Trying to explain steampunk to someone who has never heard of it is very difficult. You may have heard this term from time to time and still have no idea what it refers to. Well now is your chance to learn everything you ever wanted to know about steampunk. Steampunk is a style of cosplay where cosplayers dress and speak in very specific ways. In short, steampunk refers to a specific genre of historical fiction.

Steampunk often takes a post-apocalyptic setting in the Victorian era with heavy themes of steam-powered machinery. That’s a good overview of steampunk, but you can get a lot more involved. There are even different subgenres of steampunk cosplay. Steampunk can take the form of Medieval Steampunk, Victorian-era Steampunk, Western Steampunk, and more!

For those of you who still can’t wrap your head around this idea, I can refer you to several movies that have a steampunk setting. Wild Wild West is one of the best examples of western steampunk I can give. Van Helsing, Hellboy, Sky Captain and World of Tomorrow are other great examples of big screen punk. We can also think of steampunk as futuristic or advanced machines, set in a Victorian period where the power of steam is still king.

Today steampunk has found its way into almost everything. After the cinematic popularization of steampunk, we also started to see a push for steampunk graphic novels. We’re even starting to see video games pick up the cause. Popular games like “Bioshock” are plagued with steampunk themes. A large number of craftsmen have started to build steampunk themed accessories. These garage mechanics have turned just about everything we use and love into a steampunk thrill. Clothing, sunglasses, jewelry, cars, and even laptops have been “Victorianized.”

Real steampunk enthusiasts often organize gatherings. This is where you pull out every piece of intricate steampunk attire you own, even your steampunk cufflinks. You also have to brush up on your mid-century lingo. Dressing the part is one thing, but talking the talk is a different beast altogether. If you have time to devote to learning the lingo, you can have a good time. The only downside to this lifestyle is the cost. Most steampunk stuff doesn’t come with cheap price tags. You should be aware that almost everything you are buying is 100% handmade and one of a kind, so the prices reflect this.

My advice: start slow and build your collection over time.