Gail Carriger Discusses Felted Hat from the 1890s

I'm kinda obsessed with felted hats. Sadly, Fashionable Reader, I usually can't wear them (wool allergy). I love a vintage felted and folded cloche and I do tend to associate this kind of hat with the 1920s-1940s. Yes I am aware they hung around.

I have a couple pretty nifty ones from the 1950s.

I suppose I knew they must have felted hats in the Victorian era but I don't often encounter elaborate folded versions in my fashion wanderings. So you can imagine my delight when I saw this little beauty at a recent exhibit!

Image taken by Gail Carriger, do not share without attribution

Image taken by Gail Carriger, do not share without attribution

Isn't it just fabulous?

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

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get 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 New Acquisitions: Oxfords, Silk Blouse, Turbans, Gloves, & Chokers

It's been a while since I've done one of these blog posts, partly because I haven't been shopping much recently.

Now I don't *think* there is anything wrong with me.

So here is what I haev added to my wardrobe over the past few months or so...

Brown oxford wedge

Why I got it? I've been looking to add a closed toed heel to my brown shoes collection for a while. This one isn't exactly vintage but it is super comfortable and has great tread for the rains and is both a wedge and a platform (two loves of mine). I wish it had come in black as well, as my favorite black platform booties died recently. I mourn them!

cream silk and lace blouse

I added this beautiful cream silk and lace shirt to my steampunk costume collection. This one has the right cut and shape to go under one of my more difficult corsets, the Fancy.

The Fancy has double cross-back princess straps and is a bit of a challenge to find shirts for. The one you see pictured here is very warm and also on its last legs (or should I say arms?) so I have been trying to find a replacement. 

This new one is not only lovely for a foundation piece with several of my corsets, but will also look pretty on its own. I'm planning on taking to to RWA Nationals with me in July. 

red velvet turban

Been wearing a lot of turbans recently and I like these velvet ones a lot. I also got this one in green. The bow isn't quite as big as pictured, but it is lovely, $6-8 depending on color.

More recently I hit up an antique store that was going out of business and picked up a few cuties that I really didn't need but couldn't resist...

green leather gloves

I just purged all my gloves. Yet I saw there hunter green leather ones and... had to have them. They are green. And leather. And have a button!

pear choker

 A pinkish tan pearl strand (faux, I think, but very good quality). These I will like wear doubled up with on of my favorite steampunk necklaces as it's choker length. 

jet choker

Jet choker. This one actually kind of goes with another jet set I already owned, the one I have is a longer tassel necklace that doesn't always work with my necklines so this will make a good substitute for dresses with higher necklines. And I love jet.

jet tassel set

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

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get 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 Black Cotton Day Dress with Brown Accessories 2018

Hello my dear Fashionable Reader,

Here I am at my recent RWA chapter presentation dressed in a black cotton day dress with brown accessories.

 

This 1950s dress came from a vintage shop and it was in pretty poor condition when I got it. Half the buttons were missing and as you can see there are NO BUTTONS over the dreaded boob button gap area. 

So I had to add invisible snaps to that zone, and replace all the buttons (I used some vintage shell ones I picked up years ago) and added some to the collar for cuteness. It was petty darn time consuming.

I paired it with a vintage brown felt draped style hat (probubly 1950s), a brown belt (that serves double duty for steampunk events) similar $14, and vintage brown leather short gloves (similar for $33). I'm wearing steampunk earrings (similar $14) and my pen necklace (similar $28).

I'm wearing these cute brown wedge booties on my tootsies. Now they aren't exactly vintage looking but they are comfy and they have full tread (it was raining that day) so they don't slip at all. 

The brand is Kork-Ease and I recommend them highly. They are called the Gwenda and also come in grey. I'm thinking of buying them in grey (if I can find them in my size), because they are so comfy. 

I love that particular sleeve length and skirt length, and the box pleating is great. This is, in the end, an awesome dress. It's also cotton, so it's quite cool. I am wearing it with a crinoline under it, but I'm not sure it needs it.

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

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle

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