Circus Summer Lookbook: A Trip to the Beach!

Our latest Circus summer lookbook is all about laid back vintage style, that’s perfect for staying cool, calm, and stylish, no matter where these sunny days take you! We were inspired by vintage photos of some of our favorite old school Hollywood icons letting their hair, and their guards, down in relaxed and playful shoots by the sea. We knew the beach would be the ideal location for us to showcase the latest summer collection from Circus. As always, the collection is jam packed with fun and unique patterns, bright, fresh summery colours, and flattering shapes made from light, comfy, breathable fabrics – and all designed by the team here at Carousel in Dublin to boot!

Keeping things casual, we decided to keep hair and make up simple and not too groomed. Although many of these dresses look just as fab dressed up with heels and accessories, we paired them with simple sandals and pumps for a beach look that’s just right. We think the resulting look book is dreamy and romantic, but playful and relaxed at the same time, and reminds us of long summer days gone by spent at the beach. We can feel the sand between our toes! Take a look at a selection below, and let us know what you think. You can shop all the looks included in the lookbook here.

vintage inspiration beach moodboard

Some of our vintage inspiration

circus vintage style summer lookbookGina polka dot dress

Circus Olivia dress summer lookbookOlivia Boat Dress

Circus summer lookbook at the beachGloria Polka Dot Dress

vinatge inspired beach lookbookDebbie Boats Dress

Dublin seaside summer lookbook Lily Striped Dress

We also made a video lookbook, so you can see the collection in action, take a look below!

The Circus summer collection is here!

The Circus summer collection has arrived! We couldn’t wait to try the new pieces on and take to the streets and parks of Dublin to see how they look. Summertime means sunshine, warmth, fun and colour, so of course this collection is infused with bright colours, fun patterns, comfortable breathable  fabrics, all combined with gorgeous vintage inspired shapes.  As Circus is designed and made by the team here at Carousel, we are always very excited when we get our hands on the finished product. Then we can get to the best part – wearing the clothes! Take a look at some of the new arrivals below, with plenty more available online here.Circus Vivien vintage style dress

Add some bright blooms to your wardrobe with our collection of floral patterns from Circus – flowers are always a summer staple. This Vivien dress is a showstopper, with a gorgeous combination of rich purple and reds.

Circus Lana tropical print sun dress

This new Lana dress has us feeling totally tropical! We love the adjustable straps – they ensure a perfect fit that’s just right for you! We’ll be wearing this beauty on all our sunny holiday adventures this year.

Circus Claudette sun dress

In a light denim like material and covered in a sprinkling of daisies, this Claudette is great for keeping things cool and casual on warm summer days in the city.

Circus Vivien 1940s inspired dress

This bright and pretty tulip pattern Vivien dress will ensure you stand out this summer! We love the warm deep orange colour and unique 1940’s inspired tea dress shape.

Circus summer collection new Nina dress

So fresh! The blue and white stripes on this new Nina dress reminds us of the seaside and ice cream – which is exactly what we plan on eating all summer, so we are so glad for those flattering vertical stripes! This versatile dress shape can be easily dressed up or down, and we can see ourselves wearing it to all kinds of summer occasions.

Circus summer collection seperates polka dot Anita skirtDon’t forget your separates! Mixing and matching from our range of blouses and skirts means you will have endless outfit options this summer. This Anna blouse and cute Anita skirt are a match made in heaven.

Circus summer range designed in Ireland by Carousel

Take a look at our lil’ video below to see these looks in action. All of these pieces, and more, are available in our new arrivals section here now. Keep your eyes peeled for more new pieces being added to the Circus summer collection very soon!

The Circus Spring Summer 2016 Preview!

 

We recently hosted an in store event for members of the press to preview the new Circus Spring Summer 2016 range. Circus is a vintage style clothing range, and is Irish owned and designed in house by the team here at Carousel in Dublin. Needless to say, we are very proud of this line, and we were excited to get a chance to show off the new Spring Summer pieces to members of the press!

Models with vintage style dresses at Carousel Press night

Our lovely models headed to Makeup Forever on Clarendon Street to get their make-up done and get the build up to the event started.

Circus Spring Summer 2016 clothing range sneak peekAs make up was underway, back at our Exchequer street store we prepped our selected looks for fittings. We wanted to show a range that would best represent what Circus is all about  – vintage inspired, unique, feminine, fun, and with oodles of personality. There’s so many shapes we adore in the Circus range that it was hard to chose, but we eventually narrowed it down to nine.

Vintage style Brigitte fit and flare floral dressThe nine looks we featured included some best selling and timeless shapes, like the Brigitte dress above, which we have made available in a variety of colours and patterns. We think this dress’s popularity comes from its versatility – it’s so easy to style for all occasions!

Circus Ingrid Fern dress 1940s styleWe also wanted to preview some of our new patterns and vivid colours for Spring/Summer, many of which have already proven a hit with customers, such as this Ingrid fern print dress, above.

Circus vintage inspired blue dressIn Spring and Summer we like to reintroduce some of our sleeveless or strappy shapes, like the Sylvia and Claudette dresses. We will also shorten sleeves on our popular winter shapes, making them perfect for sunny weather!

