As soon as we see the cast of The Hills applying lipstick via 20lb brass doohickey while wearing heavy leather gloves to stave off burns, we'll know Steampunk has reached its potential as cultural phenomenon.

And we laugh at the 70s...

Really? Steampunk is already THAT popular? I like steampunk and all, but I don't think it's one of these things where it's going to hit the masses all of a sudden. And where would it go from there? Some animes have some good steampunk in'em so I suggest you go check'em out while your at it.

Man, that bluetooth headset looks like it might chaff something fierce. I'd hate to see what the new Blackberry SteamCurve will be like. Talk about burning a hole in your pocket.

I love steampunk. Already im sporting some steampunk fashion-

A lether bracer/watch that is very steampunk. Custom made, cost me $250.
Sad thing is...I mostly use my cell to tell time..lol. I love it for the looks.

You have no idea how often girls will stop me to ask about it.
"Thats so cool!"

When ever we play shows and people come backstage to talk- thats one of the first things they mention.

I would so dress steampunk...
it would be awesome.

I apologize for my ignorance but are these just placstic items painted to look like iron and old metal or are these actually really bulky heavy peices of funational art that is made out of metal?

Applying Dick Hebdige's analysis of the Brittish punk scene in the 1970s ([www.mediamusicstudies.net]) to steampunk, once the NYTimes starts writing about it, it's the beginning of the end.

I thought steampunk was already over...didn't it jump the shark with Back to the Future 3?

Whenever i see somthing has been steampunked I completely misread it and leave out the "team" part...ha ha. Theres no "I" in "team" but occasionally there's steampunk minus the team in her "eye"

I hear Tyra Banks is going to do a show called "The New America's Next Highly Desirable Fashion Show Lady"

Am I wrong, or is this really the lamest trend ever?

That picture has to be the worst example of steampunk ever... It's like someone who has no clue what it is but he wants to be a part of it.

looks like a steampunk Borg to me...

Steampunk is already on the trailing edge of the curve. The cool kids have moved forward into Dieselpunk. Same idea, but applied to the fashions and technologies of the gap between WWI and WWII.

Face it: the clothes were cooler (and more practical), the industrial design was more dramatic, and it was a far more pivotal point in history.

Also? You can have stories about beating up on Nazis.

@jw: I can't really answer this, because there could be a lamer trend out there somewhere. More research is needed.

Steampunk design :-

High on aesthetics

Low on ergonomics, manufacturability, and practicality.

It will never be mainstream. Mass production will be too expensive.

Soldering/welding random bits of old watches and pressure gauges together then strapping it to your head is just silly.

This is the 21st century.... wake up

@SirDrinksalot: Which is a perfect example of what happens when things go mainstream

@fluxlasers: You do realize that all of your negatives are the reasons steampunk exists?

It's a paleo-futurist critique of modern industrialized society. And yes, it is silly- that's part of the point too.

I think it's past its expiration date as far as trends go, but let's understand what we're critiquing.

I heard iPhone 3G is going to be Steampunk style...

Just heard it

@frigg: I guess I'm a little more generous -- my thought was a phenomenon is dead once Newsweek does an article on it.

I was steampunk before steampunk was uncool.

(OK, I wasn't really.)

@t3knomanser: Do you realise that steampunk only exists as a niche. The negatives I gave were the reasons it will never be mainstream.

All the steampunk stuff I've seen has been custom made or "one off". It would need to be mass produced for it to become mainstream.

Steampunk is purely aesthetic design. All other aspects of the design is very poor - which is why it will never catch on.

I can't see anyone (except a steampunk fetishist) willing to pay a lot of extra cash for something just because it has some unnecessary bits of metal stuck to it or it has a "brass effect" paint finish.

Steampunked products are more like unique works of art with a tech theme which why @t3knomanser: describe it as "paleo-futurist critique of modern industrialized society" - an arty farty description if ever I've heard one. They are not practical or realistically priced products that would appeal to the mainstream.

I reckon steampunk has peaked. Reading previous comments show that it has already split to produce dieselpunk and I agree with @frigg: that it's the beginning of the end.

not a big fan of steampunk...19th century formalwear is cool and all, but come on...WHAT HAPPENED TO CYBERPUNK!? we're in the frickin' era of all this technology and all the hipsters of the world wanna start acting like they invented a time machine? lamzorrrrz in my opinion.

cmon! sexy matte finishes instead of gloss (or a elaborate array of primitive-yet-shiny victorian-era gadgetry) who wants fingerprints or something that cuts your thigh umpteen times when its in your pocket anyways.. (sigh)

@jw: The sweatsuit era from 2002 - 2006. Over-sized white T's. Skinny jeans on men. Those furry boots women were wearing a lot.

@edosan: Generally, yes. It's no longer cool once corporations try and capitalize on it.

One of the things I actually liked about Steampunk is that it's so impractical it could never be mainstream. Or so I thought!

I still can't see woman walking around in Victorian dresses.

@dedalus987: Add cyberpunk to list of extremely lame trends.

@edosan: Just as The New York Observer is secretly "The New Yorker Observer," so too is Newsweek Lastweek at the NYTimes. ;)

@GOKOR: everybody's got theirs favorite lame thing. shame you didn't tell us yours.

OH GOD NO

@dedalus987: Oversized gold or platinum chains with 10 pound pendants attached. You know, the type all those rappers wear. Oh, grills too, I'd totally rock a grill or $100,000 chain if I could afford one.

I'm not into hip hop all that much (some of it's ok), but the style is so ridiculous that I love it. Oh, and I use a pimp cup too, because I'm corny like that.

I must admit that it annoys me to see Alex CF's "The Inquisitor #2" being used under the headline "Steampunk Going Mainstream" - even more so because he hasn't even been credited.

His works stands for all that is original and creative and definitely not for "mainstream".

There are so many self-entited steampunk "artists" who mass-produce their very unoriginal work - Alex CF, au contraire, is an assemblage artist who a) creates unique and visionary pieces and b) is about as steampunk as Leonardo da Vinci when you actually take some time to look at his multifaceted oeuvre.

I think someone should really correct the above entry accordingly and/or at least credit him.

you've got to admit that the steampunked computers look amazing. ok... so maybe it's just me? I like the trend, just because i like art. This whole steampunk thing has nothing to do with form and function, it's about taking your average gadget and turning it into a piece of art. bad ass.

I love steampunk.I was into it before I knew it had a name. I wore a top hat in the 90's and I've been recording music under the name "The Teleharmonium Project" www.myspace.com/thetelharmoniumproject
(shameles plug)

Not entirely far-fetched, given that people will put bences and lamp-posts on their lawns made to look like antique wood or copper. ..Not to mention all the cars on the road with up-dated engines, New-Old-Stock whitewall tyres and what have you.

Next, they'll all be playing Myst....

I kind of doubt that anyone here knows enough to make predictions about the fashion industry.

that said I thought steam punk was more about "art" and less about "trend". I mean, ive seen some pretty ugly "steampunk" but Ive also seen some stuff that makes me drool with envy

Grunge to punk to gangster to goth to emo to steampunk to dieselpunk to .... I'm probably missing a bunch because I don't follow all the "hip" trends

Why can't people be individuals anymore - is everyone really a bleating sheep?

steamboy was cool

@ph15h needs a nu job: agreed. Mark just went up a few notches for that pic.