Serve Spring Style in our new Tennis Style Patterns!

March 13, 2018

Game, set, match! Spring is finally in the air, and that means new arrivals at Carousel. We are so excited to start sharing our latest styles from our Circus range, all designed in house here in Dublin, and produced ethically in collaboration with our factory in India.

We have lots of new patterns and colours now available, all in our popular, vintage inspired shapes of course. One new pattern we are very excited about is this fun and colourful tennis style pattern!

New tennis style Circus pattern

With a bright, multi colour print, this pattern looks great paired with bold, block colours for spring. This pattern makes us dream of summer. Watching tennis on a fresh lawn, sipping Prosecco and munching on some strawberries and cream

This gorgeously fun pattern is currently available in two dress shapes and a blouse. Lets take a closer look at these, and some styling ideas, below.

Tennis Style – The Brigitte Dress

In a timeless 1950’s inspired fit and flare shape, this dress reminds us of the simple but chic dress shapes favored by Audrey Hepburn.

Brigitte Dress: €65, Annabelle Cardigan: €49

Style it simply with a cute cardigan thrown over you shoulders for a laid back retro look. You could even layer a long sleeve polo or tee underneath for chillier days. Dress it up with an updo and some matching block colour pumps for fancier soirees. The Brigitte is so versatile, and that’s why we love it!

Tennis Style: The Anna Blouse

Spring is the perfect time for separates because they give you the opportunity to mix and match, and make endless outfits. This is also handy for Springs more, shall we say, temperamental, weather! You can layer up or layer down, dependent on the weather.

Our Anna blouse shape is a must have for your separates collection. You can wear it out loose over jeans for a laid back look, or tucked into a smart skirt for work. Peek the Anna’s necktie out over a jumper or cardi to add a darling detail to any look.

Anna blouse: €45, Marci Skirt: €59, Annabelle Cardigan: €49, Bag sold in-store only

We styled this look by pairing block colour pieces with our tennis style pattern, to really let the pattern speak for itself. We’ve kept the look bright and bold though, because we want our style to stand out this Spring! Stay with the tennis theme, and keep it comfy, by wearing this outfit with some white sneakers. This look is perfect for a shopping trip and some lunch with the girls.

Tennis Style: The Ingrid Dress

It’s always time for tea in our 1940’s inspired Ingrid dress. We can see ourselves sipping tea from vintage porcelain outside on a green lawn this summer in the gorgeous new Ingrid tennis dress. With cute details, like the button up bodice, fold over collar, and cap sleeves, this dress is so, so cute and unique.

Ingrid Dress: €59, Cardigan: €49

We’re complimenting this look with a darling sky blue cardigan, and would add other layers and accessories in dainty feminine shades, to let the colours of the pattern really stand out. This dress would look great paired with some retro sandals and straw hat this Spring/Summer season!

So, if you’re ready to serve some vintage inspired, tennis style this Spring, head over to m2.ilovecarousel.com now to net yourself one of these gorgeous styles!

The Circus Spring Summer 2016 Preview!

March 21, 2016March 22, 2016

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.

As 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.

The 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!

We 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.

In 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!

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.

The 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.

New at Carousel: Introducing the Circus Charlotte dress!

August 11, 2015August 11, 2015

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!

July 30, 2015

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

The Circus Vera dress from Carousel, Ideas and Inspiration - vintage - retro - fashion -style

Circus Design & Inspiration Ideas, Vera

November 17, 2014November 17, 2014

Wondering what the inspiration was behind the Circus Vera dress design? Well wonder no more….

Vera Ellen was a dancer starring in the likes of ‘White Christmas’ and ‘On the Town’. She danced with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly,Danny Kaye and Donald O’Connor amongst others. She was graceful, vivacious and energetic and we think that sums up the Vera dress. Featuring 2 punchy patterns, one a bird design in an autumnal colour scheme and one a more Vintage-inspired navy & brown floaral pattern. The dance influence is in the pleats of the skirt creating a great little kick…very swishable 😉

Here’s the final design & inspiration for the Vera-

The Circus Vera dress from Carousel, Design and Inspiration Ideas

In other news our Design team have come back with loads of ideas and different fabric swatches for the next season! You helped to contribute to this process by choosing your favourite fabric patterns and colours via Twitter and Facebook. As you can see from the pictures below there are a lot of really different prints and patterns to choose from so it can be a tough job! We really can’t wait to show you our ideas for future designs. We know you’re going to love them.

