Our latest outfit of the day all comes from Amazon.
I love it when I find a look that is both size-inclusive and affordable.
This black dress fits me beautifully and gives me the “new look” silhouette that I absolutely love. The fabric is soft and has stretch. It is size inclusive, going up to a 4xl. The size chart is accurate in the photo gallery. Not only that, but the price is right at $32.99. Get your own on Amazon.
The rest of the look also comes from Amazon. Click on these links to buy the petticoat, belt and beret.
I’ve always loved red lipstick. My grandmother, Doris, always wore a nice red lip. She preferred Fire and Ice by Revlon. Growing up, there were different trends in lipstick- the super gloss of the 70’s, the frosted lip of the 80’s, the nude and chocolate lip of the 90’s and so on. I tried them all, but I love coming back to the classic red lip.
Fire and Ice has too much of a warm undertone (yellow tones in the red) for me. I prefer the cool toned reds (blue tones in the red). How do you know which red is for you? Best way is to try them on in store. Take selfies and then compare them. Warm tones tend to work with people with darker skin, but the photos you take will show you which one is better for you. Take a look at the pictures below for examples. Russian Red is the cool toned red and Lady Danger is the warm toned red.
Once you know if you prefer warm or cool, then it is way easier to buy a red from any brand. Then you need to decide if you want matte or gloss finish and the level of pigment. That is purely a matter of preference.
I have some links in a variety of price points below. These are all cool toned reds, for reference.
When you are prepping a new dapper look for a convention or just trying to accessorize a new dress, one key item you need to think about are shoes to complete your look.
Here are a few styles that will work with vintage-inspired fashions. All the choices are reasonably priced with shopping links below as well as photo examples.
The Ballet Flat
This style is perfect for not only dresses, but pedal-pushers or capri pants as well. I’ve never been a big fan, because they have a tendency to give me a blister on my heels. However, I just found this flat from Skechers that stays put. The shoes also have more cushioning than the usual ballet flat. Buy your Skechers ballet flat here.
The Oxford
This shoe has a few different types as far as heel styles. There are flat, block heeled and traditional heeled options. I really love this block heeled version I got from Amazon. They have padding on the inside and the block heel gives me lots of support. Buy your Block-heeled Oxford here.
Classic Converse Chuck Taylors
This shoe is not only great for 50’s looks, but for 80’s, goth, punk or rock looks as well. It is the ultimate casual shoe. Now, while it is not padded on the inside, you can get insoles that provide support if you need it. Chucks come in every color imaginable, and a high-top version as well. Buy your classic Chucks here.
Saddle Shoes
Besides the Chuck Taylors, the other shoe that leaps to mind when someone is thinking about vintage 50s fashions is the saddle shoe. Named because the contrasting stripe resembles a saddle on the shoe. You can get saddle shoes in a variety of colors and even high heel versions, but the classic black and white flat-heeled version is the best way to go. Get your saddle shoes here.
Saddle shoes aren’t the best for long days on your feet, so I created a comfy version from a white sneaker. To create your own, will only take a few minutes of your time. Click here for the how-to instructions.
If you have any go-to styles for your dapper looks, please leave us a comment below. We love to hear from you!
Our latest outfit of the day is my new Creature From the Black Lagoon from Unique Vintage. There is also a men’s button-down shirt version, but unfortunately Benji’s is on backorder so we can’t show it to you in this post.
The dress and shirt are made from a super soft stretch taffeta. The print on the fabric is super bright and really beautiful.
Taffeta holds its shape really well, so I actually did not even wear a petticoat with the dress in these photos. I wore it to Son of Monsterpalooza in Burbank, and the day was pretty warm, so I was grateful to leave the crinoline at home!
I also was lucky enough to pick up the classic monster handbag in the photos from Rock Rebel at Son of Monsterpalooza.
Lastly, a quick bonus look is this cute cat pinafore from Kreepsville 666.
I get a lot of compliments as well as comments on my clothes, which I love, but one comment that gives me pause is a comment such as, “I wish I had places to wear a dress that fancy.”
OK, so first of all, it is really hard to be truly overdressed somewhere. Obviously, wearing a prom dress to work or a tuxedo to the grocery store is pretty over-the-top, but what about that great dress you bought to wear to someone’s wedding and is now languishing in the back of your closet (I just love that I got to use “languishing”, #englishmajor)? Well, use some great basics to dress it down for everyday.
