Muffs: Gail Carriger's Collection & Muffs Throughout History

A brief moment of muffs today, Fashionable Reader.

I own a few muffs but I very rarely use them. Even though my hands are always cold and I like that they can just be shoved up the arm and worn without occupying a hand (as clutches are wont to do). Not quite sure why not, but there it is.

I even sewed one, once, with a secret pocket. It's one of the hardest things I've ever sewed.

Here's a bought one, big and fluffy and black and adorable, and yet rarely used...

Here's a photo shoot where it made an apprentice, this was a drive con so I could afford to pack something so fluffy.

photographed and copyright by j daniel sawyer

I also own a vintage fur one that is a wrist muff, very small but so cute.

Muffs of History!

damesalamode- Gallery of Fashion, evening dresses, February 1795

Le Follet Friday, January 1, 1864 v. 43, plate 97

via colourthysoul- Frederick Childe Hassam - A New Year’s Nocture, New York (1892)

1900 muff via livingnowisliving- Found on geheugenvannederland.nl.jpg

1905  muff The Victoria & Albert Museum

Fashion by Jacques Fath, 1952 theniftyfifties

vintagechampagnefever-tumblr Gloria Vanderbilt and an unnamed model
showcase furs for LIFE magazine (1952)

Model wearing an ensemble with a fur muff for Vogue, 1956 theniftyfifties tumblr

bcbg-rtw-fw 2014-runway blue

photographed and copyright by j daniel sawyer

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.

Watch That Costume Flick with Gail Carriger! The Pallisers

Made a long time ago some of the acting, set direction and such are a little awkward and slow but the costumes in The Pallisers stand the test of time. I kind of love them.

Like my other favorite Victorian series melodrama (The Forsythe Saga) the costumes in this mini series cover from early to late Victorian, but as ever my favorite is the late 1870s-1880s.

Here are some of my favorites from the series. 

Authentic from the time period...

1885 via The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Here's the wikipedia article on this series.

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.

The Discovery of the Teapot Purse Bag, Steampunk Goodness with Gail Carriger

Over on the Retro Rack Facebook Group a little while ago someone posted a photo of this booth selling teapot bags...

I might have gone  a little crazy, fashionable reader, looking for these bags. They were rumored to be "at conventions."

So my darling friend R was with me at Phoenix Comic Fest and she's walking around and sends me a photo of this booth. I text her back.

WHERE IS IT.

...

WHERE ARE THE TEAPOTS?

GOOD GOD WOMAN ANSWER MY TEXTS!!!!

Well she finally told me. And I went and this little charmer came home with me:

This is the name of the shop that was selling them at the con...

 

However, they don't have a website, they seem to be mostly on FB, and their shop on etsy was pretty empty.

I did find, I think, the primary maker here. It's also on Amazon here.

I should note all of this took place despite the fact that I ALREADY own a black version. (This one is quite a bit bigger.) And because it has a top handle I call this one my kettle purse.

Anyhoo, now I own two! And I'm really tempted by the silver... (Although what I want is a RED one.)

Of course I want a red one. Maybe a silver and a gold.

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 Black & White Check Pedal Pushers at Phoenix Comic Con 2018

I have a long and contentious relationship with capris (or in this case pedal pushers). It's well documented in this blog.

I've settled on them being OK, but for me only with high heels. Rather like pencil skirts and dresses.

So here I am on the final day of Phoenix Comic Fest in my favorite pair.

I paired them with a knitted octopus pinned to my head, some black & white accessories, and my new teapot bag!

Outfit Details

Octopus knitted facinator: Gift

Bow Earrings: Ruby Blackbird Handmade

 Velvet top: made it myself
Gold Pen Necklace: No longer available. Similar

Mesh gloves: $16

Teapot purse: $69+ etsy

Check pedal pushers: TJ Maxx, similar $30 or so

Via Spiga wingtip peeps: Long gone, similar from Chelsea Crew

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 Wears Silver Sparkle 1950s Cocktail Dress at Phoenix Comic Con 2018

This is one of my very favorite dresses, Gentle Reader, and a marker of why I love real vintage so much. The details and the design.

I love a sparkle cocktail dress. Just love it. I can't remember what vintage shop I bought this from, but is sure is a winner. It is a bit low in the front, even after reduction, so that's why I have the silver flower pin at the decolletage.

Outfit Details!

 

Silver Turban: $7

Vintage 1950s cocktail dress: Vintage shop

Silver flat sandals: Aerosoles, no longer available, similar

Stacked fake pearl necklace, similar $10
My new bright pink lippy.
(I don't like with the silver. I'm going back to the wine.)

Teapot purse: $69+ etsy
Platform sandals, by Sofft, no longer available.

Teapot purse was a grand discovery! There are other colors!

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 Carriegr Wears a Grey Ruffled 1930s Evening Dress at Phoenix 2018

Most of the evening dresses I brought with me to Phoenix did not require proper foundation garments (although they look better with corsetry, of course, everything does).  Turns out I likely would have been OK, as inside the convention center in Phoenix it wasn't really hot at all.

I wore this in the evening so the photos are kinda dark. I've wore this dress before but this is the first time with the silver belt and I REALLY like it so much better with the belt.

Somehow it looks more ruffly and vintage with the belt. (Yes they did wear belts like this at the time, and no this dress isn't vintage.)

Outfit Details!

Silver Turban: $7 (I love both the metallic and the waffle style from these people)

Silver shrug: Consignment shop, similar $16

Silver Belt: elastic, comes with a gold version for $12

Grey/gray not-vintage 1930s ruffle gown: Consignment shop

Silver flat sandals: Aerosoles, no longer available, similar

Jewelry (likely going to give this set away to the Chirrup soon, the earring are too long for me).

I'm wearing my new bright pink lippy with this dress and I don't like with the grey. I'm going back to the wine for this pallet.

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 Carriegr Wears a Bright Pink 1930s Maxi Dress at Phoenix Comic Con 2018

You've seen this dress before, Fashionable Reader, and you'll see it again as I am a fan of this dress. Here I am wearing it at its most summery.

I'm carrying one of my new parasols, this one is folding cream and gold, and a straw bag with flat comfy silver sandals. I paired it with mostly silver accessories.

Getting windy with it!

This dress has lost the elastic at the waist so it needs a wide belt, I borrowed this one from the 1950's evening dress I would wear a few days later. It isn't my favorite belt for this dress, I prefer the corset with it (but as I said in a prior post, I purposefully didn't bring any corsets because I thought it would be too hot in Phoenix).

Those gloves found at (I bought them) and the photo taken by Starshine Salon.

Outfit Details!

Silver Turban: $7 (I love both the metallic and the waffle style from this vender)

Silver Belt: vintage from a different dress, similar $30

Bright pink maxi dress, BCBG years ago.

Mesh gloves: $16
Cat Eye Sun Glasses: $10

Silver flat sandals: Aerosoles, no longer available, similar
PARASOL! (many colors) $36
My matched new bright pink lippy.

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.