Favorite fairy tales - steampunk costume insppiration

April 9, 2013 2:53 PM

So the local steampunk group is having a fairy tale steampunk event this fall, and I'm super excited. I used to read all the color title fairy tale books when I was younger, but it's been a while. What fairy tales would you recommend for me to read, for costume inspiration?

I'd love to do a matched male and female costume, but I'm open to either/or, as well. They're calling it the Grimm Gear Gala, but if you have non-Grimm fairy tales, that's also good.

The steampunk costumes I see seem to mostly be white European based (okay, Victorian England), but I love the idea of other cultures & steampunk, so if you have a good fairy tale that is from another culture, that's also good.

I can sew, up to and including making my own corset, so the options are open - I do not need to find a pre-bought outfit for this. (also why I'd like to start early!)

posted by needlegrrl to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Oooh ooh, you should do The Six Swans! You could have a prince with one swan wing and the steampunk sewing princess. For bonus points, it's a Grimm story.

P.S. Hi quonsee!
posted by chatongriffes at 3:04 PM on April 9, 2013 [4 favorites]

Anything from Grimm's Tales or even some of the longer Mother Goose rhymes should set you up for European stuff (Queen and Knave of Hearts, for example).

But, really, if you're looking for a matched pair, you could do a whole lot worse than a steampunk take on The Owl and The Pussycat.
posted by jquinby at 3:05 PM on April 9, 2013

I think Thumbelina might be fun. You could go with a thimble theme, or the bugs she rides and interacts with, or just about anything. There's a mole suitor, and she has a "fairy flower prince" husband.
posted by xingcat at 3:26 PM on April 9, 2013

The Nightingale would be perfect. It's got a mechanical bird! And also a real one!
posted by Metroid Baby at 3:58 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

Well, the first thing I thought of was Kari Woodengown and the ox, which, though a garment made of wood is rather steampunky, might be kind of hard to make flattering, since in the illustrations she's pretty much wearing a barrel.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 5:53 PM on April 9, 2013

Hansel and Gretel would be a neat way to do your male/female idea - plus breadcrumbs and lederhosen and candy (!)
posted by Mchelly at 5:59 PM on April 9, 2013

I came in to suggest the Nightingale, and I see Metroid Baby beat me to it. But I urge you to go for it! The pair costume could either be the clockwork bird and the real one, or the clockwork bird and an enthralled emperor. Steampunk Fairytale Imperial Chinese Exotic Birds? Come on, there's nothing to dislike about that.
posted by Mizu at 6:45 PM on April 9, 2013

A little off, but I think a wizard of oz themed steampunk costume would be fun! It's kind of a fairy tale...
posted by missriss89 at 8:47 PM on April 9, 2013

Me, I'm a big fan of the costumes from the Girl Genius version of Cinderella.
posted by eviemath at 9:01 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

Not exactly what you're talking about, but Steampunk Pinocchio.
posted by Doohickie at 6:14 AM on April 11, 2013