Gail Carriger in Steampunk Pinup Raspberry Pencil and Corset at Teslacon

I've been wearing more and more what I call steampunk pinup lately. It's easier to travel without the copious skirts.

I'm wearing...

• Silver velvet turban ($10)
• Flashy broach pinned to turban (similar $19)
• Parasol necklace (gift from a fan)
• Octopus necklace (similar $25)
• Pen necklace (similar $15)
• Pen nib earrings (similar $15)
• Silk brocade undershirt, thrift store score
• Custom Dark Garden bespoke corset, my own fabric, Alyscia with cross back double princess straps
• Corset button covers from RubyBlackbird, no longer available (and I keep losing mine)
• Stretch waist ruffle bottom trumpet skirt ($17 many colors)
• Cream pumps from Miz Mooz no longer available, but check out their current line
• Cream leather gloves (similar $14)
• Cream teapot purse 

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.

In Fashion Memoriam: 1960s Black & White Check Suit by Gail Carriger

Here is another little ode to lost closet items, Fashionable Reader.

I shall miss this one particularly because of its extreme versatility. I took it to Europe many years ago and managed to get many outfits out of a two piece sheath and jacket.

You can see one of its main issues is that it wrinkles rather badly. Now, I did iron this before I put it on, but the act of sitting on several panels in a row caused wrinkling in the skirt.

Still it was great fun to mix and match...

Here I am mixing it up with various different accessories, separating jacket from sheath and so forth. In the end, however, I've passed it on to a new home.

In Conclusion 

What? 
Check sheath dress with matched crop jacket, skirt above the knee, flattering cut, bit of stretch.
Why? 
Too tight at hips and waist, too short for my taste.

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.

In Fashion Memoriam: 1960s Pink Floral Maxi Dress by Gail Carriger

I enjoy writing little odes to my long lost closet items, Fashionable Reader.

It is a way of remembering them, and chronicling my relationship with them. But it also reminds me why I got rid of them. Since occasionally I will get into a mode where I think back on on outfit with too much affection, and wonder why was so silly as to get rid of it.

Since I did a major closet purge recently, I'll be blogging a few of these outfits and dresses forthwith.

Today I'm looking with affection on this outrageous

1960s Floral Pink Maxi Dress

I believe this dress started life as a bridesmaid dress. I can't imagine any other reason for this specific design with the train. It's just not quite right to be a prom dress or something along those lines.

I do love this particular style of evening gown from the 1960s, and I managed to find a few images of similar dresses.

Pink: Hubert de Givenchy, 1965  The Metropolitan Museum of Art; B&W: 1960s via shewhoworshipscarlin tumblr

Here is Audrey Hepburn wearing one of the style of dress.

1962 Portrait of Audrey Hepburn by Luc Fournol, 1962  (Source- theredlist.com)

This particular style with the body is a completely different color from the skirt part of the dress is very indicative of the early to mid-1960s. I find it particularly flattering, because the darker top and busy or lighter colored skirt is flattering on those of us who are top-heavy.

Also the plates at the waist line and the slightly poof out of the skirt, disguises all manner of sins in terms of the girl tum.

So it is with great sadness that I been this pretty goodbye, but we have had fun times together.

What? 
Maxi dress with chiffon top with tiny pink bows and train, linen skirt with hand painted flowers. Probably bridesmaid.
Why? 
Too tight in torso, requires assistance to get into, linen doesn't travel.

Something for Felicity from the Parasol Protectorate Series?

1886-1887 Evening Dress  Charles Fredrick Worth, The Philadelphia Museum of Art

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.

In Fashion Memoriam: 1980s Red & White Suit by Gail Carriger

In here is another little ode to a long lost closet items Fashionable Reader.

I will admit, when I bought this suit I imagined I would wear it more because it has versatility in it's favor.

It just really looks like my kind of thing. The color is very much the perfect ride for me, and I like the clean white pattern. I think of it as birds, or maybe bird feet, but I think its leaves of some kind.

It is wonderful and very light weight. I did take it to Europe with me, and I didn't wear it. But as you can see the top never really did fit properly. After my breast reduction, I thought it would fit better. But it doesn't.

Trying it on again only made me realize how much I love the color and hate the fit. I thought perhaps that I might keep the skirt part, but even it doesn't really fit my hips well anymore since it is raw silk it has almost no stretch to it so both of them are going the way of the dodo.

What? 
Two piece cherry red suit with white birds, peplum top with button front, pleated fitted skirt, silk.
Why?
Too tight at waist, shirt is really for someone with a short waist, and smaller boobs. Doesn't pack well.

Something similar for Prudence in the Custard Protocol Books...

1896 Ensemble  The FIDM Museum

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.