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Vintage Style In A Modern World

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Travelling Light ~ How To Make Many Outfits From One Suit by Gail Carriger


So I thought you might like to see how I pack light, Gentle Reader

Here I have a favorite (now passed along) black and white 1950s check suit parsed out and worn many different ways with many different layers...



Travelling Light ~ How To Make Many Outfits From One Suit by Gail Carriger Travelling Light ~ How To Make Many Outfits From One Suit by Gail Carriger

There it is, multiple looks for multiple weather from one suit.


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.

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

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...


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


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

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 


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



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.

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.

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

Outfit Breakdown


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 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.

Gail Carriger Black & White Check Pedal Pushers at Phoenix Comic Con 2018

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

Outfit Details


Gail Carriger Black & White Check Pedal Pushers at Phoenix Comic Con 2018

Octopus knitted facinator: Gift
 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

Gail Carriger Black & White Check Pedal Pushers at Phoenix Comic Con 2018Gail Carriger Black & White Check Pedal Pushers at Phoenix Comic Con 2018


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 Retro Red Top & Black & White Check Pedal Pushers (Imprudence Tour Outfit) ~ Denver


I've claimed to dislike capris in the past, and I still hold to it, Gentle Reader. You have to be so careful with cropped pants. They really do foreshorten most people and conversely make the very tall just look like their got the wrong size trousers. There are some who claim I myself have legs that start at the knee, because of my extreme preference for skirts. You know I didn't wear jeans until high school?
Gail Carriger Retro Red Top & Black & White Check Pedal Pushers (Imprudence Tour Outfit) ~ Denver
with Veronica (via Veronica on Facebook)
Anyway, sometimes, I make exceptions. In this case I made it for these high-wasted black and white check petal pushers that is got at T.J. Max (similar $16), which I wore with red stilettos and a red top.

Gail Carriger Retro Red Top & Black & White Check Pedal Pushers (Imprudence Tour Outfit) ~ Denver
Katrina Erickson‎  via  The Parasol Protectorate Group

I've a black & while head scarf over my hair as the heat and humidity were playing hell with it, this one is vintage. The shirt is from H&M and while I love it, it may be on its way out. It's getting awfully thin and worn. The earrings are little black & white bows from Ruby Blackbird. And I had an earring twin the audience!

Gail Carriger Retro Red Top & Black & White Check Pedal Pushers (Imprudence Tour Outfit) ~ Denver

* As always the shoes didn't make the pictures. I've found, over the years, that unless I get very uppity or the photographer has some fashion training the lower half of the body is inevitably cut off. I've learned this is one of the best ways to tell an amateur from a professional photographer. Just FYI for those of you what want to "pass."

** No insult intended, just an observation.
Retro Rack is also on facebook 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.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

So recently, Fashionable reader, there was a little gathering in Hayward at the Golden Tea Garden with members of The Book Shop round the corner. I chose one of the dresses I purchased for Comic Con but didn't end of wearing, a brown gingham.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

As you can see, others were also dressed for the occasion. This dress is similar to my brown plaid, but different enough in cut and fabric that I decided it was worth having two dresses both in the same color pallet and check family.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown GinghamGail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

One of my favorite things about this dress is the bow detail at the neck. You can't see it in the photo above because it was off the dress while I made some repairs. But trust me, it's cute.

Often vintage dresses have bow details at the waist.

Which I must say I also adore, but it's always fun to find a dress that has some kind of neck line interest, I feel it detracts from the Rack and draws the eyes up to the face.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham
Geoffrey Beene, 1960s  Augusta Auctions

This particular dress is back to my old standard of pencil dresses.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

I always try to wear pencil dresses with heels but my ankle is still not mended. (I hate being old!) So I am confined to flats. I am inordinately upset about this. I'm loosing the beautiful summer months and my lovely lovely collection of heeled sandals is languishing because of this stupid ankle. I might have to do a bit of an Ode to the Unworn post soon, just to stay sane. So for this tea, I had to wear my oxfords, again. Ho hum. I seem to be living in these shoes these days. Thank goodness I have six pairs, a color for every possible outfit.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

Back to the tea. The company was charming, the tea admirable, and the food tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

I selected an English Breakfast, because I have no imagination when it comes to tea and every time I sally forth into another blend I'm disappointed. And of the nibbles the roast beef and horse radish was my favorite by far.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

After chattering away about books and writing and such I signed really quickly and then scuttled off back into the night, or whatever.

Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown Gingham

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

Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

Gingham always seems to have a bit of a retro feel to me, no matter what you do with it. It says homey country kitchen, apple pie, picnics.

Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Gingham is coming my way.

Sorry, getting a little carried away there. Where was I? Oh yes, gingham. A member of the check family, I believe. Most often seen in black and white, red and white, or blue and white.

Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham


But I really came around to gingham when I spotted this adorable tennis dress in a local vintage shop. It was muslin and looked very cool and light, and something that woudl pair with flats. All top concerns for my wardrobe and upcoming Comic Con.

Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red GinghamGail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

 It was labeled 1970s but I think it might be more late 1960s.

Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

It's actually meant to be tighter and shorter on someone a bit larger than me, but I liked it so much as a more 1920's loose feel (and this way it fit the Rack). I walked away from it the first time and then went back after contemplating it for a couple weeks, luckily it was still waiting for me.

Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

I wore it with cream accessories and cream flats. I made a silly little hat out of a knitted pettit four that a reader gave to me in Portland. (More on that in a separate DIY blog to come.)

As I said, gingham as been around forever. Here's a little retrospective . . .

Before the turn of the century:


Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham
 1840-1845  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Next up, silly DIY hat. I leave you with self much appreciating a lovely cup of tea at Comic Con mid day. Small pleasures make all the difference.
Gail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
Travelling Light ~ How To Make Many Outfits From One Suit by Gail Carriger In Fashion Memoriam: 1960s Black & White Check Suit by Gail CarrigerGail Carriger Wears a Retro Red Blouse with Black & White Check Pedal Pushers for WorldCon 2018 in San JoseGail Carriger Black & White Check Pedal Pushers at Phoenix Comic Con 2018Gail Carriger Retro Red Top & Black & White Check Pedal Pushers (Imprudence Tour Outfit) ~ DenverSteampunk Inspiration ~ Transformation Outfits with Gail Carriger Gil Carriger on More eShakti & A WarningGail Carriger in Mesa Arizona in Red Check at LepreCon ~ Gail Fail 2014Gail Carriger in Hayward in Brown GinghamGail Carriger at Comic Con 2012 Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

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