jackets and that is why you see them featured right here. When you live up north, bundle up inside the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. If you're a Skiier, take a look at the Columbia Whirlibird. If military model is to suit your needs - grab your M-51 Fishtail Parka. Ladies, you can keep your silhouette in a slim-fitting sleeping bag all wintertime long with the Patagonia Downtown Loft Down Parka!
The modern parka jacket is based on a time-honored design, tested and proven on the glaciers of the arctic by native northern peoples, and perfected for Antarctic expeditions to keep scientists warm in impossibly cold temperatures. The parka jacket is the fashionable version of the original Inuit pullover - ideal for keeping the chilly-chills out, regardless of how cold it gets this winter.
The fashionable parka jacket is built from synthetic resources and zips up the entrance for closure. Down-filled parkas are presently the norm, but synthetic fills can also be incredibly warm and more animal friendly for you vegans out there. Basically, parka jacket style has remained the same together with the exception of front zip closure, along with the use of breathable, fast-wicking water-proof outer materials. Inuit people today now hardly ever don the classic caribou skin parkas in favor of the modern equivalent.
It might be a bit confusing to navigate the wide range of parka jackets that have adopted the name "parka". Parka has been adopted by firms like North Encounter and Bugaboo (and others) to essentially mean "super warm thigh-length jacket with a hood!". Even so, if it's a true parka you desire, it doesn't get any much better than the Canada Goose Expedition Parka, one of the best made garments you will ever own. Growing up in Canada, and having endured hundreds of minus thirty degree wintertime days, there simply no other jacket I would ever want hanging in my closet for cold days.
So, what kid of parka jackets do we recommend? And which outfitters make the very best quality arctic parkas? Here's a list of the best five parka jackets:
CANADA GOOSE EXPEDITION PARKA. Our #1 suggested arctic parka jacket. Simply the warmest garment you may ever wear. Duck down-filled, which has a nylon lining. Arctic tech shell with DWR finish. Comes with lifetime restricted warranty. NORTH FACE McMURDO PARKA. Well manufactured and extremely warm from our friends at North Deal with. The McMURDO PARKA functions waist and hem cinch cords, internal media pocket, detachable faux fur trim, down-filled insulation, breathable, waterproof. COLUMBIA WHIRLIBIRD PARKA. This jacket is actually a shell design, no fur trimmed hood, a lot tighter fitting style and design. Whilst it doesn't necessarily seem like the classic arctic parka, this jacket is no joke. The Columbia Whirlibird Parka capabilities a 100% Nylon Ultra Contact Shell, Lining: 57% Recycled Polyester, 43% Polyester Mesh, 100% Polyester Chamois Touch Tricot, 100% Nylon, that has a 100% Polyester Microtex Lite liner. Manufactured for skiing, this could be the best powder jacket. M-51 FISHTAIL PARKA. Inspired by the 1951 U.S. Army situation parka jacket. The Fishtail Parka features 2 front flap pockets, drawstring waist and bottom, snap up back again flap with button quilted polyester liner, brass zipper entrance with snap storm flap and a drawstring hood. For underneath 0, you can't do a lot much better. PATAGONIA DOWNTOWN LOFT DOWN PARKA. Women, if you need to really feel like that you are wearing a slim-fit sleeping bag this the winter season, this parka jacket is for you. Featuring 800-fill-power premium European goose down, the satiny polyester outer shell sheds light snow and keeps the chilly-chills out. Although the Patagonia Downtown Loft Down Parka is warm and stylish, it is not waterproof against freezing rain, so think about what you need before you choose this one.
So, that's it - our prime 5 arctic parka jackets. We truly like these jackets and that is why you see them featured right here. When you live up north, bundle up inside the Canada Goose Expedition Parka. If you're a Skiier, take a look at the Columbia Whirlibird. If military model is to suit your needs - grab your M-51 Fishtail Parka. Ladies, you can keep your silhouette in a slim-fitting sleeping bag all wintertime long with the Patagonia Downtown Loft Down Parka!
The modern parka jacket is based on a time-honored design, tested and proven on the glaciers of the arctic by native northern peoples, and perfected for Antarctic expeditions to keep scientists warm in impossibly cold temperatures. The parka jacket is the fashionable version of the original Inuit pullover - ideal for keeping the chilly-chills out, regardless of how cold it gets this winter.
Some of you might be curious as to what military items are auctioned off online. If you're only thinking about weapons and munitions then you definitely have the wrong idea, although rarely they are also auctioned off, but at live military surplus auctions rather than online ones. Generally the online auctions sell items such as camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags), tools, equipment, parts, clothing (mainly jackets and shirts), and even helmets and field gear (compasses, belts, backpacks.) If you are looking for rarer perhaps even valuable military goods and memorabilia then attending live auctions, or physically going to Army/nay surplus stores would be your best bet. But, if you're looking to get a new tent for camping or a wicked vintage army shirt then checking out an online military surplus auction would be a good choice for you.
