Do you want to rev up your wardrobe? If you do, you might interested in learning how to dress in steampunk style. It’s not as difficult as you might first imagine. What you should remember is that steampunk style is as much about “attitude” as it is about the garbs on your back. That means as long you feel steampunk, you can rest assured – you are steampunk.

There’s no set guide to steampunk fashion:

if anyone tells you there is you, should immediately ignore them. Why? Because steampunk is as much about individuality as Dilbert is about extreme office politics. There is no “one set of rules” you must to follow, which you’ll find to be a positive thing as most lovers of steampunk aren’t usually all that fond of rules anyway.

If the open array of options haven’t scared you off yet, its time to learn the basics of how to dress steampunk. Even though there is not a set list of standards to follow, you’ll want to adhere to some basic guidelines to get started. Here’s a quick checklist of things to remember when building out your steampunk wardrobe.

Solids Are Your Friends
If there is one thing steampunk fashionistas all have in common,

it’s their love of solids. That means whether you are wearing trousers, shirts, cardigans or skirts, if you want to dress steampunk you are going to have to stick with solid colors. Flee from flowers or abstract designs, although there is room for a very small amount of black Victorian lace or modest pinstripes. But when in doubt, go without.

Muted Colors Work Best
A quick Cliff Notes version of steampunk colors include black, brown, gray, green, blue and tan. The Victorians have been known to love their colors as well, so there really is no shame if you want to add red, yellow or purple to your wardrobe colors. However, you just want to make sure that they’re not too brash and you will be fine.

Goggles – Are They a Necessity?
No, not necessarily. There is a difference between fashionable and fashion-conscious. The fashion-conscious will drape their necks with a pair of gaudy goggles and take every opportunity possible to let everyone know they are wearing them. This can but fun and may fit in with certain situations or audiences, but can become painfully awkward when done at the wrong time or place.

One who is fashionable might instead find a pair of goggles and toss them in their backpack for future use. If they happen to be rock-climbing, drilling for oil or powering an airship that day, they will probably put the goggles on. If their day is looking more ordinary, they will probably leave their goggles at home.

Corsets, Trousers, and Other Things
If you buy your trousers in solid darks and your button down shirts in airy whites, you only need to add a couple more items to thoroughly steampunk yourself. Girls could expand their steampunk wardrobe immediately by purchasing a corset or two. The best place to buy corsets is online. You can try the big name retailers, but your best bargains, style selections, and size available will be found via the smaller specialty shops spread out across the Internet.

If you live in an area or city that doesn’t “get” steampunk:

you might be tempted to walk around with a gear in your hand so you can explain it to people. While the temptation is there, don’t do this. You will look like you’re trying to “sell” yourself and your beliefs, and true steampunks are more concerned with expression than appeasing the social majority. Instead, find a way to add gears to your accessories. That way, even if your style choices are not recognized right off the bat, adorning yourself fashionably with gears of some sort will open up the opportunities for conversation to those who are open minded enough to have a natural curiosity to ask questions.

And don’t forget the cardinal guideline in learning how to dress steampunk: It’s not about the clothes, it’s about self expression and individualism. Go get creative and have fun with steampunk!