Gail Carriger Steampunk Fancy Pink at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego

My last day at Gaslight Gathering I had one outfit planned to go with this corset which turned out not to work out. It was to go over a vintage dress that ripped asunder. Don't cry, I'll use it as an excuse to whittle down the wardrobe. Never a bad thing. So instead I wore my Fancy corset with this...

This is my other Alyscia Dark Garden corset. You can see it's different, there's princess cross over straps (I should have gotten a photo of the back). I gave this fabric to Autumn to use. That's how I have excess for the reticule, hat, and the shawl. Yes I made those three items. I can't remember where I got the fabric, but I know it was a pain to work with. It had to be fused. I love patterned fabric that has a geometric or Deco feel. I tend to go for that (where possible) over something like paisley or brocade. I had this corset made specifically with an eye toward evening fancy events, like the opera. It has a satin iridescent skirt to match, and a bustled overstrict for steampunk, but neither travel well. (At the time I was dating an opera singer.) I'll look into a wine pencil skirt for this in future, for ease of travel.

Here, I'm wearing it with the underskirt of the cream outfit from the night before. Which really DOESN'T travel, the crinoline got all squished and refused to obey me for the whole con. Won't to that again!

The choker was a gift from a fan, the longer necklace and earrings were purchased from the Dickens Fair years ago, and all the other accessories are custom except the gloves, which you can fine here for $15.

That hat kept falling off, I have to put a better clip on it.

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

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

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I gets a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.

Gail Carriger Steampunk Cream Brocade and Lace At Gaslight Gathering

For Saturday night's ball I wore my favorite cream outfit. This one doesn't transport easily so I rarely wear it away from home. I'm working on a travel modified version, you'll likely see me in that next year at Steampunk World's Fair.

This corset had to be made over because I used to use it for waist training and, frankly, I've given up on that malarkey. In other words, it was too small. Because Autumn knew I'd be using it for steampunk in the future she improvised a second busk which allowed her to widen it at the front and then she took a little out of the bust (rack reduction, you know?) and wha la! I'm sorry the picture is so bad. I promise to have better in future.

From the top down...

1. Vintage 1950s lace applique headband, similar $17
2. Matched pearl necklace and earring set, similar $30 
3. Shrug, cotton and lace from Newport News years ago, similar knitted multiple colors $17 or lace and pearl small jacket $19
4. Lace cami, similar $18
5. Double breasted corset, variation on Dark Garden's Victorian
6. Corset busk covers from Ruby Blackbird (discontinued)
7. Brocade skirt, thrifted wedding dress modified by me with a crochet coverlet as trim, similar $80

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

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

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I gets a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.

Gail Carriger Spoons Steampink Black Burgundy at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego

Saturday of Gaslight Gathering I wore my spoons corset. Because it was warm I didn't use the usually undergarments. And because I had travels I wore it with layered skirts instead of my usually floof.

The above from Jerry was the best picture to capture the complete outfit.

From top to bottom:

1. Straw doll hat from Michaels that I decorate with a hot glue gun.
2. Octopus applique necklace with matched earring, gift from a reader. 
3. Obligatory pen necklace.
4. Dark Garden Sweetheart Victorian corset that I took to with some serious button and spoons modding. 
5. Corset busk covers from Ruby Blackbird (discontinued)
6. Parasol holster, instructions on how to make from a thrifted pair of cargo pants here. 
7. Long fish tail maxi skirt, thrifted (similar $20)
8. Rock Republic layered mini-skirt from Nordstrom Rack (similar $30)
9. Nomad flats by Mia (discontinued) one pair in 6.5 or you can search etsy, $30

I ran into my very first Prudence cosplay from the lovely Debbie!

And, the Tunstells tracked me down! I do so adore seeing my characters come to life!

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

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

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I gets a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.

Gail Carriger's Game: Spot That Outfit in Imprudence Answer!

So a little while ago I blogged about Rue wearing the following outfit in Imprudence. I asked you, Fashionable Reader, to tell me which chapter in order to win a special goodie box (winner was randomly chosen from all correct answers). The winner, Michelle, has been notified and confirmed her address so her box is in the mail.

The answer?

