Retro Rack

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.

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.

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.

Its happened again, but this time with feeling. Time for a closet purge.


My darling Fashionable Reader, can you believe it's been 10 years?

Well not in this exact blog but pretty much I've been talking about retro fashion and my love of it here on the interwebs for a decade.

And something has happened. I've changed shape.



I not going to shilly-shally around the point, I'm not precisely happy about this. However, I cannot expect to stay the same size that I was at university. I've become settled and I'm content with my life. But the life of being an author and is largely a stationary existence. I'm not tromping around the Andean Highlands anymore.

And I do love the occasional cream puff.

Perhaps more than occasional.

All these things have added up to a widening in certain areas. Not to mention the fact that I got a breast reduction several years ago. My shape, such as it is, has changed.



I am not going to substantially alter my lifestyle anytime soon. And even if I were, I am a believer in:

 never keeping clothing in one's wardrobe that doesn't fit. 

Quite apart from everything else, losing weight is an excuse to go shopping. And sometimes that makes it a motivation. Keeping too small clothing, on the other hand, is just depressing.

So accepting all these truths as self evident, I went through my closet recently and took a good long look at those dresses that really don't fit me anymore. Without too much surprise most of them are pencil dresses with no stretch to them.


Which leads me onto the next point:

I am also at a stage in my life where I want to change my style slightly. 

So I am shifting away from bodycon, tight, bombshell outfits towards things that are a little bit more relaxed and comfortable and that travel well.



I've been doing fewer events over the last couple of years, in an effort to protect my sanity and improve my production, but when I do travel it does tend to be greater distances which means the clothing that I have for events needs to pack well, not wrinkle, and pack small.

With all these restrictions in mind, here are a few of the items that I'm going to be getting rid of...

Black Velvet Jacket 1980s (1930s revival) CLAIMED

You have never seen me in this jacket because I've never worn it.

What? 
Beautiful black silk velvet swing jacket, with feather cuffs, 2 large velvet buttons at the top only.
Why?
It still fits. But it's still isn't right over the boobs. I thought if they were smaller it would look better, but it just isn't suitable for someone the my rack, the next owner needs to be less endowed and probubly taller too.

Has gone to a new home.

Grey Check Pencil Skirt (modern) CLAIMED

What?
Windowpane plaid, grey with teal stripe, fish tale kick pleats. BCBG size 4. (I originally owned 3 of this skirt in different patterns, this is the last one.) Modern materials, lines, has stretch.
Why?
Too tight in waist and hips, doesn't photo well, just never seem to wear it.

Claimed to a new home by my lovely Z.

Red & White Suit 1980s

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.

Red Dotty Dress 1950s

1958 Red Pencild Button Front Dress

What?
Fitted and pleated red pencil dress with tan spots, silk, wonderful vintage seaming in neck and sleeves, matched belt. Satin wash poplin, no stretch.
Why? 

Too tight at hips, doesn't pack well.

Black & White Check Suit 1960s CLAIMED

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.

Claimed to a new home by my lovely Z. 

The Pink Floral Maxi 1960s

What? 
Maxi dress with chiffon top with tiny pink bows and train, linen skirt with hand painted flowers. Probably bridesmaid. No stretch.
Why? 

Too tight in torso, requires assistance to get into, linen doesn't travel.

The Marigold Cocktail 1950s

What? 
Dupioni cocktail dress in a marigold color, low neckline, bra strap keeper, very flattering cut and seaming. No stretch.
Why? 

Too tight in shoulders and hips and sleeves, bit too long, needs someone taller than me with less broad shoulders.

I'm checking with local friends to see if they want 'em. If not then I'll probably consign them.

If you're super interested in buying any of them, you can ping me via my website calling card and Kelly and I will see what we can do for you. The usual warning about these being vintage.

I am sorry but it's too complicated to ship clothing overseas, given manifold troubles with customs and the high expense of postage, not to mention Kelly's time standing in line at the Post Office.

Be aware most of these are a size 2-4 and I'm 5'7" in flats and almost always wearing high heels.

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.

Without further ado, Fashionable Reader, here are the outfits I wore in 2017!


In Detroit, I went pretty low key and practical. I also was starting to test some of my clothes to see if I really wanted to keep them. Both this skirt and skirt have now gone on to new homes so this is the last time I wore them.


I love this outfit (although this is the cold weather variation). I'm really getting into steampunk pin-up as a look.


Resurrecting an old favorite dress and remembering how much I love it.


Changing up the way I wear my corsets now that I have the reduced rack and modified corsetry.


A new corset with an old dress, another one that I decided not to keep (the dress, not the corset).

Reminder! 

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.

I went through this massive purge recently, frankly I've changed shape quite a bit since my surgery and not everything fits well anymore. Plus I really just want to slim down my wardrobe, I have too much clothing. Some of these I haven't worn in several years.

Modern Made Retro Dresses

I got this dress from Nordstrom Rack, it's not vintage. I like it but the slip under is too short, it doesn't fit well in the waist and it's sleeveless (I'm not into sleeveless these days). I also already have a 1930s style dress in this color that I tend to reach for if I'm wanting bright pink.



This one also came from Rack years ago, here it is in a steampunk style. The sleeves are now too tight and I find it a bit too short for my taste. I requires a slip which negates any advantage on a hot day.  And I just have to admit blush isn't a super flattering color on my skin tone.


 Cream lace dress, another Rack find. It is easy to get on, travels well, and packs beautifully, but I just don't wear it. It's slightly the wrong length for my taste and it's sleeveless. Which I'm just moving away from.


This ruched black dress. It's great, it hides a million sins, it packs. But... it's a little black dress. I have too many already. This one is not quite stretchy enough to show off my waist and (say it with me) it's sleeveless.

Vintage Dresses

1960s vintage teal velvet last worn for the Waistcoats & Weaponry book tour. I love this dress, it's flattering on but without my epic Rack it's just too big. It's so well made with lining and tucks and such that it simply can't be taken in, either. Here's hoping some lovely size 8-10 finds it and falls in love.


1950s striped seersucker makes me very happy, and I love this material. But the dress has never really fit me well and now it's just gone all pear shaped. Or perhaps that's me? I just don't love it anymore. And it doesn't have pockets.


1970s knitted set, shirt & skirt, both are a nubby cream acrylic knit. I think I like the idea of knitted sets more than the execution. I thought this set would both be so versatile and serviceable but frankly, I barely wear either the top or the skirt. Too warm, slightly scratchy. I'm also getting rid of the purple blouse shown with the skirt of this set. The third picture is of me right before I bought it (I'm wearing it over other clothes) but still, see the former rack? Whoa.


This black and white skirt. Massive sentimental value and great memories and affection ~ ask me at a signing some time and I will tell you the story, but it doesn't fit right anymore. It's time to let it go.

Goodbye Eshakti

These dresses served me well and brilliantly, and opened my eyes to the joys of eShakti. But after my surgery they are just way too big in the chest and that's just an area it's impossible to easily tailor. So I pass them on in the hopes they go on to find an equally well endowed young lady who, I hope, will be surprised and delighted to find something that actually fits.

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 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. 

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.

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