fashion for faith in four colors: 1850s

Showing posts with label 1850s. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Comic Con Outfits ~ Night Three Blue & Black

fashion style 5:11 PM

After a day spent in steampunk garb I changed that night for my easy royal blue dress. This is the one I put to the vote for the documentary. It's not vintage but it fits well and with the full skirt it looks good with flats.

With the AB off and about on his own I sadly got very few pictures of this outfit. But i paired it with black and fake white diamond accessories.

Jason Wu

I like blue and black as a color combination, I think it's quite classic but with just enough edge. Wine or red with black is so popular in goth culture, that though I love it blue and black feels fresher to me.

To make it ultra modern I like to go for blue leather, or mix it with neutrals.

Kate Spade

Like green shoes I'm always on the hunt for some fun blue shoes.

But what I find I have are a number of royal blue tops and dresses.

And my retro cut JC Penny printed one is an old favorite. Apart form anything else, it packs great. Although, I am thinking of putting a crinoline under it to make it more poofy.

Some other retro takes on this dress.

Some vintage blue and black looks.

Marilyn-Monroe-in-Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes; 1949 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Some edgy almost steampunk and sci-fi takes on blue and black.

Something for my characters to wear.

Something for Sophronia in the Finishing School books . . .

1850-1852 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Something for Alexia in the Parasol Protectorate books . . .

1875 The Philadelphia Museum of Art

And something for Ivy after the Parasol Protectorate books . . .

1880 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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

Friday, July 20, 2012

Comic Con Outfits ~ Day Two Flowered Day Dress

fashion style 1:24 PM

By the second day of Comic Con, Fashionable Reader, I was rather more into the flow of things. I had deduced the secret back entrance and was getting accustomed to sore feet. Even in flats.

For Friday I planned mostly meetings at the hotel, and had intended a day of rest for the ankle. I did end up back at the convention center in pursuit of a Firefly panel, story to come in my author blog on Monday. But you, Fashionable Reader, are here for the clothes!

So I donned an adapted version of my cream & brown & blue flowered day dress with mixed cream and brown accessories. You may be familiar with this dress, it had its first outing at the Alameda Vintage Faire.

I don't really like it with my cream cardy, I'll have to come up with something else for warmth. Luckily I didn't need it after the morning, the weather being most cooperative.

I love the cut of this dress, it's a classic day dress. I might invest in a poofy cream underskirt for this and the blue & cream from yesterday. To make it more open, like one sees in vintage photos.

It had an adorable little bow belt detail at the waist too, so cute.

Here's another lovely retro take on a very similar dress.

Despite it's ultra retro look this kind of print has enjoyed quite a resurgence this spring and summer.

Here are a few similar I have found online.

Lovely shirt dress style; and a short 60s one with a pussycat bow and pleated skirt.

Here are two vintage pieces.

1950's Hawaiian Casuals by Stan Hicks

1950s Wiggle Dress Brown Floral Print

And how about something for my characters to wear in a similar vein?

First, something for Sophronia and one of her friends in the Finishing School series . . .

1850

Something for Sophronia's BFF Dimity . . .

1850 Kent State

Something for her arch rivals Monique and Preshea . . .

1852-55 by poteidia; 1855 day dresses

Something for Alexia to wear in the Parasol Protectorate series, possibly in Heartless . . .

1870s early

Something a little more to Rue's taste, in the upcoming Parasol Protectorate Abroad series. (Rue has terribly good taste and is awfully fond of tea gowns, so sensible.)