Retro Rack

I broke out the big guns for Teslacon this year, Fashionable Reader. Which is to say the red and black leather and brocade flasy corset. AKA the Class 5. You can read more about how it came to be in this blog post.


 Outfit breakdown...

• Fascinator with knit ladybug addition (similar $15)
• Ornate pendant necklace, gift from family friend (similar $9)
• Leaf earrings, gift from an ex (similar $10)
• Pen necklace, no longer available (eeek!) 
• Black chiffon wrap shirt (similar $20)
• Class 5 corset, bespoke from Dark Garden, style no longer exists, I'd say the Alexandra is most similar, with wide, tie cross back straps.
• RubyBlackbird corset buttons, no longer avaiable 
• Long bias cut maxi-skirt, thrifted (similar $15)

With a lovely reader who is portraying Queen Victorian as drawn in the Soulless Manga.

I really do love this corset, very eye catching and I always get a ton of complements.

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.

This was my last outfit of the con, I stayed up until 3am dancing in it. So yeah, that was something.

Outfit Breakdown

• Hair: silver turban - $7
• Earring: silver bow and pearl (vintage) - similar $8
• Broach: silver hair flower - similar $8
• Gloves: cream leather vintage - similar $14
• Dress: vintage silver cocktail dress
• Shrug: silver - similar $14
• Corset: Dark Garden waspie (decorated by with me in a deco design) - $400 (here's a starter version for $69)
• Shoes: silver and gold oxfords decorated by me
• Bag: champagne bottle clutch (designer, found at thrift store) - similar $36

I danced a lot, if you're gonna dance in a corset, make it a waspie.

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.

This is probubly the outfit I got the most complements on in person. The internet liked the polka dot one the best.

It works best in person, I think.

Outfit Breakdown

• Hair: silver turban - $7
• Earrings: tiny bottles - $10
• Necklace: lace with parasol details (gift from reader) - similar $9
• Broach: sparkle star (vintage) - similar $19
• Gloves: cream mesh - $16
• Skirt: raspberry pencil skirt (lots of colors, I'm wearing a size small) - $16
• Shrug: wine velvet - similar in satin $23
• Corset: Dark Garden Alyscia custom with princess straps - $2000 (here's a starter version for $26)
• Shoes: patchwork boots that I've had forever and are on their last legs (so to speak)
• Bag: champagne bottle clutch (designer, found at thrift store) - similar $36

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.

For the Saturday of SDCC, Fashionable Reader, I wore what I'm calling my red pin-up steampunk.


This is turning into a new favorite outfit. I also had on gloves but I forgot them in the photo, and a parasol for when I went outside.

Outfit Details

Lets go from the bottom up, just for a change of pace.

• Those are Shoes of Prey custom pumps $200 or so, I talk about them in this blog post, I can't recommend them. Their shoes will look EXACTLY how you want, but they won't be comfy. 
• That's my favorite pencil skirt from Amazon, around $30. Also comes in black.
• Barrel bag with button details and tassel $17. I LOVE this bag. It's the perfect size for me and I adore a super quirky shape. It comes in red & gold too, I might have to go for the gold, but those are remote sellers, so I'm nervous. 
• The corset is a Dark Garden couture Amazon (style no longer offered but the Alexandra is similar) with custom leather details and cross-back straps. The bracers are matched to the leather applique work, both Oberon Design. 
• Necklace is vintage and was a family heirloom (similar $10). 
• Obligatory pen necklace $15, looks like it's only in silver these days.
• Steampunk earrings (similar $17).
• Red sunnies $9 (they seem out of the red but the red and black are killer).
• That's a tiny red top hat that I went crazy on with a hot glue gun (similar $10).

One more to come!

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.

My dear Fashionable Reader, for the first day of San Diego Comic Con I wore a hot pink 1930s style dress with a hand painted Dark Garden Corselette.


The dress I picked up from Max Azaria outlet mall store, years ago. I paired it with a Corselette (this is a curved variation in poplin designed to be a foundation garment) from Dark Garden. Since I now have a custom corset for my foundation garment, I decided to attack this one with metallic puffy paint, because I'm kinda like that.


I specifically went for a lightly 1930s design. Not sure I quite achieved that, but I think it looks rather nice. I might still futz with it a bit and I may put a design on the back too. We shall see. Knowing my limited free time these days, I'll likely just leave as is. I paired it with corset busk cover buttons from Ruby Blackbird.

What else am I wearing?

• Pink hair flower (similar $7) with added octopus broach $12.
• Some fantastic cat eye glasses I found on Amazon for $11.
• Vintage 1930s Deco costume earrings (similar Egyptian style $14)
• Long gold gloves (similar $6)
• Gold folding flats (similar $15)

Hope you liked it! Next up, what I wore on the second day of Comic Con!