Now you're probably curious as to why these perfectly items that once served a valuable purpose for our nation's armed forces are now being auctioned off to the general public for a fraction of what the army/navy (or other DOD division) had originally paid for them. There are a couple of reasons as to why this is the case. The first reason is simple: military goods that have been classified as surplus are ones that may be becoming too old or obsolete for our military's current use.. Tents, sleeping bags, and clothing all experience wear and tear and it's only a matter of time before the military deems the items unfit for official use.
The second reason for the surplus auctions is also quite simple: technology advancement. For many of these items sold as surplus, there have been new ones with modified technology for today's military use on the market. For example, military sleeping bags from the 1980s are very different from the ones the military uses today. They could be made from a different fabric, might be designed differently, and today are able to withstand colder and hotter temperatures. Note that this applies to instruments used in the field as well, and not only to tents and military issue clothing. In shorts, basically the reason why military surplus goods items are such bargains online is that the military need to keep our armed forces modernized and supplied with cutting edge technology is your gain!
Getting the right look with men's formal wear is not difficult, if you follow the image guidelines below.
Your suit
In men's formal wear let's start with choosing a formal suit.
1. Style
Changes, but you can't go wrong with a single-breasted, solid color suit in black, grey or navy blue and always remember a single-breasted suit will make you look slimmer and sleeker in appearance.
In men's formal wear a stylish suit can conjure up a number of images, all of them positive.
A suit can make you look powerful, mature, conservative, or sexy. Remember, most women love men in suits!
2. Fabrics and Patterns
Wool is always a safe option when buying a suit. It looks good and wears well.
Worsted wools are lightweight for spring and summer. Gabardine wools are heavier for winter. Wool Crepes are lightweight with softer finishes. Flannel wools are heaviest. Patterns for interview suits are limited to solids, stripes (pinstripe, chalk stripe, beaded-stripe, multistripe), Glen plaids, and checks (hounds-tooth, windowpane, and herringbone).
Picking The Right Shirt
Generally men with narrow faces can choose collars that are wider, to help broaden their faces; conversely, men with wider faces should choose collars that are narrower, to help lengthen their faces.
Ties
Suits come in basic styles and colors, but ties let you show your individuality within a formal look.
If you want to make a bold statement wear a patterned tie with a patterned shirt, make sure that the color schemes are the same and that the patterns go in the same direction.
Finally, don't forget the Length: It should hit the top of your belt buckle and the deal width of ties is between 3 and 4 inches.
Men's Formal Wear Combining Tie's Shirts & Suits
When choosing a jacket-shirt-and-tie trio, match its level of color contrast to your personal colouring.
Your colouring consists of your complexion and hair color.
If you're coloring is high-contrast i.e. dark hair and light skin, or vice versa--your jacket, tie, and shirt combo should be high contrast, too. But if your hair-hide contrast is softer and lighter i.e. you're blond or gray-haired with pale skin, or dark-skinned with dark hair--you should go for lower-contrast clothes.
Two different scales For Balance When you're combining two like patterns in the jacket-shirt-tie triangle, they should be of different gauges.
If your suit has pinstripes 3/4 inch apart, your tie should have significantly broader or thinner bands. If your suit is a striped one (with lines more than an inch apart), your shirt's stripes should be narrower and closer together.
If you wear two different designs within the lapel triangle--say, a checked shirt and a striped tie, or a striped suit and repeating-medallion tie--they should be different scales in size If your shirt has a narrow stripe, your tie needs a wider stripe i.e. pair large with small.
De Emphasize
Choose clothes that de-emphasize your extremes.
If you're short, look for strong vertical elements: pinstriped suits, two-button jackets. If you're very thin, choose a jacket with wider shoulders. If you have a heavier build then Wear darker colors and go monotone from top to bottom.
Watches
The first thing to look for in a man's watch is a large face, as these designs are generally accepted by everyone as looking stylish.
Get a nice belt
Don't forget your belt you want quality, a good quality belt doesn't have to be expensive and is money well spent.
Your belt color should be coordinated with your footwear - black with black, brown with brown.
Shoes
Black is the traditional safe color for work but Brown or ox blood colors can also look stylish.
You can also use a variety of styles including loafers, wingtips, round-toe, or the trendier pointy-tipped shoe.
Shoes are no place to economize on quality. For men, shoes are the final detail and are one of the areas all women notice.
FREE Image and Style Guides
Men's formal wear can really make a great impression if worn in the right way.
Mud Cloth: This beautiful cloth originated in Mali and at one time was worn by hunters of that region. Nowadays, it is used for a large variety of African clothes. The cloth is made from hand-woven cotton and carved bamboo is used to apply mud to the cloth to create designs on it. The mud is taken from the river banks. After it is used to decorate the cloth, it is allowed to dry to achieve richer color. The process is repeated until the design is complete. The most popular colors are purple, white, beige, yellow and rust.