Rue wears this outfit in Chapter 10: Egypt

1890s  Nordiska Museet

Cutwork Leather Boots, ca. 1890 via Chicago History Museum

Aren't you made for these boots? I wrote the whole scene around them.

1890s  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Apologies for those who did not win but there will be more contests in future.

I'm purging my costume collection which means I am giving away clothing and...

The next goodie box will be Madame Lefoux themed!

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.

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Gail Carriger Red & Black Steampunk Pinup at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego

On the Friday night of Gaslight Gathering I pulled out all the stops. This is the first custom corset I ever ordered from Dark Garden, referred to as the Class 5.

Right! So from the top down I am wearing...

1. A buckrum tiny top hat that I ordered wholesale with a group of friends back in the day, and modded. Similar for $14.
2. Pen nib earrings. ($12 on etsy)
3. Colorstay lipstick in Covergirl 507 Ever Red $8 
4. Custom choker & matched bracers (I'll talk about a bit more along with the corset)
5. Teacup, saucer, teapot necklace. (wide range available from $8-$30)
6. Velvet shrug, thrifted. (Similar $28, you can add ruffle if you like)
7. Corset, Dark Garden custom, similar to the Alexandra (more to come) 
8. Corset busk covers from Ruby Blackbird (discontinued)
9. Plain black thin vintage gloves (similar)
10. Trumpet skirt, red, $30
11. Button boots from Miz Mooz (similar $200)
12. Black retro purse (similar $80)

The Corset

My Class 5 is a variation on Dark Garden's Baroque, which they no longer offer, but the Alexandra is very similar. You can tell it's an older style for DG as it's more long and lean and less hourglass. Autumn has taken the store more into the deep curve, shall we say, over the years. It has custom red stamped leather applique which match the bracers and the choker.

I used to work for Oberon Design and custom leather company at the same time as I was working for Dark Garden, this corset is an ode to that part of my life. 20 years ago now! I also have a matched belt and cuff. Because I was one of their managers, both companies made a lot of exceptions for me at the time. These days Oberon doesn't really do much in the clothing arena. Dark Garden, however, is usually happy to do as much custom as you like, couture is their specialty.

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

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

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I gets a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.

Gail Carriger Black & Grey Steampunk at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego

On the first day of Gaslight Gathering last weekend (which, for me, was Friday) I wore my new grey outfit. This one is a work in progress.

The Corset is from Dark Garden, it's one of their Alyscia line. This is one of my favorite patterns that Dark Garden does, and you'll see me in a different colored Alyscia later on at the convention. The busk covers are from Ruby Blackbird.

By Alex WHite

The top is an old Max Studio black chiffon number (similar $22), the hat is here for $15 and highly recommended, because of the material it travels beautifully and it has a nice strong clip (rather than comb) which means it stays in my hair. (Most of my tiny top hats have combs from when my hair was long, and they really do not work well with sort hair. Gonna have to over-make them.)

The skirt is Rainy Night in London Victorian Gothic Ruffle Steampunk Vintage Style and runs about $60. It is super LONG and high wasted. Like if you are in the 6" arena this skirt could still fit you. It also comes in black, and in black or red brocade. If you are shorter than my 5'6" tho, it'll be too long and you'll have to remove the bottom ruffle.

It's a bit of a darker grey than I like for this corset so right now I've plans to mod it with lighter grey and black trim at the hem and on the ruffles, to make them stand out and to go better with the corset.

Wearing this outfit I ran into Alexia!

That's a darn near perfect replica of the second manga cover.

I'm generally moving my steampunk outfits into the hour-glass aesthetic (while I can still carry it off), mostly because pencil and fish-tail skirts are easier to pack than the full fluffy ones and require less ironing after a flight!

More outfits to come!

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

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

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I gets a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.

Sophronia Goes Shopping All Grown Up with Gail Carriger

Starting to think about the kind of things that Sophronia and her chums would wear once they grew up. This is partly because of the Delightfully Deadly series, and party for my own amusement.

Then this came across my radar:

Dress and matching fan, 1880s. via shewhoworshipscarlin tumblr

Sophronia would love it! Matched fan.


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.

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