Retro Rack

Hello Fashionable Reader,

This is an old favorite vintage dress that needs some repairs, but I love it so. It also doesn't travel well and it's warm but I can't let it go so I still bring it out on occasion.

Outfit Breakdown

• Hair: red velvet turban - $6
• Necklace & earring set: red bead (vintage) - similar $13
• Pen necklace: gold - similar $28
• Gloves: red leather vintage - similar $40
• Dress: vintage black coat dress with red details
• Belt: red stretch bow belt -  $7
• Shoes: red & black Via Spiga stiletto sandals - similar $35
• Bag: black teapot or teakettle purse - $64 (10% off at time of this post)

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.

BayCon used to be my con, you know way back in the day when I was first bouncing about in fandom (lots of comic book marvel cosplay). It was the first SF/F con I ever attended (not counting Star Trek). I haven't been back in years since it always takes place over the three day weekend in spring and that's a popular weekend for events. I am usually trundling about elsewhere. However, this year my local RWA chapter was invited down, and I happened to be in town, so I figured: why not?


The dress is a black 1950s coat dress with big pockets, lined in red, as are the cuffs of the sleeves. Because it's satin it doesn't travel well so you'll usually only see me in it at local events. I do love it, though. I'm wearing two crinolines under it to give it volume, but it could take more.

Me and my BFF RWA girls! Lea Kirk & Tess Rider

I've accessorized it with the following:

1. Vintage 1950s beret style felt hat.
2. Double strand of red beads with matching earrings, similar set for $25
3. Obligatory pen necklace, $20
4. Wide red vinyl belt, similar $30 (also comes in dark red)
5. Shoes of Prey pumps, wing tips, leather and patent designed by me, $200 (for my concerns working with Shoes of Prey please read this blog post)

There it is. This is certainly a favorite outfit of mine. I'm hoping to get to wear it again soon.

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.

I've claimed to dislike capris in the past, and I still hold to it, Gentle Reader. You have to be so careful with cropped pants. They really do foreshorten most people and conversely make the very tall just look like their got the wrong size trousers. There are some who claim I myself have legs that start at the knee, because of my extreme preference for skirts. You know I didn't wear jeans until high school?

Anyway, sometimes, I make exceptions. In this case I made it for these high-wasted black and white check petal pushers that is got at T.J. Max (similar $16), which I wore with red stilettos and a red top.

I've a black & while head scarf over my hair as the heat and humidity were playing hell with it, this one is vintage. The shirt is from H&M and while I love it, it may be on its way out. It's getting awfully thin and worn. The earrings are little black & white bows from Ruby Blackbird. And I had an earring twin the audience!

* As always the shoes didn't make the pictures. I've found, over the years, that unless I get very uppity or the photographer has some fashion training the lower half of the body is inevitably cut off. I've learned this is one of the best ways to tell an amateur from a professional photographer. Just FYI for those of you what want to "pass."

** No insult intended, just an observation.

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.

For my visit to San Diego I planned to wear this polka dot black & white dress with red accessories. Thank heavens I did, because what with layovers and delays I ended up having to change in a plane restroom and run through SDCC. This is one of my few dresses that can take that kind of abuse and still come out looking fresh the other end. My dear old friend Polly Ester. Can't remember where I got it but I'm thinking something strange like Burlington Coat Factory or Ross Junior or what have you. I've had it forever. Hard to let something go that packs so well and goes with everything. (Similar $25, similar sleeveless $30 lots of options, and similar plus size $27.)

For both events I paired it with a headband that's black with red dots (modern, similar $14), red beaded necklace set (vintage, similar strand $13, similar earrings $8), obligatory pen necklace (modern replica, $18), and a pair of Via Spiga suede sandals that I got about 10 years ago (no longer available, similar pumps $20-50). The gloves are much treasured red leather vintage, gift from a friend, (similar $30).

Gifted along the way on this tour (possibly in Portland?) was a scarf very similar to this one, grey background with big ladybugs. I love it! You'll see me wearing it often.

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.

For the first two stops of my Imprudence Book tour I wore my new red trumpet skirt. I know, the same skirt, 2x in a row! But you see, Fashionable Reader, 10 stops in 10 days, carry-on only, will limit even my choices of outfit, especially with the impossible heat.

Sorry I didn't note the source, but I think it was on Instagram.

with Valerie & Shannon (via Valerie on FB)

For both Texas events I wore my new red Power Broker- 30s Vintage Style Retro Double Button Skirt $30 (also comes in black). I own the size small (and I run size 4-6 on my lower half). It fits beautifully. This was its first major outing and it was GREAT. It travels like a dream, hardly any wrinkles (taking it into the steamy bathroom while I showered dealt with those). It also washed well out the other side (cold water delicate and a line dry and it looked as good as new).

For both events I paired it with a tiny red bow headband (modern, dying, can't find a good replacement but I'm thinking of something like this), red beaded necklace set (one is vintage the other modern, similar single strand $13, similar earrings $8, similar set $24), obligatory pen necklace (modern replica, $18), and a pair of Via Spiga suede sandals that I got about 10 years ago (no longer available, similar pumps $20-50).


In Houston I paired it with a stretch velvet 1940s style sleeveless top. This was originally a dress from Ross but I cannibalized it into a blouse and I wear it all the time. I adore it. It looks better in person.


In Austin I wore the red skirt with my cherry top. I got this one overseas, I want to say Germany or France, although I think it's a UK brand. Paid too much for it but I've certainly got my money's worth. Here's something in the same pattern if not cut, $34.



More tour 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.

Barnes & Noble and their teen book fest this last weekend. It was pretty last minute and I agreed to do a thing because I happen to already be in the area for a morning event, so I figured it was no big deal to hop over.

photo taken by Maude Lynne @the_maude_lynne

Sorry this is the only picture anyone posted of my outfit as I forgot, as always, to take any myself.

I'm wearing a fitted button up black and white striped blouse (yes it goes over the Rack without a gap, it's one of those magic ones).  I got it years ago, likely from Nordstrom Rack. But I've no ready source of good button downs for girls with a large Rack, aside from going custom on eShakti. Recommendations welcome. The sleeves on this one are a little tight but because the rest fits so well and it's vertical stripes I can't get rid of it.

I've paired it with high wasted red cotton pedal pushers (similar $50), black and white Via Spiga wingtip spectator peep toes pumps (similar $60), black vintage leather gloves (similar $30), and a little red headband (similar $10), and red bead necklace and earring set (similar $20).

I'm never sure about pedal pushers, but I like having a few pairs of trousers about, just to remind myself that my legs do, in fact, go all the way up.

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.