[header] How to dress steampunk [title] Imagine a character you want to be. [step] The first step in planning out a successful steampunk character is thinking up a vibrant, interesting character you want to dress as. Because steampunk can be so broad, you can choose to settle for an archetype. 
Do you want to be a gentleman steampunk? What about a mad inventor, or an aviator? Thinking up an interesting role for your character to play in this imagined world will make it easier to come up with interesting costume ideas. [substeps] Learn about the origins of steampunk.