close

Retro Rack | category: lace

home

Retro Rack

Vintage Style In A Modern World

retrorack.blogspot.com

Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail Carriger


I have this lovely Harper's Bazaar from 1891, given to me by a lovely reader. I finally got around to scanning some of the images. Here are a few for you, the kind of things Rue & Prim might wear in the Custard Protocol series.

Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail Carriger

Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail Carriger

Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail Carriger


Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail Carriger

Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail Carriger


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 Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence


I went through this massive purge recently, frankly I've changed shape quite a bit since my surgery and not everything fits well anymore. Plus I really just want to slim down my wardrobe, I have too much clothing. Some of these I haven't worn in several years.

Modern Made Retro Dresses


Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

I got this dress from Nordstrom Rack, it's not vintage. I like it but the slip under is too short, it doesn't fit well in the waist and it's sleeveless (I'm not into sleeveless these days). I also already have a 1930s style dress in this color that I tend to reach for if I'm wanting bright pink.

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence
Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence


This one also came from Rack years ago, here it is in a steampunk style. The sleeves are now too tight and I find it a bit too short for my taste. I requires a slip which negates any advantage on a hot day.  And I just have to admit blush isn't a super flattering color on my skin tone.

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

 Cream lace dress, another Rack find. It is easy to get on, travels well, and packs beautifully, but I just don't wear it. It's slightly the wrong length for my taste and it's sleeveless. Which I'm just moving away from.

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

This ruched black dress. It's great, it hides a million sins, it packs. But... it's a little black dress. I have too many already. This one is not quite stretchy enough to show off my waist and (say it with me) it's sleeveless.

Vintage Dresses


Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

1960s vintage teal velvet last worn for the Waistcoats & Weaponry book tour. I love this dress, it's flattering on but without my epic Rack it's just too big. It's so well made with lining and tucks and such that it simply can't be taken in, either. Here's hoping some lovely size 8-10 finds it and falls in love.

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

1950s striped seersucker makes me very happy, and I love this material. But the dress has never really fit me well and now it's just gone all pear shaped. Or perhaps that's me? I just don't love it anymore. And it doesn't have pockets.

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

1970s knitted set, shirt & skirt, both are a nubby cream acrylic knit. I think I like the idea of knitted sets more than the execution. I thought this set would both be so versatile and serviceable but frankly, I barely wear either the top or the skirt. Too warm, slightly scratchy. I'm also getting rid of the purple blouse shown with the skirt of this set. The third picture is of me right before I bought it (I'm wearing it over other clothes) but still, see the former rack? Whoa.

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

This black and white skirt. Massive sentimental value and great memories and affection ~ ask me at a signing some time and I will tell you the story, but it doesn't fit right anymore. It's time to let it go.

Goodbye Eshakti

These dresses served me well and brilliantly, and opened my eyes to the joys of eShakti. But after my surgery they are just way too big in the chest and that's just an area it's impossible to easily tailor. So I pass them on in the hopes they go on to find an equally well endowed young lady who, I hope, will be surprised and delighted to find something that actually fits.

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence

Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge Commence


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 In Cream Lace Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017


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

Gail Carriger In Cream Lace Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017

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

Gail Carriger In Cream Lace Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017

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.

Gail Carriger Steampunk Fancy Pink at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego


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...

Gail Carriger Steampunk Fancy Pink at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego

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!

Gail Carriger Steampunk Fancy Pink at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego

The choker was a gift from a fan, the longer necklace and earrings were purchased from the Dickens Fair years ago, and all the other accessories are custom except the gloves, which you can fine here for $15.

That hat kept falling off, I have to put a better clip on it.

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 Retro 1950's eShakti Coral Pink Lace with Brown in Chicago & New York (Imprudence Tour Outfits)


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

Gail Carriger Retro 1950's eShakti Coral Pink Lace with Brown in Chicago & New York (Imprudence Tour Outfits)
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).

Gail Carriger Retro 1950's eShakti Coral Pink Lace with Brown in Chicago & New York (Imprudence Tour Outfits)
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.
Beautiful Dresses for Rue & Prim in the Custard Protocol Books, from Harper's Bazaar 1891 from Gail CarrigerDressing Primrose for the Boudoir for Competence (Research Behind Gail Carriger's Custard Protocol Series)Gail Carriger Bids Goodbye to Vintage Searsucker, Velvet, eShakti & More ~ Let the 2017 Closet Purge CommenceGail Carriger In Cream Lace Steampunk Worlds Fair 2017Then & Now ~ Embroidered White MuslinThen & Now ~ Black Lace OverlayGail Carriger Steampunk Fancy Pink at Gaslight Gathering in San DiegoThen & Now ~ Black Lace with Cream Dress Gail Carriger Retro 1950's eShakti Coral Pink Lace with Brown in Chicago & New York (Imprudence Tour Outfits)Dress the Cover ~ Poison or Protect

Report "Retro Rack"

Are you sure you want to report this post for ?

Cancel
×