Dress the Cover ~ Poison or Protect

Poison or Protect: A Delightfully Deadly Novella, my first major self-published story set in the world of the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School books, it out now. The cover, after much consideration, is a cool purple color with hints of blue.

We went with this color because the main character, the Assassin Preshea, is kind of a cool customer. But still very feminine and purple just seemed to work really well for her.

Here, inspired by that cover, are some fun purple dresses that I could imagine Preshea choosing to wear throughout the ages. She is a very fashionable young lady but her preference is for things on the deadly side of elegant.

In the Finishing School books...

1820s  1stdibs.com

During Poison or Protect...

Day Dress  1860s  Augusta Auctions

During the time of the Parasol Protectorate books...

Day dress ca. 1870  From the Kent State University Museum via fripperiesandfobs tumblr

1879  The Victoria & Albert Museum

1883  Musée Galliera de la Mode de la Ville de Paris

During and after the time of the Custard Protocol books...

1890 Necklace  late 19th century  Christie’s

Half-Mourning Ensemble  1897-1899  The FIDM Museum

late 19th century- early 20th century  The Philadelphia Museum of Art

1900 edwardian-time-machine tumblr

Tea Gown  Jean-Philippe Worth, 1905  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

1910-1913  Nasjonalmuseet for Kunst, Arketektur, og Design

I imagine Preshea would be one of those hugely annoying women who remains perfectly skinny and utterly fashionable well into her dotage. 

And some pieces Gail covets...

1920  Brooch  Christie’s

1930s  Rococo Vintage

1950s  Timeless Vixen Vintage

1958 Shoes  Fragiacomo, 1958  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

1960s  Mill Street Vintage

And purple on the runways of today...

2014 Costello

2014 Oscar de la Renta tweed dress net-a-porter.com

2014 Reem Acra long sleeve embroidered illusion gown at shopbop.com

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can also visit the following shopping lists: Travel Dork, My Steampunk, My Wardrobe.

quotes Gail likes

Goodreads Quotes

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