Steampunk: Beat The Heat
Now that the heat has finally hit the whole U.S., one of the many topics under discussion is how to dress as a steampunk in the summer months. Here in New England, we have four seasons. This might not apply to people in the South. Here, we have no idea what to do. I am here to help.
Phase 1 – Abandon the outfits made of wool, velvet, polyester, acrylic and most clothing with linings. You want a fabric that breathes like cotton and linen. Be warned, these fabrics wrinkle a great deal and you will need to iron them.
Phase 2 – Get rid of the constrictive clothing (this is mostly for women) like jackets, coats, long pants, and many layered skirts. Yes, that does include corsets. Now ladies, don’t jump down my throat. I am a big fan of the corset and would rather wear one than not and there is only one way to wear them in the summer if you are desperate.
- Wear as little under or over it as possible.
- If you are still dead set on wearing one, you will need baby powder. The powder will wick the moisture away from the body and prevent chaffing under and round the corset.
Phase 3 – The more skin the better. Now normally I oppose this theory. In my head, I see it this way… you are not trying to be sexy so much as trying not to faint.
Think of these things while coming up with a summer outfit:
Men’s attire
Put the vest aside and use suspenders
Laborer – miner
Mill
Railroad
Dock worker
Chemist or explosion expert (shirt sleeves and a apron)
Bather (a Victorian day at the beach)
Mechanic
Women’s attire
Just plain Victorian undergarments
Tomboy
Street urchin
Steampunk Lolita (I do it a little different, I wear long skirts and flip flops)
Bather
Phase 4 – Leave the hat on the stand and go with a parasol. Your hat holds heat and, like the corset, sweat gathers in the headband and it can chafe. Woman will want to wear their hair up off their necks to let the breeze hit it. We also have a lovely invention called sunscreen.
Phase 5 – Drop the macho persona. I hear all that time, “But my character would not wear that!” Excuse my French, but don’t be a macho ass. (I say macho because I find this more with men then women). Sometime, it does not fit in the storyline that you currently have. If you don’t want to drop the persona, let me offer two options. One is to make a summer look for your persona. Be the captain when he was a cabin boy, or become a mechanic instead of an engineer or when the scientist was a lab assistant. Or choose the second option. Just suck it up and don’t complain.
I came back from Old Sturbridge Village today where they dress up as 1830's New Englanders. It was hot out being 4th of July and some of these acting historians were in some full covering outfits that looked dreadfully hot to wear. On the contrary, they answered us by saying they are quite cool in what they're wearing because of how baggy and loose the dresses/pants/and shirts are. Air could flow freely in between the clothing and skin, reminded me of some ideas for cosplay since heat seems to be a big uncomfortable jerk at conventions!
A wool of the proper weight and weave can be just as cool as cotton or linen (and certainly cooler than polyester or acrylic). Ditch artificial-fiber linings, certainly, but for certain garments a lining is essential in order to lay right on the body, else they look like mere costumes instead of genuine clothing. Natural-fiber linings preserve the garment’s ability to breathe.
Dave’s information is curious; when I was a Boy Scout, lo these many moons ago, we were taught that layered baggy clothing would keep one warmer, as the air pockets between layers would trap body heat better. I suppose I shall have to do some experimentation to see which claim is the more accurate.
I would have to agree with you John the right weight wool can make all the difference. I have several very nice wool skirts that I wear in the summer but many people don’t know or can’t find that weight unless they buy it and make it themselves (which I am not opposed to) which very few people do. They are also not very often made cause of the up keep that is required. Heck victorian bathing suits where made out of wool and usually in dark colors.