Retro Rack

I recently returned from my annual pilgrimage to Santa Cruz. This ritual has to do with high school affections, graduate School memories, and a new romance with a wonderful B&B. It also has to do with vintage clothing.


Time was once that Down Town Santa Cruz boasted not only several excellent thrift stores but a veritable cornucopia of vintage shops. Sadly, Moon Zoom appears to be the last honest vintage hold over offering really good options (by which I mean before 1970 and nothing new retro) and the thrift stores have gone decidedly down hill ~ those that are left.


Still, Moon Zoom remains standing strong, and I showed photos of self in the I Mag black & green dress, because they might not remember me but they certainly remember that dress!


And then I waltzed out with several pairs of gloves and a pretty summery flowered number.


I also bought some long green opera gloves to go with said green and black dress for a different shop, and some new green shoes as well (from the infamous shoe store next to the hat shop). So cute and 1940s these are Chelsea Crew, a new brand for me.




I know, I know, such a risk trying something not Miz Mooz or Via Spiga. But they are green and I kind of have a thing for green.

I did try on these Miz Mooz in 7.5, which seem to be running true to size this season. (You never know with the Mooz.)



I loved them in blue but they will probably end up coming home with me in red. I'm going to need a replacement for my well loved and much worn Miz Mooz red pumps in the not too distant future. My old standbys are on their last legs ~ so to speak.


I will be sad to see them go to the great shoe store in the sky.

Anyway, so that's the loot from Santa Cruz.

• 1 dress I didn't need, but fit too beautifully to bypass
• 2 pair of gloves vital to replace
• 1 pair of gloves that I wanted
• 1 pair of gloves that were too cute to resist
• 1 pair of shoes I'll probably get my money out of

 Now, of course, I'm thinking about a new green blouse. Since I have the shoes . . .

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

I love this suit, I found it on Haight Street in San Francisco, and it fits without any adjustments ~ yes even over the Rack! I've had to mend it over the years but it holds rand as one of the very first vintage pieces I ever put into my wardrobe. To this day I am mystified that anyone would get rid of it.


This style came in with the New Look and hung around for years. Mine is a v neck dress with a little jacket that goes over it. I pars out the jacket on occasion.


Of course, the black suit for formal occasions has been around for a very long time, perhaps best attributed to Coco, who popularized the style.


It persisted into the 30s and 40s.


But in my world, say its hay-day with Dior's New Look in the 1950s.


I've worn mine for a number of events and often bring it with me if I have the room simply because it makes a good catch all for an unexpected occasion. And, of course, basic black goes with any accessories I might have.




One for Alexia . . .


And what to rad in your little Dior suit? Children of the Night by Mercedes Lackey.

This is the second in her Diana Tregarde series. Lackey was writing Urban Fantasy before we called it that and this is one of her best. You don't need to read the first one before it. This one introduced Andree, sexy French vampire, one of the first hot vampires to enter modern SF/F literature. The romance between him and Diana (a strong and powerful witch) is adult, complex, and deeply moving. Real romance. I can't recommend this book highly enough.