Reddit mentions of Mil-Tec French Army Tropical Pith Helmet in British Khaki

you need a pith helmet https://www.amazon.com/French-Tropical-Helmet-British-Khaki/dp/B005MYB3UK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475091716&sr=8-1&keywords=pith+helmet

Ah, now with this I got some more ideas :D

Hope you don't mind if I sprinkle in a liiitle bit of cliche things!

For an explorer type character I would use a tropical hat as headgear like this:

https://www.amazon.de/Mil-Tec-16687000-franz-Tropenhelm-khaki/dp/B005MYB3UK/ref=sr_1_2?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=tropenhelm&qid=1566891114&s=gateway&sr=8-2

or this:

https://www.amazon.de/Mil-Tec-16686000-Brit-Tropenhelm-Khaki/dp/B005MYB35K/ref=sr_1_3?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&keywords=tropenhelm&qid=1566891114&s=gateway&sr=8-3

perhaps add a light ontop or in front of the helmet (If you don't mind damaging/remodelling the helmet)

for the torso you could perhaps use something similar to this:

https://www.amazon.com/First-Class-Short-Sleeve-Uniform-Shirt/dp/B00E1SEJA4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=uniform+shirt+tan&qid=1566891269&s=gateway&sr=8-1

If you want to go with a more militaristic/tropical explorer kind of vibe.

I would also recommend using leatherpouches for belts and a leatherpouch for a canteen since it makes you look like you're always om a trip.

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So now for the most fun and steampunky bits of this costume :D

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If you're an explorer you may want to choose how and what exactly you explore from the world. Maybe your character is a timetraveler (classic in Steampunk but still nice to see different takes on it) and always carries a backpack like device on his back that helps him to shift between timezones. With machines like this you can go crazy with your imagination :D perhaps add a clock to it, use some gears in logical places like inside the machine or somewhere where the mehcanism is exposed. Add some LED lights to the inside so it glows out of the machine etc. etc. I think you got the idea.

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I have to admit, my idea here is also somewhat of a cliche but I dig the tropical explorer kind of look. But in the end it's up to you what you want to make. Hope this helped! Looking forward to your finished work \^\^