Obtain a gown. Let us assume for the moment that you live in a cold clime, and will need to be modestly-clad.
Add an Asian influence.
You could also accessorize with a shawl, fan, etc.
You might be martially inclined, or even inclined to march:
Say what you will about corsets (such as, you can’t swing a dead cat
on Halloween, or on Etsy, without hitting one), it’s tough to get a real
steampunk look going without at least one corset, or more if
circumstances require. But that doesn’t mean you automatically have to
gravitate to the slutty ones that are really just boob-accentuators.
Think of your corset as a protective apron. Gird your loins against
gamma rays and whatnot that you may encounter on your adventure. The
steampunkiest-looking corsets, ironically, are those originally intended
to be underwear, but in reality look like something that got put
through a time machine and then landed in outerspace. Be that as it
may, your classic girdle makes an industrial-strength corset, worn on
the outside of the clothing, of course.
There’s no need to limit oneself to only one corset, and the base
layer of the traditional girdle will need to be jazzed up with something
more modern, or reinforced with something flame-retardant. Think
layering. Your outfit will thank you. Your hourglass figure will thank
you. Please be careful how much you eat for lunch, and don’t forget
your smelling salts.
And now top that whole sandwich off with a belt. The belt is
important, and here’s why. The belt might be where you store your magic
amulet. Or, it serves a productive purpose and allows you to hang
gear, ammunition, or weapons off of it within easy reach. Don’t
underestimate the importance of the belt.
If you have a few extra leather belts laying around, we recommend
randomly strapping them to your person in various places (arms, thighs,
collar bones, etc.), hinting at purposes only you understand.
Some form of headgear is now in order. You could go with the good old fashioned top hat or fascinator:
Or the military / marching band / majorette look:
Or indulge your whimsy and go for the fantastical:
If you’re of the more practical persuasion, you might want wear a
helmet instead. There’s aviator, fencing, motorcycle, Viking, pith,
football, scuba, riding, and air raid, to name a few.
Now that we’ve got the basic outfit, accessorize accessorize
accessorize. Let’s start with some protective eyewear. You have a huge
range to choose from. Vintage motorcycle goggles are perfect, as are
anything else that looks perfectly ridiculous and goes over your eyes.
Don’t be afraid to choose something absurd. Absurd goggles are arguably
the most important element of a good steampunk get-up.
A lady always wears gloves. And/or gauntlets.
And carries a reticule. Industrial strength, in case of accidents, or if it’s from the future.
Hands-free options can be particularly useful.
What about footgear, you ask? Depending on where you’re treading,
you could go pretty or practical. Again, now is a good time to bring in
that Asian influence. Steel-toe ass-kickers or Japanese geta, your
choice, but consider the elements, comfort, and your own particular
fetish.
And now a word about safety. We’ve already girded our loins, so now
you might want to concentrate on covering some other vulnerable areas
with body armour. Supplement as needed. You don’t want to go all
medieval, but depending on your adventure, you could be getting into
some dangerous territory, and worse case scenario you can always refer
to it as the Cyberman look. Not sure how butch you want to go, but the
19th-century-prostitute look is just lame and isn’t really steampunk per
se, it’s just a prostitute from another era. Real steampunk girls
range from can-take-care-of-herself to total-badass. But even the
badest-ass needs to protect her tender bits. So let’s be careful out
there.
A gas mask is a creepy yet effective accessory.
Extremely important. Do not venture forth un-armed. Make sure your
packin’ heat. Your weapons choices are as varied as are aliens to shoot
them with. Do not, I repeat, do not underestimate the power of a
cookie dough dispenser.
And finally, no steampunk rig is complete without a parasol. No one’s sure why. But it’s a requirement.
Last step, strap one of these to your back …
… and attach it to your person with one of these, and you’re good to go!
Don’t forget the requisite randomly-placed gauges, gears, clocks,
tubes, guns, buckles, valves, and dials, that should protrude from your
outfit in convenient spots, preferably connecting to different spots
somewhere on down the line.