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.

Perhaps I'm being inspired by Wonder Woman, I don't know for certain but I wore this outfit the last day of the convention.


I call this my circus corset, because it feels like I ought to be ring mistress in it. It's from Dark Garden (like all my others) and was a customized fabric Christmas special based on their corselette style. I wear it all the time. It's probably my most used steampunk corset because it travels so well and is so very comfortable.


Outfit Details:

* I'm wearing the Circus over a little white chiffon dress I picked up at Ross when I was going through a summer is hot Greek phase (similar $19).
* Wine velvet caplet meets shrug with flutter sleeves bought on sale from a fancy shop in some resort town over a decade ago (similar $40)
* Octopus on burgundy lace necklace & earring set made fro me by a fan (similar in black $11)
* Crochet octopus hair bob I got in Alaska last month, find similar here.
* Soft brand gold sandals with big flower, much beloved, no longer available


Sorry I got these shoes years ago and haven't seen ones like it or even similar. Also I really want a hair thing that's like that gold leather flower.

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.

For some reason this is a really hard outfit to get a good photo of, Gentle Reader. Probably all that cream.


I've worn it several times in various different iterations (I have a cream lace skirt with a train for indoor only events, and a beautiful brocade over-skirt REALLY for indoor only) but this is my travel lace skirt version.

Outfit Breakdown:

* Leather flower hairband with additional pearl decoration added by me (similar $10)
* Lacey shrug from Newport News a million years ago (similar only with more steampunk, so cute $6-11)
* Double breasted corset from Dark Garden, highly customized based off their classic Victorian style but super modified. Autumn would make you one similar but take this picture to show her. I also had her custom make me matching wrist corsets. Back when I was working for her as a lacer I started to get some carpel tunnel, these helped and were cute.
* Crochet neckline under blouse is vintage, here's one sort-of similar for $20
* Pearl vintage looking jewelry set, similar $19
* Necklace watch brass $8
* Long stretch lace skirt found at Ross or similar years ago, similar $19


I like to wear cream at steampunk events as lighter colors are less well represented.

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.

So I kind of channeled the ballet for my first outfit of Steampunk Worlds Fair.


The thing is when I was in New Jersey for this event a few years ago it was scorchingly hot so I pretty much pack steampunk light, or as light as I could go.



Of course it turned out to be rainy, windy, and overcast the entire time. Hence the reason I subbed in the high neck blouse rather than my original idea.

Ah, May.


Outfit breakdown: 
* That's a button front pussycat bow blouse worn with bow tied as a cravat (similar $24) and a vintage parasol pearl pin (gift from a fan).
* Dark Garden Alyscia corset in a custom fabric with cross back princess straps.
* Cream gloves
* Fluffy blush high-low chiffon ruffle skirt I picked up from Ross or something a few years ago, similar for $25 or this really cool fancy fluffy one for $40
* I'm in love with these suspender nylons for when I'm in corset, basically a lazy lady's thigh highs for $15. I've multiple pairs now. Now if they would only make a black back-seam version.
* Cream oxford wingtips (no longer available except in small sizes). You can google cream oxfords and see what you get but frankly I don't recommend this color shoe. And make certain, if you do invest to get one with PALE SOLES. Never buy a light colored shoe with a dark colored sole. Trust your Gail on this matter.
* Crochet teacake was a gift from a fan up in Portland years ago, I simply pin it to my head with a bunch of bobby pins.

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.

My last day at Gaslight Gathering I had one outfit planned to go with this corset which turned out not to work out. It was to go over a vintage dress that ripped asunder. Don't cry, I'll use it as an excuse to whittle down the wardrobe. Never a bad thing. So instead I wore my Fancy corset with this...


This is my other Alyscia Dark Garden corset. You can see it's different, there's princess cross over straps (I should have gotten a photo of the back). I gave this fabric to Autumn to use. That's how I have excess for the reticule, hat, and the shawl. Yes I made those three items. I can't remember where I got the fabric, but I know it was a pain to work with. It had to be fused. I love patterned fabric that has a geometric or Deco feel. I tend to go for that (where possible) over something like paisley or brocade. I had this corset made specifically with an eye toward evening fancy events, like the opera. It has a satin iridescent skirt to match, and a bustled overstrict for steampunk, but neither travel well. (At the time I was dating an opera singer.) I'll look into a wine pencil skirt for this in future, for ease of travel.

Here, I'm wearing it with the underskirt of the cream outfit from the night before. Which really DOESN'T travel, the crinoline got all squished and refused to obey me for the whole con. Won't to that again!

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.