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These days, it’s hard to be a freak.
As one of the many New Yorkers that is thrilled the Dances of Vice season is again in full swing, I have a happily full events schedule that requires my closet resemble a small costume shop (not that I’m complaining). But as I was shopping at Steinlauf & Stoller for corsetry materials and wondering if Obscura would have the perfect acessory for me to show off at Club Wits End, I wondered: why do we love to be the past? Not just reinvent it, not just attend a throwback party, but why do we feel happiest living and breathing in the musky depths of history?
Of course, I’m not speaking to all of you. I’m speaking to those of you reading this in waistcoats and smoking jackets, the latest Prince Poppycock song playing in the backround as you sip your gin-laced camomile tea. Actually I just described Milo, there.
So, for those of you already wise in the ways of anachronism, this essay might be a bit tedious. For everyone else, this is a nice little letter of welcome.
It is the perceived decadence and glamour, of course, that drives us to the past when we find the modern world too tiresome, and too ugly. Plain and simple. And because we glorify the things we are enamored with, such nasty bits as rampant diseases, prohibition, and that would today be called homophobia and anti-feminism are glossed over and even romanticized. Which isn’t hard to do, of course, if one looks first at the lifestyle and beauty of the people in the past, such as the courtiers and nobles of the court of Louis XIV. To make life one massive glittering party, full of intrigue for intrigue’s sake, where the boring tedium is actually a pleasure in itself because of where you are.
We at the Chronological Flâneur are a bit biased, of course, since we share the dream of becoming the next batch of Bright Young Things.
Granted, it seems to take a special person to see all this through the drab history texts they hand out on public schools these days, but recent movies such as Marie Antoinette seem to be bringing this ideal–however sickeningly “pop” it sometimes is–to a new generation. Though, if you’re looking for a good “steampunk movie,” watch The City of Lost Children, starring Ron Perlman. But I digress…
Fashion, as one may have guessed, is a mainstay in expressing this sort of lifestyle. That and fantastic parties with baroque dancers and piles of cushions and huge amounts of cocktails and wine. Men’s clothing has changed so little since the 1700s that it provides and easy outlet for both genders. Simply get yourself a few eye-catching waistcoats, tons of white button-down shirts, and some nice trousers. Three-piece suits and ascots don’t hurt, either.
The dandy look doesn’t sit well with all women, however, and here one must turn to places such as etsy or a goth store, if your own prowess can’t measure up. Flowing layers of tulle and a corset do nicely for most tastes, but in the winter especially, a peacoat over a victorian-inspired top works well with a long shirt or slacks. The “lacy-bib” look seems to be catching on quite a bit, making those tops easier to find.
The other side to this wonderful craze, is, of course, re-inventing it and superimposing it on the future. That’s right! Good-ol’ dystopianism is a fertile platform for the forward-thinking steampunk.
For those of you that have yet to read A Steampunk’s Guide to the Apocalypse, you have no excuse since I am now presenting you with a link to read it for free. Of course, it’s so awesome you just might want to purchase it anyway, or at least print out your own bootleg copy, like I did. This book may be the quintessential tool to understanding the coolness (and obsessiveness) of the steampunk.
And again, fashion comes strongly into play, with decked-out welding goggles and leather gloves folded over trench coats making the scene. White button-downs and vests still are the basics of this niche of anachronism, but the scientific preoccupation makes for a lot more wiggle room in your wardrobe. Covering yourself with brass and leather and strange gadgetry is a must, however. Otherwise you’re just being plain old anachronistic.
The post-apocalypse cool doesn’t end in fashion, of course. The art world (some amazing pieces, in fact) has also joined in, and might even be said to have started it back with films like Metropolis. And certainly, people have been remodeling everything from wallpaper to computers to make them more archaic. Making otherwise mundane things of of cogs or wood is one example.
As previously stated, the scientific edge to this alternate lifestyle allows for all sorts of wiggle room. You don’t have to dress steampunk on a constant basis to bring science and experimentation in to your life. Making your own starcharts, for example, by recording your nightly findings from your home-made telescope brings a huge sense of accomplishment with it. As a huge astrophysics geek, the possibility of combining antique starcharts with my daily routine is very exciting. Collecting is also a huge part of the scientific lifestyle, and in the near future I will be posting a bit specifically on Wonder Cabinets and Curiosities.
Why one wouldn’t get a little old-fashioned is honestly beyond me. Grab some absinthe and a military jacket and join the party!
~your captain
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