Gail Carriger Wears a Vintage Black Coat Dress with Red Details for WorldCon 2018 in San Jose

Hello Fashionable Reader,

This is an old favorite vintage dress that needs some repairs, but I love it so. It also doesn't travel well and it's warm but I can't let it go so I still bring it out on occasion.

Outfit Breakdown

• Hair: red velvet turban - $6
• Necklace & earring set: red bead (vintage) - similar $13
• Pen necklace: gold - similar $28
• Gloves: red leather vintage - similar $40
• Dress: vintage black coat dress with red details
• Belt: red stretch bow belt -  $7
• Shoes: red & black Via Spiga stiletto sandals - similar $35
• Bag: black teapot or teakettle purse - $64 (10% off at time of this post)

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 a Retro Turquoise & Black Mesh eShakti Cocktail Dress for WorldCon 2018 in San Jose

Me to someone in an adorable dress, “OMG so cute.” 

Them, “It has pockets!” 

Me, “EShakti?” 

Them, “Of course.”

With the lovely Debbie

Outfit Breakdown

• Hair: black facinator - $14
• Gloves: black leather vintage - similar $43 
• Shoes: Aerosoles flat sandals - $60
• Belt: black stretch bow belt -  $7
• Dress: eShakti (yes it has pockets), $63 (only now available in black or white) I added sleeves, changed neckline, and customized the measurements. Learn how to shop from them in this blog post. 

I'm pictured here with the lovely Debbie, to whom I am very grateful for insisting on a photo. 

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 a Retro Red Blouse with Black & White Check Pedal Pushers for WorldCon 2018 in San Jose

Hello fashionable reader, this was my first outfit for WorldCon 2018 in San Jose...

Since I had to load up the car, drive a few hours, and then unload it, I chose a pretty casual outfit for the first day.

Outfit Breakdown

• Hair: checked scarf (vintage) - similar $16
• Necklace: black jet (vintage) - similar $22
• Pen necklace: gold - similar $28
• Gloves: black leather vintage - similar $43
• Top: red wrap blouse with puff sleeves - $24 (comes in other colors and patterns)
•  runs small, this is a medium (may shrink in wash, so size up)
• Trousers: check pedal pushers - similar $14
• Shoes: red & black pumps - $200 designed by me at Shoes of Prey (read about my caution in shopping with them in this blog posts)
• Bag: black teapot or teakettle purse - $64 (10% off at the time of this post)

I broke a strap on one of those shoes, gasp! Gotta take it in to be fixed.

It was a good first say outfit if a little warm. 

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 1950s Kelly Green Day Dress with Silly Octopus Hat for RWA Nationals 2018 in Denver

This is one of my longest running vintage dresses, I have had it for YEARS now, Fashionable Reader. It's dupione so it doesn't travel well. Can you say IRON the bejesus?

Anyhoo, so I don't travel with it often, but look, it's the only one that seriously matched my new cover of Competence, so how could I resist?

So as you can see I popped the silliest knitted cute octopus on my head, some net gloves on my hands, and some super cute peep toes on my footsies and matched!

Outfit breakdown!

• Green 1950's day dress, vintage - similar $35 (no sleeves)
• Crochet octopus as a hat (just pinned on) - similar
• Cream belt - similar $13
• Net gloves $16 
•  Via Spiga snakeskin peeps, old - similar $43

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 1930s Style Breezy Blue Maxi Dress for RWA Nationals i2018 in Denver

I was recently in Denver at RWA. Oof, I forgot how hot Denver could get so I was delighted I'd packed this new acquisition of mine...

I've gotten really into maxi dresses these days.

Honestly? Because I don't have to shave my legs. But also they have this tall drink of water feeling, and I don't have to wear high heels with them. Which means I'm not really that tall, but I feel like I look that way in a maxi dress. Make sense?

Anyway this one came from Nordstrom Rack, and I'm not usually one for the Shoulder peek, but it had a 1930's thing going for it, so I couldn't resist.

Here's something similar that has that breezy see-through thing...

Sorry the original dress is no longer available.

So what else am I wearing?

Outfit Breakdown! 

Cream embellished turban - $15
White gloves - similar $10
Octopus earrings - similar $22
Teapot bag - Etsy $69

Check out this fantastic blog post on What to Wear to a 1930s Wedding

 

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 a 1950s Style eShakti Gold Cocktail Dress for Competence Book Launch in Denver

I neglected to get a good photo of this one, but frankly given how fast everything was on this particular day, I'm glad I got any photos at all. It was all my author friend Lea Kirk, she rocks. She also writes some sexy sci-fi, if that's your thing check her out.

Anyway where was I?

Oh yeah, gold dress.

Here it is...

Me with awesome reader fans!

I paired the dress with some turquoise jewelry (to better match the cover), a vintage shell hat, gold sandals, and a big old octopus ring.

The dress in it's original form:

As you can see I lengthened the hem, added short sleeves, and changed the neckline, making it way more retro looking, because, you know, that's my JAM.

Here I am hamming it up as we marched down the street to Tattered Cover. Yes I'm wearing flats to walk a mile, I'm not a complete idiot. Of course when I got there I changed into gold sandals.

Outfit Breakdown! 

• Gold cocktail dress - eShakti (no longer available, but check the sales after New Years for this kind of awesome bling-dress)
• Shell hat, vintage, nothing similar, sorry! 
• Turquoise choker & matched earrings - similar $20
• Cream belt - similar $13
• Gold platform sandals - similar $32
• Teapot bag - Etsy $69
• Cat eye sunnies $11

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.

Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail Carriger

I have this lovely Harper's Bazaar from 1891, given to me by a lovely reader. I finally got around to scanning some of the images. Here are a few for you, the kind of things Rue & Prim might wear in the Custard Protocol 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.