Ideas and Inspiration - vintage - retro - fashion -style

Our Design Team hard at work Finalising Designs and Fabrics

We will be back here in a few days with more news from Carousel Headquarters. In the meantime have you checked out our videos? We’re having a bit of fun talking about our Circus designs and showing you how to style yourself up! They are a work-in-progress but we’re learning quickly. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that :D. Check them out here: Carousel on Youtube

Talk soon! Carousel, xoxo

Circus-Carousel-Inspiration-Ideas-Peggy-Skirt-Spring-Summer-2015

‘Circus’ Design & Inspiration Ideas, 5

November 10, 2014

Things are really kicking off here at Carousel as our Circus design team have headed to distant shores. As we speak they are sourcing all of our Spring/Summer 2015 fabrics…some of which you contributed to in your Twitter, Facebook and blog comments!

New Ideas for the Circus Peggy skirt Spring/Summer 2015

We’re working on the Circus design & inspiration ideas for the Circus Peggy skirt (above). We love this ‘Patriot Blue’ Pantone colour as an alternative to black and the daisy print is just darling.

We’ve got parcels going off all around the world today. Loving that people from Galway to Germany are wearing our designs. ther won’t be any mention of the ‘C’ word just yet but here’s a head’s up to prepare yourself for the seasonal rush. We stock a limited number of sizes and while we do replenish stock it’s safer to get in there while you’re thinking of it.

Carousel - Circus - Deisgn 7 Inspiration - Packages - November - 2014 - m2.ilovecarousel.com

Some of the packages ready to go to their new owners!

Lots of new Winter stock has arrived with more due tomorrow. We’re photographing it right now so it should be online by tomorrow.

Photoshoot - Fur Coat - Carousel - Circus - ilovecarousel - Design & Inspiration

Shooting one of our gorgeous fur coats in the studio

We’ll be back here with more updates on Friday!

See you then, Carousel, xoxo

Carousel-Circus-Window Display-Ideas-Inspiration

‘Circus’ Design & Inspiration Ideas, 3

November 4, 2014

We’ve been working away with new Circus designs & Vintage inspiration ideas. We’re so excited to hear that we have a delivery of new items coming in next week!!

It definitely reflects the direction we’re going in for Autumn/Winter 2014. Slightly darker colours that integrate well with your winter wardrobe but brightened up with cute prints like polka dots and air balloons.

Here’s three of those new dresses-

Circus-New-Dresses-Autumn-Winter-2014-2015-Vintage-Retro-Carousel-m2.ilovecarousel.com

New Circus Designs! Dots, Polka Dots, Air Balloon

We’re also choosing fabrics for the Spring/Summer Joan dress. Who doesn’t love florals and tiny polka dots? Kate Middleton certainly is, and if it’s good enough for a Duchess it’s good enough for us!

Circus-Carousel-iLoveCarousel-Vintage-Retro-Design-Dress-Joan Crawford

Circus Design Inspiration: Fabric options for the Joan dress

Our window displays are becoming a thing of pride recently…Ali in the shop is our Window Display expert and she’s done a fantastic job.

Ali getting stuck in to our newest Carousel Window Display

We’re busy little bees at Carousel HQ so check back here on Saturday for another update!

Love, Carousel xoxo

Circus Design & Inspiration Ideas

October 28, 2014

We want to let you in on how our ‘Circus’ designs come to be.

Our design process is simple- we take inspiration from Vintage silhouettes and actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood ie. Audrey Hepburn, Joan Crawford. From this we get our dress shapes like the shift, the Teadress, and the classic A-Line.

Circus Design Inspiration Twiggy

We’re currently designing our Spring range so we’re picking from all these amazing fabrics. We’re thinking of one of these prints for our Twiggy dress. Small patterns are great for Spring while the pink and blue will still tie in well with your Winter wardrobe.

Let us know which fabric you prefer in the comments below.

All the best, Carousel xoxo

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Vintage inspired, Irish owned & designed

Tag: design