Then & Now ~ Striped Bathing Suit
Then
Bathing Suit late 1860s- early 1870s The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Now
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
Showing posts with label 1860s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1860s. Show all posts
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Then & Now ~ Mint
Then
1868 The Victoria & Albert Museum
Now
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Comic Con Outfits ~ Day One Blue & White
So, in case you hadn't guessed, Fashionable Reader, I enjoy standing out visually, but in a classy way, or course. Or as classy as I can possibly manage. *insert snorting noise here*
Under circumstances such as San Diego Comic Con standing out is a challenge. There are amazing cospay ladies everywhere, from comic book characters to steampunk to cross overs between the two. There are also lost of shorts and logo t-shirts, wings and hats, and robotic attachments.
So what did I decide to do in order to be unique? Well, frankly, just dress the way I normally do. With the exception of Saturday day, when I wore a cool adaptation of my old favorite spoon steampunk outfit, I mostly just chose nice bright ladylike dresses.
I've been hunting down, expanding, and investing in some day dresses in light packable fabrics. And a good thing too, day dresses look much better with flats and we've already discussed that crisis. On Thursday I wore my new blue and cream dress, paired with cream accessories.
I wore it with the matched jacket, day hat and low key pearls for daytime.
And switched the jacket out for an evening muff, the hat for a flowered hairband, the purse for a clutch, and the daytime pearls for an evening set for that night.
I love blue & cream (or blue & white) together. It's an elegant color combination and I just don't have enough of it in my wardrobe. I always think of Wedgwood china and the like when I see it, which reminds me of tea, which is no bad thing.
This outfit packs beautifully. As ever, here are some other takes on this classic combo for your perusal, fashionable reader. Let us start with some great retro options.
Here are links to a few up for purchase.
How about a few accessories?
For a modern take on this look I really love adding a touch of red. It remains ladylike but has a bit of an edge. Black tights can also work well, or simply choosing a dress that is a little more modern.
How about some lovely vintage versions?
And how about something for the characters to wear?
For Lord Akeldama . . .
For Monique in the Finishing School series . . .
For Alexia and Ivy in the Parasol Protectorate series . . .
For Ivy after Timeless . . .
And for Primrose in the Parasol Protectorate Abroad series . . .
Next up, another day dress at Comic Con! (You know you want one.) Until then I leave you with myself, manga Alexia, and a reader.
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
Under circumstances such as San Diego Comic Con standing out is a challenge. There are amazing cospay ladies everywhere, from comic book characters to steampunk to cross overs between the two. There are also lost of shorts and logo t-shirts, wings and hats, and robotic attachments.
So what did I decide to do in order to be unique? Well, frankly, just dress the way I normally do. With the exception of Saturday day, when I wore a cool adaptation of my old favorite spoon steampunk outfit, I mostly just chose nice bright ladylike dresses.
I've been hunting down, expanding, and investing in some day dresses in light packable fabrics. And a good thing too, day dresses look much better with flats and we've already discussed that crisis. On Thursday I wore my new blue and cream dress, paired with cream accessories.
I wore it with the matched jacket, day hat and low key pearls for daytime.
And switched the jacket out for an evening muff, the hat for a flowered hairband, the purse for a clutch, and the daytime pearls for an evening set for that night.
I love blue & cream (or blue & white) together. It's an elegant color combination and I just don't have enough of it in my wardrobe. I always think of Wedgwood china and the like when I see it, which reminds me of tea, which is no bad thing.
This outfit packs beautifully. As ever, here are some other takes on this classic combo for your perusal, fashionable reader. Let us start with some great retro options.
Dita-von-teese-westwood-louboutin; Dior 2011
Monique-Lhuillier; Louise-Roe-Rebecca-Taylor
stella_mccartney_resort
Here are links to a few up for purchase.
With a peplum and belt, so cute.
How about a few accessories?
Cornelia James blue leather driving gloves at corneliajames.com
For a modern take on this look I really love adding a touch of red. It remains ladylike but has a bit of an edge. Black tights can also work well, or simply choosing a dress that is a little more modern.
How about some lovely vintage versions?
1957 dior; 1955 Hubert de Givenchy, 1955 The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1950s blue & white dress by denise
1950's Blue & White Printed nylon chiffon vintage party dress John Selby
1940's White Blue Floral Swing Dress; 1930
And how about something for the characters to wear?
For Lord Akeldama . . .
1740 Waistcoat The Los Angeles County Museum of Art
For Monique in the Finishing School series . . .
1860 Wedding dress Metropolitan Museum of Art
For Alexia and Ivy in the Parasol Protectorate series . . .
1870 A blue dress circa from La Mode Illustree
For Ivy after Timeless . . .
And for Primrose in the Parasol Protectorate Abroad series . . .
1890's Blue Dress with Lace
Next up, another day dress at Comic Con! (You know you want one.) Until then I leave you with myself, manga Alexia, and a reader.
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Book Outfits ~ Changeless
So, Fashionable Reader, I am procrastinating terribly and have decided to post one of my occasional book outfit posts. Today, we will take a look at Changeless.
Book the Second of the Parasol Protectorate is all greys and black and teal. I've two outfits influenced by this book and formal one, as you see above and the flowing, which is more casual.
I love Alexia's dress on this cover, it's probably my favorite. In fact, I had it made up for me from Clockwork Couture.
One of the things I really love about the Changeless cover is the range of teal to turquoise in both the dress and an script background slashes.
Here are some Retro Rack friendly images I've collected inspired by this cover, starting with some fun vintage pieces.
1930s Timeless Vixen Vintage; 1932 The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Here we have some retro images.
And here are a few modern takes on this color pallet.
Some interior design inspiration from this color pallet.
Something for Sophronia to wear in the Finishing School Series
Something for young Prudence to wear, in between the Parasol Protectorate and the Parasol Protectorate abroad books.
And I will leave you with . . . cake!
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
Book the Second of the Parasol Protectorate is all greys and black and teal. I've two outfits influenced by this book and formal one, as you see above and the flowing, which is more casual.
I love Alexia's dress on this cover, it's probably my favorite. In fact, I had it made up for me from Clockwork Couture.
One of the things I really love about the Changeless cover is the range of teal to turquoise in both the dress and an script background slashes.
Here are some Retro Rack friendly images I've collected inspired by this cover, starting with some fun vintage pieces.
1912 Tunic dress Museum Purchase
1940 nov; 1953 Norman Norell The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1960 Hubert de Givenchy The Metropolitan Museum of Art; 1961 Roger Vivier for Dior, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Here we have some retro images.
And here are a few modern takes on this color pallet.
Some interior design inspiration from this color pallet.
Something for Sophronia to wear in the Finishing School Series
1860s The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Something for young Prudence to wear, in between the Parasol Protectorate and the Parasol Protectorate abroad books.
1885 Girl’s Dress The Los Angeles County Museum of Art
And I will leave you with . . . cake!
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
