This May, take your time travel machine to Boston, MA for the International Watch City Steampunk Festival. For those of you who do not know about Steampunk, it is an alternative movement that mixes Victorian dress with and an Industrial, futuristic (in the eye of the Victorian age) look. Think of a Victorian time traveler and that will sum it up. The festival will take place at The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham on May 10th through 12th. The are expecting up to 10,000 to attend over the weekend with 3000-4000 die-hard fans dressed in Steam-punk costumes.
Steampunk is fantasy. Forget everything you know about modern technology and envision what a Victorian citizen would have considered modern technology, like the items you would find in a late 1800’s inventor’s laboratory. Much of a Steampunker’s vision comes from the pages of Jules Verne’s and H.G. Wells’ books in addition to their own imagination. Goggles, gears, gadgets, utility belts, pocket watches, top hats and leather mix in varying combinations to create a variety of Steampunk costumes. There is no right or wrong with steampunk and no one particular character to emulate. Rather, it is a personal expression of style.
Fans of this genre go all out with some spending thousands of dollars on one-of-a-kind creations. However, more and more costume manufacturers and getting on the steam punk bandwagon and coming out with their own collections.
This sounds like a fun event that has a purpose too. Proceeds will go to repairing flood damage at the museum. If you live near the historic city of Waltham, Massachusetts, check out the International Steampunk City Festival May 10th through 12th. But first, head over to your grandparents’ garage or attic and see what you can find to add to your own pseudo-Victorian mechanical costume or check out some of the hottest Steampunk costume ideas available at Costume SuperCenter.