Circus Spring Summer 2016 Claudette dress We got the show on the road once our guests had arrived and had some refreshments. Betty took everyone through each individual look, giving the details of each shape, their inspiration, and tips on how to style the pieces.

Circus spring summer 2016 range Charlotte dress

Green twiggy shift dress from CircusThe evening went off without a hitch, so of course we all felt like we deserved a glass of bubbly to celebrate! You can take a look at all the new Circus Spring Summer 2016 arrivals here, with more on the way next week.

Carousel staff and models celebrate press night wrap up

Behind the Scenes at our Brooklyn movie inspired Xpose shoot!

When TV3’s Xpose wanted to do a shoot inspired by the 1950’s fashion of the Saoirse Ronan movie Brooklyn they knew who to come to – Carousel! With many of our ranges being inspired by the vintage styles of fashion eras such as the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s, we have plenty of pieces that give you that Brooklyn movie look.

Shot on the dramatic and gorgeous grounds of Malahide castle, the looks put together by stylist Kate O’Toole really whisked us away to another time, with some beautifully inspired outfits. We’ll be wearing some of these looks when we go see the movie, out today! Take a look below for a peek behind the scenes, or you can watch the TV3 Xpose feature here for some vintage inspired styling tips from Kate.

brooklyn movie Xpose 1950s behind the scenes

Brooklyn movie inspired style

brooklyn vintage inspired style

Brooklyn 1950s style

brooklyn movie fashion style

brooklyn movie inspired style saoirse ronan

TV3 Xpose Brooklyn movie style costume

Brooklyn movie behind the scenes Xpose

Brooklyn saoirse ronan style 1950s dress

Behind the Scenes At Our Leafy Autumn Photo Shoot!

We had lots of fun this morning shooting some looks from the Autumn/Winter ranges from both Circus and Kyte. It had to be one of the loveliest, sunniest mornings there has been in Dublin for quite a while. We couldn’t stop laughing about how springlike the weather was as we were trying to get some darker Autumn/Winter vibes for our photos – that crazy Irish weather, always surprising us! We had to change our photo shoot plans for the day a bit, and put away the brollies, but we weren’t complaining

Take a look below at some behind the scenes shots from our shoot in St. Stephens Green park this morning. We’re very lucky that this great location is only a two minute walk from our newest Carousel store in Stephens Green Shopping Centre, so shooting there on this sunlit morning was a no brainer. The leafy lawns were perfect for having some fun throwing around leaves in the sun, and we highly recommend a visit there this Autumn as the trees lining the parks boulevards and pathways turn to gold and red.

behind the scenes Circus Autumn photoshoot

behind the scenes park autumn style

behind the scenes autumn leaves

stephens green park autumn dublin

You can get this Autumn look from our shoot today all at Carousel:

Ava Wisteria dress from Circus available here, 70s style hat available here, pink bolero available here.

autumn vintage style carousel

Dark Florals: A Trend We Love for Winter!

Trend Watch

 We’ve never shied away from a floral here in Carousel, so we’re always thinking of ways to incorporate them into our autumn/winter wardrobe. We’ve spotted a recent mini-trend on the red carpet for dark florals, especially floral prints on a black background, and we’re loving it! We’ve found a few great styles from our range to help you capture the look.

 celebrities black floral dress autumn looks

Kyte Lily Floral Dress

New in from our Kyte range, the Lily dress is perfectly chic. Wear with fabulous strappy heels like Elizabeth Banks for a great evening look.

Dark floral vintage style dress from Kyte

Circus Ingrid Dandelion Dress

It’s approaching that time of year when we start pulling out our boots and tights. The Ingrid dandelion print dress from Circus will look perfect wrapped up with winter woollies. We’re picturing a plum lip colour to really set it off!

 Dark florals 1940s Ingrid tea dress from Circus

Kyte Jackie Contrast Dress

Classic elegance can be yours in the new Jackie contrast dress. Ultra flattering and comfortable, it’s a new favourite with all the staff! We love the hint of print on the collar and pockets. Joan Holloway, eat your heart out!

 1960s Jackie shift dress from Kyte dark floral contrast

New at Carousel: Introducing the Circus Charlotte dress!

circus charlotte dress retro vintage style anchors

Designed here in Ireland by the team at Carousel, there’s a new dress shape from Circus in town! Introducing the Circus Charlotte dress (available here), a fun shirt dress shape with a shawl collar. This dress is inspired by the shirtwaist dresses that boomed in popularity during the 1940’s, and continue to be popular with lovers of all things classic and vintage nowadays.

With a sleeve length that’s just right for the end of summer, and soon to be available in a variety of colours and patterns, the Charlotte dress will see you stylishly into Autumn. The best thing about the Charlotte dress? In our opinion it has to be that full, flared circle skirt! It’s so flattering to all kinds of body shapes. The Carousel team have all tried this dress on, and it looks great on everyone! Easy to wear, and made from a comfortable cotton fabric, the Charlotte dress is perfect for laid back lunches or catching a movie with friends.

Introducing Kyte, Designed by Carousel + Arriving Soon!

