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.