Kilt as part of Steampunk costume

[Karl R]

Thoughts? Mine are that it should be no less respectful than any other fantasy costume but I could be totally off-base here.

I'm the wrong person to answer the "respectful" question. But for something with a Steampunk theme, a pith helmet would probably work for a hat. Alternatively, you could wear a Balmoral or Glengarry, while replacing the standard badge with something more Steampunk themed.

[imbrius]

I'm the wrong person to answer the "respectful" question. But for something with a Steampunk theme, a pith helmet would probably work for a hat. Alternatively, you could wear a Balmoral or Glengarry, while replacing the standard badge with something more Steampunk themed.

If this were an outdoor event, I would (a) order a Fawn Balmoral and (b) make a steampunk-ish cap badge. But this event is indoors so no headwear necessary or desired.

[Steve Ashton]

The city of Victoria has a huge Steampunk group and an annual gathering.

My wife and I have attended in appropriate costume.

[Rmadigan]

What the heck is Steampunk?

[FossilHunter]

What the heck is Steampunk?

Google describes it as well as I could:

“a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.
"if you like steampunk, this is a great book for you"
a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.”

The will smith version of Wild Wild West would be considered steampunk. Giant, steam-powered, mechanical spiders and whatnot.

[Rmadigan]

Sounds like a fun event, however I don't like to think of a kilt as a costume. Now, Utilikilts and Sportkilts are a different matter.

[OC Richard]

The thing I notice is that Steampunk kiltwearers nearly always wear anachronistic Highland Dress items with their Steampunk.

Because Steampunk, as it's been explained to me, exists in a specific time period, namely the Victorian period.

Since Highland Dress underwent a near-total transformation around WWI these anachronisms are quite clear.

And it gets even more anachronistic, because Utilikilts are often seen in Steampunk, off by a century.

Seems that nearly all men in Highland Dress at Victorian Balls, Dickens Festivals, American Civil War Balls, etc wear 20th century Highland Dress items, especially sporrans and jackets.

[Farmer Jones]

What the heck is Steampunk?

Steampunk is essentially an alternate history which seems to have arisen from a novel "The Difference Engine" by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. If you enjoy reading novels, then this book is a most excellent introduction to the idea. The movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" with Sean Connery, which in my opinion was dreadful, also presents such an alternate history. People dress in clothing which roughly corresponds to any time between 1820 and 1920, and carry scientific and technological looking accoutrements, often bearing cogs to emphasize the mechanical nature of the period.

[piperdbh]

I think you should wear a knitted tie.

[imbrius]

I think you should wear a knitted tie.

I debated wearing a tie but none of them ended up looking quite right. I agree that a knitted tie would have been great but I don't own one yet.