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.

I've been wearing more and more what I call steampunk pinup lately. It's easier to travel without the copious skirts.


I'm wearing...

• Silver velvet turban ($10)
• Flashy broach pinned to turban (similar $19)
• Parasol necklace (gift from a fan)
• Octopus necklace (similar $25)
• Pen necklace (similar $15)
• Pen nib earrings (similar $15)
• Silk brocade undershirt, thrift store score
• Custom Dark Garden bespoke corset, my own fabric, Alyscia with cross back double princess straps
• Corset button covers from RubyBlackbird, no longer available (and I keep losing mine)
• Stretch waist ruffle bottom trumpet skirt ($17 many colors)
• Cream pumps from Miz Mooz no longer available, but check out their current line
• Cream leather gloves (similar $14)
• Cream teapot purse 

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 enjoy writing little odes to my long lost closet items, Fashionable Reader.



It is a way of remembering them, and chronicling my relationship with them. But it also reminds me why I got rid of them. Since occasionally I will get into a mode where I think back on on outfit with too much affection, and wonder why was so silly as to get rid of it.

Since I did a major closet purge recently, I'll be blogging a few of these outfits and dresses forthwith.

Today I'm looking with affection on this outrageous

1960s Floral Pink Maxi Dress

I believe this dress started life as a bridesmaid dress. I can't imagine any other reason for this specific design with the train. It's just not quite right to be a prom dress or something along those lines.

I do love this particular style of evening gown from the 1960s, and I managed to find a few images of similar dresses.

Pink: Hubert de Givenchy, 1965  The Metropolitan Museum of Art; B&W: 1960s via shewhoworshipscarlin tumblr

Here is Audrey Hepburn wearing one of the style of dress.

This particular style with the body is a completely different color from the skirt part of the dress is very indicative of the early to mid-1960s. I find it particularly flattering, because the darker top and busy or lighter colored skirt is flattering on those of us who are top-heavy.

Also the plates at the waist line and the slightly poof out of the skirt, disguises all manner of sins in terms of the girl tum.

So it is with great sadness that I been this pretty goodbye, but we have had fun times together.


What? 
Maxi dress with chiffon top with tiny pink bows and train, linen skirt with hand painted flowers. Probably bridesmaid.
Why? 
Too tight in torso, requires assistance to get into, linen doesn't travel.

Something for Felicity from the Parasol Protectorate Series?

1886-1887 Evening Dress  Charles Fredrick Worth, The Philadelphia Museum of Art

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.

You've seen this dress before, Fashionable Reader, and you'll see it again as I am a fan of this dress. Here I am wearing it at its most summery.


I'm carrying one of my new parasols, this one is folding cream and gold, and a straw bag with flat comfy silver sandals. I paired it with mostly silver accessories.


Getting windy with it!

This dress has lost the elastic at the waist so it needs a wide belt, I borrowed this one from the 1950's evening dress I would wear a few days later. It isn't my favorite belt for this dress, I prefer the corset with it (but as I said in a prior post, I purposefully didn't bring any corsets because I thought it would be too hot in Phoenix).


Those gloves found at (I bought them) and the photo taken by Starshine Salon.

Outfit Details!

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.

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 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

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.



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.


 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.


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

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.


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.


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.


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.

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 the final day of SDCC, which was also my spotlight panel, I wore one of my favorite vintage dresses. This is a 1950s tiki faux-wrap dress in pink and cream, cotton, comfortable, and super flattering. (Here's the closest I could find from Sourpuss $30-50.)


I'm wearing it over the new Dark Garden foundation corset.

Frankly they might have been made for each other. Well, to be honest, the corset was, in fact made to go under this kind of dress.

Outfit Details

• I'm wearing a crochet octopus hair piece I picked up in Alaska. You can find similar on Etsy.
• Some fantastic cat eye glasses I found on Amazon for $11.
• Pearl drop earrings with bows, vintage (similar $9).
• Stacked multi-strand faux pearl necklace vintage (similar $9).
• Obligatory pen necklace $15, looks like it's only in silver these days.
• White cotton gloves with pear details (similar $15).
• Vintage cream bag with octopus broach (similar $11) added for details. This one is on it's last legs so I have my eye on this one instead $32. 
• Sofft stacked heel strappy sandals (similar $24).

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.

My dear Fashionable Reader, for the first day of San Diego Comic Con I wore a hot pink 1930s style dress with a hand painted Dark Garden Corselette.


The dress I picked up from Max Azaria outlet mall store, years ago. I paired it with a Corselette (this is a curved variation in poplin designed to be a foundation garment) from Dark Garden. Since I now have a custom corset for my foundation garment, I decided to attack this one with metallic puffy paint, because I'm kinda like that.


I specifically went for a lightly 1930s design. Not sure I quite achieved that, but I think it looks rather nice. I might still futz with it a bit and I may put a design on the back too. We shall see. Knowing my limited free time these days, I'll likely just leave as is. I paired it with corset busk cover buttons from Ruby Blackbird.

What else am I wearing?

• Pink hair flower (similar $7) with added octopus broach $12.
• Some fantastic cat eye glasses I found on Amazon for $11.
• Vintage 1930s Deco costume earrings (similar Egyptian style $14)
• Long gold gloves (similar $6)
• Gold folding flats (similar $15)

Hope you liked it! Next up, what I wore on the second day of Comic Con!

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.

The Sumage Solution officially releases today!


For my book launch at Borderlands in San Francisco last weekend, Fashionable Reader, I chose one of my more striking and least worn statement dresses. 

I can't for the life of me remember where I bought this maxi dress but my guess is it's late 1960s and possibly was intended as a bridesmaids dress. I love the silly little back pleated empire train, it feels very Grace Kelly. And the bows!

When I bought it, the bow and the back area needed some repairs but it's now good as new. Because the bottom skirt part is linen it doesn't travel well but it is pretty darn cool for a vintage dress. (Cool as in "not hot and sweaty".) At first I thought the flowers were hand painted but now I think it's a printed design. The bodice and the train are both chiffon.

See how it has those gores at the waist right under the tiny bows which happen to also line up with the princess seams on the bodice? That's the kind of detail you rarely get outside of vintage these days. 

I paired it with a...

• matched pink flower hair clip (similar $7) 
• to which I attached an octopus broach ($12)
• cotton net gloves ($16) which I love on a hot day
• vintage faux diamond stud earrings with bow & drop pearl dangle (similar $10)

I have on cute (but practical) flats from Aerosoles. I pretty much live in Aerosoles flats all summer. I don't like flip-flops, so flat leather sling-back slides are my thing. One of the reasons I love a maxi dress, I can safely pair it with flats. 

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.