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If you’re a member of the Steampunk community and are looking to make your Steampunk persona even more true to the Victorian era, why not try to learn some gentlemanly etiquette for your next Steampunk convention in this article, how to be a Steampunk gentleman.
What is a Steampunk Gentleman?
But first, what is a Steampunk gentleman? A Steampunk gentleman can be almost anything that you wish it to be. Choosing your persona is one of the best parts of preparing for your next con. There are a whole host of Steampunk characters to choose from, including; detective, engineer, pilot, pirate, mad hatter, tinkerer, and adventurer. As well as a bunch of others. You will also need to consider your character’s backstory, such as their social class. This is where the manners and Victorian etiquette will come into play as a lot of the Victorian clothing and etiquette depended on your social class.
Now, we all know that etiquette has changed over the years and that a lot of the Victorian etiquette is outdated and controversial. However, when taking on the persona of a Victorian gentleman, it’s important to know about the history of gentlemanly etiquette during the Victorian period. You can take some of these rules and adapt them to your persona, or you can completely ignore them and stick to the etiquette of the modern world. But adapting Victorian etiquette such as standing straight and being polite may be a great way for you to take your Steampunk persona even further.
Clothing Etiquette
Gentlemen used to have to remove their hats when entering a building. Of course this is not very doable if your convention is inside, you will want to show off your full outfit.
Gentlemen always had to wear gloves in the street and at formal occasions, this means that wearing gloves with your Steampunk outfit is a wise choice in staying true to the Victorian period. The only time you should take them off is when going to the toilet, eating, or drinking. In terms of colours, light coloured gloves, such as white or cream, tended to be worn during the evening, whereas dark coloured gloves, such as black, were worn during the day.
Social etiquette
Lifting your hat to a lady when she greeted you was also a polite way of saying hello.
If another gentleman greets you, a nod of your head, a hand gesture, or touching your hat, are all ways of greeting another gentleman.
Always be sure to return a bow.
When a lady enters a room, gentlemen always had to stand. They also had to stand whenever a lady stood.
If there were no seats available for a lady, a gentleman had to offer his own and assist the lady with her chair.
If a lady drops something, a gentleman had to assist her in picking it up.
They also had to help a lady to put on her coat.
If you are friends with a lady and walking with them into or out of a building, you should offer your arm.
Gentlemen were not supposed to refer to people by their first name in public.
They also were not allowed to be impolite or swear in the presence of a lady.
If you’re looking for some ideas on how to dress up as a Steampunk gentleman, here are some of the most important aspects of the outfit:
Hats
Steampunk hats are a very important part of a Steampunk gentleman’s outfit. They have such a diverse style, coming in many different shapes, sizes, and designs – making it easy for you to find the right one for you. They can really work to create a Steampunk character, with top hats being perfect for a Victorian gentleman, military hats being perfect for a pilot, and a cowboy hat for a wild west Steampunk character. It is a key element of your outfit that can easily add to your outfits overall effect. Here are a couple hats for you to consider for your next convention:
This hat is a good base for customising your own top hat to look more Steampunk-y. It’s a simple plain black top hat, nothing special right? That is, until you add your own accessories, such as a feather, cogs, and/or goggles.
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This white hat could either be a naval hat, or a pilots hat. It looks great, with the detailing of a military hat including the embroidered oak leaf sprig that is common amongst military garments. This hat is instantly recognisable as a piece of military clothing, and the spiked goggles with eye pieces coming off to the sides makes it also instantly recognisable as a piece of Steampunk clothing. It looks great and will definitely add that extra something to your military Steampunk outfit.
A steampunk cane is also another essential for the steampunk gentleman.
Goggles
As well as hats, goggles are also fairly important. They are a key part of Steampunk culture, with almost everybody incorporating them into their outfit somewhere. You can even fit your goggles to your hat. Like hats, goggles can also be fairly representative of your Steampunk persona, with goggles with many lenses being perfect for a tinkerer, or a scientist, and some one eyed ones being perfect for an air pirate. There are many different styles of goggles for you to look at, and there is bound to be a pair that stands out to you and matches with your outfit. Here are a couple of the best pairs online:
Why not try a monocle goggle instead? This one eyed goggle has the capability to introduce the Steampunk element to your detective or pirate costume. Monocles are often associated with detectives and the eye patch is often associated with pirates, and goggles are associated with Steampunk, put them together and you have the perfect Steampunk detective or pirate combination that brings the worlds together as part of your cosplay.
- A necessary accessory for Steampunk's wardrobe.
- These vintage Victorian style goggles with double loupes are an excellent addition to any cosplay,costume,rave,or convention outfit.
- Bright colors,rich colors,strong stereo and perspective,suitable for night vision observation.
- Durable:Our welder-style glasses are constructed of ABS plastic and designed to stay put during your adventures.
- Occasion:Perfect for Christmas Day,Halloween,Cosplay,Dance Party,Convert,Music Festival,EDM,Light Show,Photo Prop,Outdoor Sports or etc.
These goggles have extra lenses hanging from the sides and the left eye has what looks like a small microscope. If your persona is that of a tinker, then these goggles will go with your outfit perfectly. There are also some spikes around the sides and the right hand side has a silver chain around the rim, contrasting with the copper colour of the rest of the goggles.
Coats
Your choice of coat is also an extremely important decision as it will play a big part in defining your character’s backstory. For example, a military coat will make sure it is known that your character is in the military, a duster coat will show that your character is from the wild west side of the Steampunk community, and a tail coat will show that your character is a traditional wealthy Victorian gentleman. Look below for some coat ideas of products that are available online.
- Mens cotton tailcoat made from 100 percent HEAVY GRADE COTTON.
- Tailcoat built to last a lifetime, With triple layer fabric for flat tails.
- Premium quality heavy duty cotton Fabric.
- Please order using our size chart in images.
- Perfect Attire For Goths And Steampunks
This black tailcoat looks like that from a military officer. It is elegant in style, but the three silver buttons on either side of the breast area and the three silver buttons on each sleeve makes it look badass. As well as military vibes, it gives off pirate vibes. The coat also has a zip on one of the arms which combines vintage fashion with modern fashion. The coat looks genuine and will definitely look so at a Steampunk convention.
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This jacket is more expensive, but only because it is made out of real cowhide. The jacket itself is relatively plain, it is made of light brown leather and has a tailcoat effect at the front where the silver buttons start a quarter of the way up the coat. There are two pockets on either side of the jacket, and the collar is quite large and extends far. The two sleeves also have two silver buttons on them at either side. It brings a smart and casual look to your outfit and will definitely be able to be added to a range of outfits to spruce them up.
This leather jacket definitely screams pilot. The Steampunk jacket is made of brown leather and has a furry collar that is light brown in colour. There is a zip pocket on the right hand side of the jacket as well as one pocket either side at the waist, and a belt that goes around the bottom of the coat. The fur collar in the coat is also removable, leaving a simple brown leather jacket. The inside of the jacket is also made of a furry cream material that makes the jacket extra comfortable to wear.
You can also take a look at our article on Victorian etiquette and Steampunk Cravat.
