Here I am doing and interview on vintage, Fashionable Reader:
I think it's very important for a professional to dress well in her business sphere. Most of the time I never meet my readers, so when I have that opportunity I want to show them that I respect them by dressing beautifully. More specifically, my look is recognizable in a convention setting. Walking the halls at San Diego Comic Con I had a reader spot me and know who I was, even among all the cosplay and other madness. That's a win so far as I am concerned.
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| Coral custom eShakti |
Concerning your clothes: what do you like the most? What are your favorite brands, shops and creators?
I'm particularly proud of my corset collection. It's the work of many years and several of mine are couture custom pieces from Dark Garden. I have a long black 1970s teared gown I adore and various 1950s cocktail dresses from retired brands like I. Magnin. Lately, I've taken to ordering fully customized retro pieces from eShakti. I collect shoes as well, but not vintage. Mostly, I'm a bargain hunter, but I think it's very important to walk comfortably but beautifully, so leather shoes are my biggest investment. Via Spiga, Miz Mooz, and Sofft are my current favorite brands (sadly Fluevogs, Irregular Choice, and Chelsey Crew don't fit me).
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| Vintage 1950s I.Magnin |
How do you find such great vintage stuff?
I search thrift stores as well as specialty shops and I'm not hung up on size tags, cuts, or color ~ I'll try on anything. I know I can tailor/repair things myself if necessary. I shop for vintage whenever I can, even while traveling. This allows me to add special pieces (like scarves and gloves) to my collection as memories of places I've visited. I've been doing this for over 20 years. I still have a few accessorizes from my high school thrifting years. For example, while I was in England I visited Real McCoy in Exeter and found a wonderful teal velvet dress for my Waistcoats & Weaponry book launch (I like to dress to match my covers).
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| Vintage 1960s velvet |
I use an app called Stylebook to keep track of everything in my closet, so I don't over buy. Also, I keep with me a running list of holes in my wardrobe that I'm trying to fill. So far as jewelry is concerned, I don't buy "real," I think it's a waste of money. I have a number of metal allergies so even if I find a vintage piece I love I often can't wear it. In any given outfit my jewelry, shoes, underpinnings, and stockings are likely to be modern while everything else is vintage.
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.
You can also visit the following shopping lists: Travel Dork, My Steampunk, My Wardrobe.