Retro Rack

This is one of my very favorite dresses, Gentle Reader, and a marker of why I love real vintage so much. The details and the design.


I love a sparkle cocktail dress. Just love it. I can't remember what vintage shop I bought this from, but is sure is a winner. It is a bit low in the front, even after reduction, so that's why I have the silver flower pin at the decolletage.

Outfit Details!

Teapot purse was a grand discovery! There are other colors!

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.

Most of the evening dresses I brought with me to Phoenix did not require proper foundation garments (although they look better with corsetry, of course, everything does).  Turns out I likely would have been OK, as inside the convention center in Phoenix it wasn't really hot at all.


I wore this in the evening so the photos are kinda dark. I've wore this dress before but this is the first time with the silver belt and I REALLY like it so much better with the belt.


Somehow it looks more ruffly and vintage with the belt. (Yes they did wear belts like this at the time, and no this dress isn't vintage.)

Outfit Details!

I'm wearing my new bright pink lippy with this dress and I don't like with the grey. I'm going back to the wine for this pallet.

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 Friday evening of SDCC I wore one of my more comfortable dresses - a late 20s style flapper number.


Because it's not fitted and I'm a curvy lady, this isn't the most flattering of gowns, but it sure is comfy. There isn't much like it out there to recommend you buy (if you see something like this and it fits, my advice is to snap it up, always elegant and timeless.) However, there are a whole lot of fun 20s style dresses lurking about Amazon these days, here are some options. If I were in the market for a new cocktail dress I'd go for one of these.

Outfit details

• I'm wearing a scarf tied about my hair in the 30s style, this is my favorite size head scarf $10.
• Those are cut jet earrings with a matched tassel necklace (similar $20).
• Opera length black satin vintage gloves (similar $8).
• Flat silver sandals from Aerosoles $30 (I LOVE these and have them in multiple colors). (I basically live in Aerosole sandals all summer $30-60 many colors and styles.) Err on the smaller side if you're an in-between.

Next up... more from SDCC!

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.

On the first day of Gaslight Gathering last weekend (which, for me, was Friday) I wore my new grey outfit. This one is a work in progress.


The Corset is from Dark Garden, it's one of their Alyscia line. This is one of my favorite patterns that Dark Garden does, and you'll see me in a different colored Alyscia later on at the convention. The busk covers are from Ruby Blackbird.

By Alex WHite

The top is an old Max Studio black chiffon number (similar $22), the hat is here for $15 and highly recommended, because of the material it travels beautifully and it has a nice strong clip (rather than comb) which means it stays in my hair. (Most of my tiny top hats have combs from when my hair was long, and they really do not work well with sort hair. Gonna have to over-make them.)



The skirt is Rainy Night in London Victorian Gothic Ruffle Steampunk Vintage Style and runs about $60. It is super LONG and high wasted. Like if you are in the 6" arena this skirt could still fit you. It also comes in black, and in black or red brocade. If you are shorter than my 5'6" tho, it'll be too long and you'll have to remove the bottom ruffle.

It's a bit of a darker grey than I like for this corset so right now I've plans to mod it with lighter grey and black trim at the hem and on the ruffles, to make them stand out and to go better with the corset.

Wearing this outfit I ran into Alexia!


That's a darn near perfect replica of the second manga cover.


I'm generally moving my steampunk outfits into the hour-glass aesthetic (while I can still carry it off), mostly because pencil and fish-tail skirts are easier to pack than the full fluffy ones and require less ironing after a flight!

More outfits to come!

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.