Black Pencil Skirt ~ Some Thoughts from Gail Carriger

I've owned so many black pencil skirts over the years, Fashionable Reader. I would almost think it more a staple of my wardrobe than any other item of clothing.

My current one is the black pin strip fish tale. I think I picked up from Ross or the like. My only concern with it is that the waistband isn't really high enough for vintage.

Genius are evil quote shirt can be found here.

But everything else about it is so perfect I haven't yet been able or inclined to replace it. (I am always on the hunt for the perfect black pencil skirt.) It packs well, has a bit of stretch to it, has the ribbon detail and fish tale to give it something more.

Ellipsis shirt can be found here.

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.

Then & Now: White Sheath Wedding Gown

Then

1930-1934 Wedding Ensemble  Madeleine Vionnet, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Now

2014 Tory Burch

Matched Merch

T-Shirt

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

Gail Carriger In White & Wine At Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017

Perhaps I'm being inspired by Wonder Woman, I don't know for certain but I wore this outfit the last day of the convention.

I call this my circus corset, because it feels like I ought to be ring mistress in it. It's from Dark Garden (like all my others) and was a customized fabric Christmas special based on their corselette style. I wear it all the time. It's probably my most used steampunk corset because it travels so well and is so very comfortable.

Outfit Details:

* I'm wearing the Circus over a little white chiffon dress I picked up at Ross when I was going through a summer is hot Greek phase (similar $19).
* Wine velvet caplet meets shrug with flutter sleeves bought on sale from a fancy shop in some resort town over a decade ago (similar $40)
* Octopus on burgundy lace necklace & earring set made fro me by a fan (similar in black $11)
* Crochet octopus hair bob I got in Alaska last month, find similar here.
* Soft brand gold sandals with big flower, much beloved, no longer available

Sorry I got these shoes years ago and haven't seen ones like it or even similar. Also I really want a hair thing that's like that gold leather flower.

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 In Cream Lace Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017

For some reason this is a really hard outfit to get a good photo of, Gentle Reader. Probably all that cream.

I've worn it several times in various different iterations (I have a cream lace skirt with a train for indoor only events, and a beautiful brocade over-skirt REALLY for indoor only) but this is my travel lace skirt version.

Outfit Breakdown:

* Leather flower hairband with additional pearl decoration added by me (similar $10)
* Lacey shrug from Newport News a million years ago (similar only with more steampunk, so cute $6-11)
* Double breasted corset from Dark Garden, highly customized based off their classic Victorian style but super modified. Autumn would make you one similar but take this picture to show her. I also had her custom make me matching wrist corsets. Back when I was working for her as a lacer I started to get some carpel tunnel, these helped and were cute.
* Crochet neckline under blouse is vintage, here's one sort-of similar for $20
* Pearl vintage looking jewelry set, similar $19
* Necklace watch brass $8
* Long stretch lace skirt found at Ross or similar years ago, similar $19

I like to wear cream at steampunk events as lighter colors are less well represented.

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 in Blush Pink at Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017

The second day of Steampunk Worlds Fair, Saturday, I wore this outfit...

So I have had this dress hanging around my closet for a while, Gentle Reader.

Here I am wearing it a few different ways in France four years ago. It hasn't been worn a great deal since then, to be fair. 

So because I thought it'd be hot, I busted it out the back of my closet to go with a foundation corset I have. 

Throwing a bit of shade there, in more ways than one. I swear I don't have indigestion or anything. Anyway, I'm not sure about it paired with the corset as it's not great in the boob arena, even with a killer bra. Always a concern with underbust corsets.

Outfit Rundown:
Disregarding the dress, purchased years ago at Nordstrom Rack, I'm wearing...
* Dark Garden Cupid corset which I mainly use and an undergarment.
* Cream glove, long, vintage cotton.
* Suspender nylon thigh highs for $15.
* Cream oxford wingtips (no longer available except in small sizes)

 For accessories I have a blush flower hairband (similar $7), lace necklace (custom made for me by a fan, similar for $9), necklace watch ($5), pen necklace (silver $20), and bottle earrings (similar $8) you can fill them with whatever you like.

Anyway, there it is, still not sure on keeping this dress. I suppose I'll see if I wear it again.

Hugs, my lovelies!

Your Miss Gail

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 Plays Ballet At Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017

So I kind of channeled the ballet for my first outfit of Steampunk Worlds Fair.

The thing is when I was in New Jersey for this event a few years ago it was scorchingly hot so I pretty much pack steampunk light, or as light as I could go.

Of course it turned out to be rainy, windy, and overcast the entire time. Hence the reason I subbed in the high neck blouse rather than my original idea.

Ah, May.

Outfit breakdown: 
* That's a button front pussycat bow blouse worn with bow tied as a cravat (similar $24) and a vintage parasol pearl pin (gift from a fan).
* Dark Garden Alyscia corset in a custom fabric with cross back princess straps.
* Cream gloves
* Fluffy blush high-low chiffon ruffle skirt I picked up from Ross or something a few years ago, similar for $25 or this really cool fancy fluffy one for $40
* I'm in love with these suspender nylons for when I'm in corset, basically a lazy lady's thigh highs for $15. I've multiple pairs now. Now if they would only make a black back-seam version.
* Cream oxford wingtips (no longer available except in small sizes). You can google cream oxfords and see what you get but frankly I don't recommend this color shoe. And make certain, if you do invest to get one with PALE SOLES. Never buy a light colored shoe with a dark colored sole. Trust your Gail on this matter.
* Crochet teacake was a gift from a fan up in Portland years ago, I simply pin it to my head with a bunch of bobby pins.

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.

Cover Cosplay for Gail Carriger Books, Literally, At the Alaska Steamposium

So at the Alaska Steamposium the con com were given a challenge: Dress like a Gail Carriger cover. Beatrix took it literally.

The outfit was covered in details from my books including such things as...

Dandelion Fluff on a Spoon.

Flowers, bows ribbons and so forth all made from pages and paper.

There was even a tiny book written by, as Beatrix put it, any one of the Lefouxs.

Really remarkable work.

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 Ruffles & Striped Swiss Waist Steampunk at the Alaska Steamposium 2017

For the second day of the Alaska Symposium I wore my favorite waist cincher, or Swiss waist, over a black evening dress.

That's a little gold meets brown buckram facinator that travels well so I wear it a lot, discontinued. If I had to buy a replacement I'd go for this one, $9.

The dress is 1970s (1930s revival) and I ADORE it. It's one of my most flattering pieces. I brought so I could wear it as a dress for dinner one night and under this corset on another night. It has a pussycat bow at the neck.

I'm wearing it over a Max Studio silk cross over full sleeved blouse (similar $16).

The waist cincer is from Dark Garden. (Similar costume version for $30.)

Gold steampunk earrings (similar for $25) & vintage necklace (heirloom) and the obligatory pen necklace $20.

That's a little gold shrug I got on a whim from Ross for like $15. Similar $17-23. 

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.