Steampunk Talks, Prada Listens

My ears perk up at any mention of Willem Defoe’s “Green Goblin” or Gary Oldman’s “Sirius Black”, but throw in Garrett Hedlund (Tron), and Jamie Bell (Jumpers), and you have a sci-fi girl like me going nuts. However, add in the words “Prada’s 2012 Fall/Winter men’s line” and you have me a bit perplexed. That is until you mention the fact that Prada is showcasing a new steampunk-inspired line. I’ve now died and gone to heaven. I also have a big “I told you so” ready for all the people who doubted that steampunk would ever go mainstream.

This spectacular line from the house of Prada is one of the first examples of mainstream fashion houses finally taking notice of a style that the rest of us have been in love with for some time.

I wish I could sit here and pick apart all the things Prada has done wrong in this line, but I can’t. Their interpretation of steampunk is stunning. Every detail is clearly thought-out—from the round tiger’s eyes sunglasses to the fountain pens in the silk coat pockets. They even threw in a little dieselpunk style with the pin-striped double-breasted jackets and vests. I’m a sucker for a man in a high-neck and a scarf (was that too much information?).

I also appreciate that this line is not being advertised by seventeen-year-old androgynous looking boys, but rather by men I would expect to see in the next great steampunk action movie. Don’t they look stunning in their blue and brown smoking jackets?

What I love most about this line is that it is both elegant and manly. The clothes have a tailored sophistication that is extremely wearable. You can actually envision men wearing these outfits to the office or to an elegant party. Nothing in this line looks like a costume. On the other hand, isn’t all clothing just a costume anyway?

So whether you love the idea of steampunk going mainstream or not, this culture is here to stay and you can expect a lot more companies to take notice. If you love the looks in these photos, or the idea of owning the same outfit as “the Green Goblin,” you might want to save your pennies. I expect these outfits will come with a traditionally “Prada” price tag.