Designed in house by the team here at Carousel, a new vintage inspired range called “Kyte” is due to arrive at the beginning of September! We’re so excited to be able to share a little sneak peek with you today, as the first samples have just arrived at Carousel HQ. We couldn’t wait to try them out for size, and see how they fit and look on us.

1950s vintage style dress Kyte sample

The first thing we noticed about the Kyte dresses is how comfortable they are. Made from fabric with a little bit of stretch, that extra bit of give guarantees a great fit for everybody. That, combined with their simple yet structured classic shapes, makes them flattering on all of us who tried them on – and we all have a range of body shapes here at Carousel! Each sample we received was in a solid colour, which makes for versatile and easy styling. We can see ourselves wearing them on a night out with a statement necklace and heels. They will also be available in vivid and fun patterned versions, a great way to make a style statement!

60's style Kyte dress vintage sample

We are loving summertime, but these samples have us wishing for Autumn, when we can see the finished frocks, and get our hands on some gorgeous Kyte pieces all for ourselves!

fit and flare dress Kyte sample red

Kyte sample retro shift dress Jackie o

1940s style vintage dress black Kyte sample

Which shape are you loving so far? Since everything at Carousel is always designed with you in mind, do let us know what you think!

Carousel xox

Sixties Style: We share our latest lookbook inspiration!

One of our favourite tasks is gathering together ideas and getting some lookbook inspiration. When a new collection is ready to be photographed, the team gets together, armed with many snacks, as well as visual queues to help us decide on an aesthetic. After the floral extravaganza that was our last lookbook, this time our imaginations were sparked by the slightly gritty street style snaps of 1960s London. We love the natural lighting, casual poses and brick backgrounds juxtaposed with fabulous outfits and stylised hair and make-up. We knew we had the ideal location in Stoneybatter, with its perfectly timeless brick rows of terraced houses, gorgeous original shopfronts and wrought-iron railings. It’s just brimming with charm and personality.

vintage fashion 1960's street style inspiration

Some of our favourite sources of inspiration include Swinging London style icons like Patti Boyd and Twiggy and movies like A Hard Day’s Night, Quadraphenia and A Taste of Honey. Our beauty cues came from iconic 60s brands like Biba and Vidal Sassoon. We love bold eyes and spidery lashes combined with fresh dewy skin and pale lips for a modern interpretation of a classic look. Hair referenced the full, voluminous locks associated with mod styles. Back-combing is a must!

lookbook inspiration jean shrimpton

All of our ideas are sparked by the stunning Circus dresses we’re working with. Just look at these vibrant colours and bold prints. Although all of the Circus range is vintage inspired, we picked out some of the newer pieces that we thought would suit our sixties vibe the best. Of course the Twiggy dress was first on our list, an easy to wear shift dress inspired by the style of the late 1960’s. To give the looks a modern twist, we decided we’d combine the dresses with one of our favorite shoe trends this summer  – metallic shoes!

circus patterns lookbook inspiration

No matter how well we planned the day, there was one thing we couldn’t predict or plan for – the Irish summer weather! So with fingers crossed for a sunny day (or at least no rain!) we started looking forward to our photoshoot day!

We hope you enjoy these behind-the-scenes peeks! Stay tuned for further looks at how we  put it all together. x

Trends we love: The Versatile and Vintage Pussy Bow!

Bow down to the Pussy Bow!

While the pussy bow is a decorative accent that has been added to blouses and dresses for a long time now, this bow at the neckline really started to take off in the 1930’s and 40’s. It has continued as a beloved trend since then, popping up in every style era through the 20th century. A popular choice with both vintage and modern icons alike, we love the pussy bow because of it’s versatility. A playful, feminine interpretation of the men’s neck tie, a pussy bow blouse or dress is the perfect foundation for a vintage style look. The best part about it is that, depending on how you style it, you can take your pick of vintage eras to base your look on. Also, you can dress it for so many different occasions – work, formal events, casual lunches – the skies the limit!

pussy bow blouse vintage inspiration

For a 1940’s/50’s look, combine your pussy bow blouse with a retro flared skirt, like the Anita skirt from Circus. Tuck it into a pencil skirt and add a beehive for a smart 1960’s look a la Mad Men. 1970’s vibes are big news this summer, so add flares and suede to get the look. Or keep things simple by pairing the 1960’s inspired Twiggy shift dress from Circus with some sandals or colorful brogues.

pussy bow blouse modern celebrity style inspiration

Modern celebs and style icons love the pussy bow too. They keep their outfit simple, putting the pussy bow as the focus and flair of the look. Wear yours this summer over skinny jeans or shorts with sandals for a casual, laid back but polished look. The Anna blouse from Circus, available in several colors and patterns, would be perfect for this look. Alternatively, you could pop your blouse under a sleeveless dress, letting the bow peep out over the neckline, creating a whole new dress! Add some fun to your work wear by combining a patterned pussy bow blouse, like the Donna from Circus, under a slick suit or blazer, creating a feminine power suit!

With some many options coming from one little neck bow, we think the pussy bow is our new summer wardrobe staple!