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.

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


I've worn this several time, mostly for evenings at WorldCons over the years and only 2 years ago I was lamenting to my BFF that it might be time to get rid of it. She persuaded me to keep it, but I haven't worn it since. So it's time...


I still have the gloves, cape and hat, but t he shoes and glasses have also long since perished.


What? 
Dupioni cocktail dress in a marigold color, low neckline, bra strap keeper, very flattering cut and seaming.
Why? 
Too tight in shoulders and hips and sleeves, bit too long, needs someone taller than me with less broad shoulders.

Something for Primrose in the Custard Protocol Series 

Reception Dress  1895-1896  Augusta Auctions

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.

1878-1879  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

2014 Anna Sui

Finishing School Moto Shirt, Latin, To The Bitter End

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

quotes Gail likes

Evening Dress  1890s  Antique Dress

2014 Dolce & Gabbana

Tea Snob

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

quotes Gail likes

1900  The Philadelphia Museum of Art

2014 Sass & Bide

Hail The Victorious Parasol Shirt

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

quotes Gail likes

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.

1949 Venus  Christian Dior  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

2013 Fall Gold

Octopus T-Shirt

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

quotes Gail likes

So this was the first eShakti dress that I purchased after the Rack Reduction. It's a little bit big and I need to work on the measurements that I give them if/when I order from them again.


I ordered this just after the holiday season because I love the fabric. It's better in person but it has a peacock component with blues and pinks within the gold.  It's no loner available. It came with a sash belt and pockets (!) and I had the neckline altered to a wide V and short sleeves added because I wanted it to look more 1950s like this:

Party dress, 1950s via shewhoworshipscarlin tumblr

I'm wearing it with short beaded cotton gloves (because of the heat in Kansas City) similar $15 in satin.


The multi-colored hair flower is a gift (similar $10) and the shoes are modern MJ almond toe pumps (similar $30). I love them but they are wicked painful. The tassel necklace is a modern jet piece that I love (similar $17). I got it from Dark Garden years ago. I have a THING about tassel jewelry.

Tassel Jewelry a Retrospective

Watch Fob  1850  Lang Antiques

Pendant  1910  Bonham’s

Brooch  Cartier, 1920s  Christie’s

1920s Necklace  1stdibs.com

Brooch  Cartier, 1925  Christie’s

Diamond and Pearl Necklace  Sterlé, 1955  Christie’s

2014 via 13 Amazing It-Bags to Seriously Invest in for Fall and Beyond on WhoWhatWear.com

2016 Saint Laurent Lolita tassel choker at ysl.com

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.