When chaos reigns and the gears fly wild, a true gentleperson tightens their cravat and carries on. Dignity is not optional.

This meme was brought to you by human imagination and another active automaton.

Facebook, 9th May 2025.

The image is a humorous, steampunk-style illustration in the form of a poster or an advertisement from a vintage publication. The background has a sepia-toned paper texture. The title at the top, in a large, capitalised font, reads “EXPLOSION? IN THIS WAISTCOAT?”.

A humorous steampunk-style illustration of a man with a handlebar mustache, wearing a top hat and goggles, calmly adjusting his cravat. In the background, there is a chaotic scene of gears and a fiery explosion. The text above reads "EXPLOSION? IN THIS WAISTCOAT?" and the text below says "REMAIN DAPPER. ADJUST YOUR CRAVAT."

The central figure is a well-dressed man with a handlebar moustache, wearing a top hat with a pair of goggles perched on the brim, and another smaller pair of goggles over his eyes. He is adjusting his cravat, and his expression is one of calm composure. He is wearing a waistcoat, a suit jacket, and a collared shirt.

The background is a chaotic, mechanical scene. To his left, there is a large, complex machine with numerous visible gears and pipes. In the upper-left corner, a dirigible floats in the sky. To his right, behind his shoulder, there is a large explosion or burst of fire and smoke. Despite the chaos, the man remains unfazed.

The caption at the bottom of the image, in the same bold, capitalised font, reads “REMAIN DAPPER. ADJUST YOUR CRAVAT.”

The meme’s meaning is to convey a sense of calm and unflappable confidence in the face of chaos, disaster, or overwhelming stress. The man’s meticulous attention to his cravat, while a literal explosion happens behind him, serves as a metaphor for maintaining one’s composure and priorities, no matter how dire the circumstances. The steampunk aesthetic adds a quirky, anachronistic layer to the humour.