Retro Rack: July 2017

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Gail Carriger in Retro 1930s Hot Pink Dress and Gold

My dear Fashionable Reader, for the first day of San Diego Comic Con I wore a hot pink 1930s style dress with a hand painted Dark Garden Corselette.

The dress I picked up from Max Azaria outlet mall store, years ago. I paired it with a Corselette (this is a curved variation in poplin designed to be a foundation garment) from Dark Garden. Since I now have a custom corset for my foundation garment, I decided to attack this one with metallic puffy paint, because I'm kinda like that.

I specifically went for a lightly 1930s design. Not sure I quite achieved that, but I think it looks rather nice. I might still futz with it a bit and I may put a design on the back too. We shall see. Knowing my limited free time these days, I'll likely just leave as is. I paired it with corset busk cover buttons from Ruby Blackbird.

What else am I wearing?

Pink hair flower (similar $7) with added octopus broach $12.
Some fantastic cat eye glasses I found on Amazon for $11.
Vintage 1930s Deco costume earrings (similar Egyptian style $14)
Long gold gloves (similar $6)
Gold folding flats (similar $15)

Hope you liked it! Next up, what I wore on the second day of Comic Con!

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

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

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Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Then & Now ~ Gold Evening Dress

Then: Something For Alexia

1878-1879 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Now

2014 Anna Sui

Matched Merch

Finishing School Moto Shirt, Latin, To The Bitter End

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.

quotes Gail likes

Goodreads Quotes

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Gail Carriger in Vintage 1960s Pink Maxi Dress for Sumage Solution Book Launch

The Sumage Solution officially releases today!

For my book launch at Borderlands in San Francisco last weekend, Fashionable Reader, I chose one of my more striking and least worn statement dresses.

I can't for the life of me remember where I bought this maxi dress but my guess is it's late 1960s and possibly was intended as a bridesmaids dress. I love the silly little back pleated empire train, it feels very Grace Kelly. And the bows!

When I bought it, the bow and the back area needed some repairs but it's now good as new. Because the bottom skirt part is linen it doesn't travel well but it is pretty darn cool for a vintage dress. (Cool as in "not hot and sweaty".) At first I thought the flowers were hand painted but now I think it's a printed design. The bodice and the train are both chiffon.

See how it has those gores at the waist right under the tiny bows which happen to also line up with the princess seams on the bodice? That's the kind of detail you rarely get outside of vintage these days.

I paired it with a...

matched pink flower hair clip (similar $7)
to which I attached an octopus broach ($12)
cotton net gloves ($16) which I love on a hot day
vintage faux diamond stud earrings with bow & drop pearl dangle (similar $10)

I have on cute (but practical) flats from Aerosoles. I pretty much live in Aerosoles flats all summer. I don't like flip-flops, so flat leather sling-back slides are my thing. One of the reasons I love a maxi dress, I can safely pair it with flats.

So there it is, hope you like the outfit.

Your,

Miss Gail

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

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

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Then & Now ~ Gold Evening Gown with a V-Neck

Then: For Monique

Ball Gown Emile Pingat, 1860 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Now

2014 Altuzarra

Matched Merch

Ellipses Shirt

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.

quotes Gail likes

Goodreads Quotes

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Gail Carriger Things I'm Picking Up for Prime Day

So I keep a long list of items that interest me, Fashionable Reader, but that I'm not sure if they are worth it or not. Prime day, for me, is an excuse to try out some stuff at a lower price point.

So here is what I am picking up...

Angerella Vintage Retro Pin Up Halter One Piece Swimsuit Monokinis for $9.99 comes in four different patterns, sizes are kind of restricted. I'm trying the L & XL (6 & 8) respectively. (I know, right?)

Pretty Polly Womens Nylon Backseam Tights for $14. Like all other denizens of the nude with black back seam (who can't wear Leg Avenue), I used to buy American Apparel. They discontinued their version years ago. I've been hunting for a replacement since. We shall see how these fit.

Things on sale that I have, love, and recommend...

Life's perfect silk head scarf for $13 There is something about this scarf, the colors just seem to always go with everything in my wardrobe and its thick enough to be full cover, but still light-weight, and it's the right size to tie in pretty ways without too much excess.