7 Awesome Reasons to Love Dieselpunk ...

1. Strong Women and Rosie the Riveter

We start our list of reasons to love dieselpunk with a wonderful cultural icon: Rosie the Riveter. She is a fantastic symbol of a kickass woman. The image appears many times in dieselpunk for a variety of reasons, such as her symbolism as a strong woman (physically and mentally), diesel machinery, wartime era, and 1940s wartime fashion. The 1940s Americana timeframe is on par with the world war context and can-do attitude. Dieselpunk combines 1930s and '40s history with diesel powered machinery and retro-futuristic design. Rosie's image is a big part of the empowered smart woman focus that subpunk promotes.

2. Wartime Gone by

Another of the images associated with dieselpunk is the gas mask wearing, cloaked scientist. Dieselpunk reminds us that WWI and WWII are over. The retro-futuristic images of inventions and the mad scientist symbolize the big machinery that fought both wars. It also allows us a bit of perspective and a chance to imagine the world without war. While there is much imagined mechanical preparation through mass produced hyper-inventions, dieselpunk allows us to imagine a war that never comes; an alternate future that is much different than the post-apocalyptic future envisioned by steampunk.

3. Kneeboots

We love knee-high boots. They are pretty sexy. They also require a bit of confidence to wear them. We love that you can wear these boots with nearly any outfit and instantly add another level of chic to your already awesome style. Up your fashionista quotient with a pair of these lovely ladies! Black, high-heeled, lace-up, knee-high boots are best for the dieselpunk look but knee-high riding boots fit the bill just the same.

4. Aviator Style

Dieselpunk is all about the aviator action and style, and diesel powered machinery. The aviator style bomber jacket is warm and plush. It is also a highly recognizable piece of dieselpunk style. Another few pieces of aviator style are the double-breasted military jacket and pants, and trench coat. These pieces are almost always found in the dieselpunk war-time color range of dark blue, gray, black, and tan.

5. Jazz Age Music

The wide-ranging temp and overall feel of jazz music is imported into the world of dieselpunk. The luscious sounds bring to mind steamy jazz clubs, fantastic hair, metal works, factories, and strong women. My most favorite quote about this subgenre comes from Dieselpunks.org, which describes dieselpunk as a "mashup of jazz age aesthetics with modern sensibilities."

6. The Movies

Dieselpunk movies combine film noir with sci-fi. The results are movies that incorporate all the dieselpunk elements: jazz music, wartime memories and reflections, big city, heroes, dames, and gangsters. Dieselpunk is often described as the future of our own past. Movies like Dark City, Sucker Punch, Captain America, Sin City, The Iron Giant, and Blade Runner are just a few of many movies that represent dieselpunk.

7. Artwork

Goodness! Dieselpunk artwork is just fantastic! The images are highly stylized and exaggerated. The fonts are awesome and the concept art is incredible, often representing technology and machinery of the future present in more toned down, less spaceship ways than steampunk produces. Dieselpunk blends the art and culture of early 20th century America with today.

Dieselpunk is another fantastically creative artistic expression. Have you heard of dieselpunk before? Do you have a favorite subgenre? Please, share. We would love to hear from you.