What Makes Something Steampunk?
Steampunk combines Victorian-era aesthetics (1837–1901 in Britain, roughly) with speculative technology — the idea of what the industrial era might have produced if steam power had developed differently. Visually, this translates to: natural materials and neutral/warm tones (wool, leather, brass, copper, dark greens and browns); functional-looking mechanical elements (gears, gauges, tubing); Victorian silhouettes (corsets, frock coats, high collars, structured shoulders) with technological additions.
The Foundation Garments
A steampunk look typically starts with a Victorian silhouette as its base: a corset (or structured bodice), a high-waist skirt or trousers, and either a blouse or waistcoat. On top of this, the steampunk additions: a frock coat, a top hat with mechanical modifications, leather accessories, and goggles. The key distinction from generic Victorian: the mechanical elements need to look like they do something, not like they were glued on for decoration.
The Chimera Costumes Example
See the Steampunk Wonder Woman build for a detailed example of how Heidi approaches steampunk design — character identity maintained through the translation, every element purposefully designed rather than arbitrarily decorated.