fashion for faith in four colors: brown accessories
Showing posts with label brown accessories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brown accessories. Show all posts

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Hayward in Brown Gingham

So recently, Fashionable reader, there was a little gathering in Hayward at the Golden Tea Garden with members of The Book Shop round the corner. I chose one of the dresses I purchased for Comic Con but didn't end of wearing, a brown gingham.


As you can see, others were also dressed for the occasion. This dress is similar to my brown plaid, but different enough in cut and fabric that I decided it was worth having two dresses both in the same color pallet and check family.


One of my favorite things about this dress is the bow detail at the neck. You can't see it in the photo above because it was off the dress while I made some repairs. But trust me, it's cute.


Often vintage dresses have bow details at the waist.


Which I must say I also adore, but it's always fun to find a dress that has some kind of neck line interest, I feel it detracts from the Rack and draws the eyes up to the face.

Geoffrey Beene, 1960s  Augusta Auctions

This particular dress is back to my old standard of pencil dresses.


I like full skirt day dresses, and I wore many of them at Comic Con. The full skirt balances out my top half, and I think it looks better with flats than most other styles.

 Vintage and retro takes on the check skirt and top.

 Wallis in a day dress with blue accessories (so chic) and a retro take on a drop wasted day dress.

That said, and even knowing the practicality of a day dress, I have always preferred the pencil. Could be the sexy librarian aspect, could be that the day dress sometimes seems too sweet for my personality.


The pencil dress is more aggressive, more va va voom. I like to imagine that's more me.


1952

I always try to wear pencil dresses with heels but my ankle is still not mended. (I hate being old!) So I am confined to flats. I am inordinately upset about this. I'm loosing the beautiful summer months and my lovely lovely collection of heeled sandals is languishing because of this stupid ankle. I might have to do a bit of an Ode to the Unworn post soon, just to stay sane. So for this tea, I had to wear my oxfords, again. Ho hum. I seem to be living in these shoes these days. Thank goodness I have six pairs, a color for every possible outfit.


Back to the tea. The company was charming, the tea admirable, and the food tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.


I selected an English Breakfast, because I have no imagination when it comes to tea and every time I sally forth into another blend I'm disappointed. And of the nibbles the roast beef and horse radish was my favorite by far.


After chattering away about books and writing and such I signed really quickly and then scuttled off back into the night, or whatever.


Here,jsut for amusement sake is decorating with brown gingham. Not really to my taste, I'd rather wear it.


I often get questions about a modern take on my ultra-retro looks. If I were to modernize this dress I'd probably pair it with an off print, like argyle, or go tough with a black leather jacket and boots.


Lastly I leave you with a hat for Ivy, inspired by my seat mate at the tea.


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

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.)

1890-1895 Tea Gown  Worth  The Royal Ontario Museum

For underneath . . .

1890s


And something for Rue's dear friend Primrose . . .

1890 worth

Perfect for traveling by dirigible.

And for the Queen of the Wimbledon hive?

1890 worth

So extravagant, but then, she's like that.

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