Perfect example is my Haunted Mansion dress. My lovely boyfriend bought it for me for Dapper Day, and then I stopped wearing it. I love it, but the top has some ruching on the bodice that is very prom-y, so I stopped wearing it. Then, time passed and it was our anniversary. I wanted to wear the dress he bought me out on our date, but I didn’t have time to change after work. So, challenge accepted!
OK, so first, I needed to dress down the bodice. I did this with a cotton crop tee from Amazon. Just enough of the pretty ruching shows through.
Here are some more pictures of me wearing a Disney Dress Shop dress everyday. If you decide to take that dress out on the town, then add those dapper touches.
Honestly, dresses are instant outfits. You literally just throw them over your head, and you have a look. Now, more than ever, there are amazing choices for nerd bounding that are dress-and-go.
So, challenge yourself to take something that you originally visualized as super dapper or fancy and “dress it down” for everyday wear.
For our latest outfit of the day, we have a rockabilly take on Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.
We took these latest outfits out for a day at Hogsmeade Village during the holiday celebration at Universal Studios Hollywood.
This is a simple stylized cosplay that you can wear everyday if you want. I wear the pieces separately depending on where I’m headed. Ladies, you can add a bandana to your hair-do to add to the look.
This is really an easy cosplay to do. If you want to get started cosplaying, I always say that a good mash-up or stylized cosplay is a great way to get going.
Please send us your own ideas for stylized cosplays. We love to hear from you.
For part 2 of our Hogwarts Bound outfits of the day, we went in two different gender directions, but stayed in the dapper bound family for each look. All photos taken by Justin Davidson Photography. Book him here. You’ll be glad you did!
My dress is from CowCow. I really love this site. They have several different cuts and any kind of print you can imagine. You pick the print and the cut, and they make the dress for you. The delivery time is not very long (a couple of weeks) and the price is more than reasonable. Also, size inclusive! I’m wearing a size 3XL in the Cap Sleeve Front Wrap Midi Dress in Yellow Stars Print. Click on the link above to order your own.
This dress is so comfortable and versatile. I wear it to work, to Universal and out all the time. I love it! The print is perfect for a Hufflepuff like me or really any witch, to be honest. Regardless of your House.
My fascinator,Time Turner Necklace and gloves are from Amazon. Click on links to order. Shoes are a DIY that I will be covering in a later post. Wands from Olivander’s.
Scout’s vest is from Goodwill. Bow tie is from Amazon. Coat is my Deathly Hallows coat from Hot Topic. Button down from Amazon. Click on links to purchase.
Please share your pictures of your favorite bounding outfit with us. We love to hear from you! We love it when witches and wizards are hiding in plain sight.
No, not THAT one! This is a story about a tube of lipstick and how it is a connection to the happiest and most influential time in my childhood.
When I was a girl, I was fortunate enough to have Doris Fulford as my Grandmother. Doris wore Revlon’s Fire and Ice lipstick exclusively. Click here to get your own tube on Amazon!
Photo: Vintage Ad by Revlon
As you can see from the picture, Fire and Ice is a fantastic red lipstick that has been a Revlon staple since the 50s. Everyone should have a go-to red lipstick. Doris taught me that.
I got to borrow her lipstick and compact. When we were at home only, of course. I mean, a little girl wearing a red lip out in public “just wouldn’t do”. I felt pretty. I felt glamourous, just like her.
Doris had beautiful framed, top-clasp handbags all with matching shoes, which I would put on my tiny feet and shuffle around the house. Doris had hankerchiefs and hats. Doris wore gloves to church on Sundays. Doris had a group of friends with names like, “Madge” (her best friend’s actual name, by the way). They went to church, played bridge and went to the beauty shop together.
I drank all this in like a sponge. Just being around these ladies made me feel so glamourous! I was fussed over, but ignored just enough that I could employ my Dian Fosseyesque skills and observe and study. The Southern lady in her natural habitat…OBSERVE!
I got to wear dresses and spend time with them at the beauty shop. I was indulged and allowed to sit under one of those industrial size hair dryers that probably picked up signals from Sputnik. Cool air, of course, with a “Redbook” magazine to flip through with a very serious expression on my face. I mean, “Redbook” was serious business. So glamourous!
Which brings me back to the tube of lipstick. I carry it with me everywhere. Whether I go with a red lip that day or not. It reminds me of Doris, the bags with matching shoes, large hairdryers and the glamourousness it all entailed.
We all lost Doris in the early 80s, unfortunately. The example she set, however, was not lost. I grew up and fashion and beauty remained a huge part of my life. My kid and I started cosplaying, and then started a nerd fashion blog together.
I’d like to think that Doris would be proud of me and what I’ve accomplished. I couldn’t have done it without her.
The Oxford