Korhogo Cloth:Made by the Sunofo people on the Ivory Coast, this type of cloth is designed by using mud to paint the cloth in various geometric designs. The mud is typically black, brown or rust and it is taken from various parts of western Africa. The cloth is used for clothes, as well as pillows and home furnishings.
Ewe Cloth: Similar to the Kente cloth, this type of material originates in the southeastern area of Ghana. Usually made of silk or rayon, the ewe cloth is frequently worn by those of a high status. The cloth bears symbols that represent knowledge, ethics and morals which are supposed to be used in everyday life. Other ewe cloth designs are more humble and simple in texture and design, but they are still quite beautiful.
African Tie-Dye: This style of cloth is very popular in Senegal, Gambia and Yoruba. The colors are modern yet traditional. There are various methods used to tie-dye. Whatever the method, though, the African tie-dye is a prominent feature in African clothing.
The style and culture of African clothes can be worn and displayed in any place or time and make a distinctive statement about the person who chooses to wear them. Making people aware of the rich history and culture behind the clothes adds even more depth to one's choices in these styles.
To dress like a man from the 1920's you will need the following:
Suit- Suit jackets were usually single breasted, with minimal buttons, and had an overall loose appearance. Pants were held high on the waist with pleats at the top and cuffs at the bottom. In cool seasons suits were dark grey, blue or brown wile summer colors were white, ivory, pastels and occasionally pink (Gatsby wore a pink suit in novel The Great Gatsby.)
Vest- A daywear vest, if not designed to match the suit, would be a similar shade of color such as tan with an off-white suit, or pastel color with a darker suit.
Shirt- A typical button down dress shirt in white would be most fashionable and comfortable. Collars were "club" style meaning they had rounded edges instead of pointed. These can be very difficult to find today.
Tie- Bow ties were more common then neck ties. Bright solid colors or patterns of geometrical shapes were the height of fashion. Ties were thinner and a bit longer in the 20's then they are today.
Pocket Square- Also known as a handkerchief, the Pocket Square matched the bow tie in color if not in pattern as well. Pocket Squares were folded in the men's front jacket pocket.
Suspenders- They not only held up men's pants but were a fashion accessory. Belts started to be popular only in the late 1920's.
Hat- Men do not wear hats today as they did in the 1920s. Winter hats included the bowler, flat cap (also known as a cab driver hat), panama (felt), or its cousin the Fedora. Summer hats were made of straw, such as the straw Boater (aka Skimmer) or the Optimo Panama hat. Top hats were still used for formal wear.
Shoes- The final defining element of a man's dress was his shoes. Two toned spectator dress shoes were the most appropriate. Fringed tongues and wingtips on Oxfords and Brogues were seen frequently.
Young women of the day could be quite unpredictable in their choice of fashion. The same girl wearing torn and faded jeans might next be seen in "hot pants" accompanied by long knee socks or wearing a floral patterned granny dress, all on top of very high and clunky looking heels. Women were asserting themselves in fashion and it was difficult to miss. The mini skirt was still alive and well but "midi" dresses that came to the mid calf region and ankle length "maxi" dresses were also popular, especially in more formal situations. You never knew what to expect.
In some ways, 1970's clothes for men were quite a change from what was commonly worn in the late 1960's. Tight shirts with bright prints or sometimes outrageous patterns could be seen. Huge collars topped off the look. Although the hippie look was still alive, and many people proudly wore the uniform of t shirt and jeans, things were changing and some would say it was not necessarily for the better. Many men today would prefer not to see photos of themselves in those days which are sometimes considered some of the more tasteless times in fashion history.
In recalling 1970's fashion, one must also acknowledge the extremely strong ethnic influence that exploded upon the scene after first being introduced in the 1960's. Brightly colored scarves and large jewelry are just a couple of examples of this. Looking at photographs of the time, even otherwise conservatively dressed women could be found with large pieces of jewelry, sometimes featuring some type of "tribal" element. Tiny jewelry was not the norm.
Her secret?
Tip No. 1 : Wear thermal underwear that fits like a glove, is well ventilated yet insulates so well without creating additional bulk. You could skip a layer or 2 of clothing in a mild winter and get away with it. The fewer layers you wear, the slimmer you look. It should be tight fitting. A bonus of tight winter underwear is that it acts as a sort of girdle to hold in the saggy bits of fat, giving you a slimmer silhouette.
Tip No. 2 : If you are going to wear a dress or skirt, make your legs look slimmer by wearing wool stockings. Choose one in black or a very dark color where possible, for that slimming effect.
Tip No. 3 : Wear fewer layers made of warmer fabrics. Winter is the time to take out your cashmere and wear it. Wear wool or silk instead of thick layers of cotton.
Tip No. 4 : Wear coats that hint at your figure. A too tight coat with unsightly bulges makes you look fatter. A coat that fits well flatters your figure.
Tip No. 5 : Keep warm with a gorgeous cashmere shawl. It doesn't add bulk to your frame, instead, it perks up your look beautifully. Better than a necklace in that besides making you look great, it keeps you warm.
