Today, I was informed that I would have found greater happiness in the Edwardian era, and I genuinely regret that such thoughts are held about me.
Certainly, the sophisticated fashion, strict adherence to etiquette, and a rigid framework of manners intrigue me. Moreover, the enforced hypocrisy compelled the upper class to occasionally justify their societal standing (which is quite different from today). BUT, one question seems to go unasked: what if one suffered from toothache?
A steampunk interpretation is what I lean towards—melding contemporary technology (encased in elegant mahogany and brass) with genuinely fashionable attire. Oh, how I yearn to don a topper, a frock coat, a high collar adorned with a cravat while twirling a silver-tipped cane amid a benign smog, all the while summoning a Hansom cab.
I recognize that this isn’t a practical goal; however, I am deliberately striving to distance myself from the burdensome constraints of reality.
by Jim Aborwhear
