Retro Rack

Happy New Year! Here's hoping it's a good one. Here are some fashionable shots of yours truly with bubbly (my second favorite beverage)...

Steampunk turquoise Changeless cover match, more about this outfit here. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

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.

So I have worn this dress 3 times, Fashionable Reader, but each time I forgot to take a photo. So this time I dragged the AB into the backyard to get one before I even LEFT for the event.

Outfit Breakdown

• Vintage hat (blog post about changing the color to black here)
• Flower, gift from a reader. 
• Glasses mirrored cat eyes, purchased in Ashland. Similar $8
• Necklace, gold chandelier with pink stones, thrifted. Similar but a jellyfish, similar but pearls.
• Chiffon eShakti maxi dress customized with added sleeves. Black with pink ballerinas (I like that they looked like fans) this dress no longer available but here is a lovely blue version. (Which I have ordered with elbow sleeves because I have no will power).
• Black flats, I'm wearing simple pointed toe ones.

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.

On my various fashion online places (like Instagram and Facebook), this dress was unanimously voted the best of the convention. (Although it may have to do with how good the photo is (taken by my lovely friend Bob).

Outfit Breakdown

• Hair: black cotton turban - $11 (this is my favorite turban style)
• Earrings: typewriter key craft earrings from a con (similar on etsy)
• Pen necklace: silver no longer around - similar $28
• Belt: black stretch bow belt -  $7
• Dress: eShakti (yes it has pockets), $80 (no longer available but you could turn this one maxi and it's a similar cut) I added sleeves, changed neckline, and customized the measurements. Learn how to shop from them in this blog post.
• Bag: black 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.

With the lovely Debbie

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 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.

I put in a new order at eShakti recently, I'll let you all know how that goes, Fashionable Reader. I haven't purchased anything from them in over a year. Just haven't felt the need but I went on a big maxi dress purge recently and decided to use eShakti to update may wardrobe with replacements. The ones I was finding in shops just didn't have the vintage feel I was looking for. (Nor, for that matter, did they have sleeves & pockets.)

One of the things I like about eShakti is that most everything they make has pockets, and because I am putting in custom measurements anyway and paying the $10 extra for alterations, I tinker with neck lines, sleeves, and skirt length so I look at each dress with this in mind. Also they have added to option to put in a back zipper (instead of side) which I LOVE. That way putting the dress on isn't a makeup worry.

Anyway, I've a number of posts on advice when shopping with eShakti if you are going to try.

Meanwhile here's a few things I have added to my wardrobe recently.

Ekouaer Women's Strapless Convertible Padded Underwire T Shirt Bra 32B-42DDD $20

I already owned this in nude. My new size is 32DDD (at least in this bra). I like it. Not too much padding, just enough for shape and the convertible strap is great, two different spots to fasten on the back so it accommodates different cuts of straps and it can also be a halter, single strap or cross back. Here's the kicker, it's $20. It's so amazing to be spending so little ona  bra I like, and that fits. I supose after a lifetime of this the surgery will have paid for itself.



For summer I got some new sandals:

Aerosoles Women's Chronichle Flat Sandal $30

Man do I love these sandals. I now have them in nude and silver as well as black. I wear them all summer. I don't like flip-flops (the thing between the toes bothers me and I'm not happy with how casual they look) these are perfect. Little bit of bling to bring them up in the world and a bit of a squish to the sole so they really are comfortable. 

This is the first scarf I've found that is in the size I prefer for tying about the head and has a steampunk pattern in colors that will work with my wardrobe. So yeah, pretty chuffed about that!

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 my events in Chicago and Brooklyn I wore some old favorite pink lace dresses.

Chicago with Kristin (via @kristinbriney on Twitter)

This coral number is from eShakti and is one of the few of my custom eShakti pieces to survive the Rack Reduction. I'm wearing it with a golden tan fascinator that I love because it travels flat and then can be puffed up (find it here for $15), steampunk earrings (gift from a fan, similar $20), my Bumbersnoot necklace (find it here $29), and Guess tan wedge sandals (similar $30).

sorry, reference lost

In Brooklyn I wore this modern bring pink lace cocktail dress with a full skirt. I got it on uber sale at Nordstrom Rack. I don't often go for sleeveless but I do love this dress's keyhole back (although I need to fix the clasp). I wore it with a match pink flower hair clip, no idea where I got that (similar $10) and the same shoes as the day before in Chicago (or possibly the gold ones, can't remember). It was REALLY HOT.

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.