Tag: Dublin

Summer Brights: New Vintage Inspired Summer Dresses

It’s been a hot, hot summer so far, and the sunshine doesn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon.  We adore bright colour all year round, but now, more than ever, is really the perfect time to shine in some vivid hues. Combine that with some easy to wear vintage inspired shapes and you will have the summer wardrobe of dreams! Lets take a closer look at some of our latest arrivals. With a rainbow palette, these dresses are a perfect pick for summer.

vintage inspired style bright dress

The Stella Dandelion Seed Dress, €69.00

First of all, we’re starting with our new Stella dress from Circus, pictured above. This popular dress shape is inspired by the style of the 1940s. It features slightly puffed short sleeves, a crossover v shape neckline, a wide, high waistband, and a flared skirt. Our favorite thing about this latest version of the Stella, is it’s quirky dandelion seed pattern on a vivid red-orange background. This a dress you will really stand out in! With it’s glamorous vintage inspired shape, this dress is ideal for fancier soirees this summer. We would pair it with an up-do and some heels for a unique look for a night out.

vintage inspired fashion summer brights

Floral Long Sleeve Dress from Perfect Day, €59.00

Next is the cutest sunshine yellow dress from Perfect Day. A bit more casual than our Stella dress, this dress features a shirt-dress shape, and a dainty floral pattern. It also features long sleeves, which are great for some light coverage to protect your arms on sunny days. We would wear this dress to cinema dates and concerts with friends. You can wear it with some brogues or boots, and a denim jacket, for a dressed down but ladylike look.

Vintage style wrap dress

The Issy Wrap Dress, €69.00

Our Issy wrap dress is such a versatile dress, and that’s why we love it. You could choose it as a bright alternative to boring old pinstripe work-wear. This dress will bring you straight from the office to after work drinks! The Issy features a 1970s inspired wrap shape that fully opens, so this dress shape is always a popular choice with our customers who are breastfeeding. Long sleeves make this a dress that’s great for chillier days or air conditioned offices, and will take you into the Autumn season also.

Vintage inspired summer dress

The Joan Butterfly Dress, €65.00

The Joan dress is another of our popular wrap shapes. In contrast to the Issy, the Joan dress does not open all the way, but instead has a pretty wrap effect bodice, removable belt, and flared skirt. You can pair it with bright and contrasting accessories for a radiant look that screams “summertime”!

With lots more new arrivals now available online, and in our stores in Dublin, Cork, and Galway,  you will certainly have a bright and shiny summer at Carousel! You can shop all of our new arrivals here now.

 

 

 

Summer Seaside Style with Circus

Happy first week of June! It’s officially summer, and we’ve certainly been feeling the summer vibes the last few days here at Carousel. The sun has been shining, and we’ve been enjoying a lil’ bit of a heat wave here in Ireland. We also have lots of new arrivals in, with seaside inspired colours and patterns that are perfect for summer time!

These patterns remind us of care free days spent by the sea. Scrambling and exploring the coastline, paddling in the cool water, and trying to eat a deliciously sweet ice cream before it melts. These dresses are bursting with all of the fun of summer holidays by the beach, with seashells and seahorses, fishes and boats. These pieces from Circus are great for holidays, summer soirees, and unique wedding guest outfits. Bring a piece of summer seaside style into your everyday wardrobe, even when you’re far away from the beach!

Summer seaside style gold fish pattern

The Brigitte Goldfish Dress, €65.00

Dresses like the Brigitte Goldfish Dress (pictured above) are so versatile.  This dress is great for quirky work-wear,  that will take you straight from the office to dinner and drinks in a sunny beer garden. This 1950s inspired fit and flare dress is made from 100% cotton, so is also lovely and breathable. Another 100% cotton option is our Clipper boats pattern, pictured below. This pattern is available in two gorgeous vintage inspired shapes, the Joan wrap dress, and the Fay shirt dress.

Summer seaside style vintage inspired boats

The Joan Clipper Dress, €65.00

Do you want under the sea style without getting so much as a toe wet? With our range of seashell and seahorse patterned dresses, tops, and skirts, like the Stella seashell dress pictured below, now you can! These adorably fun patterns are all set against a fresh blue background. The Stella dress looks great simply paired with some bright strappy heels for summer occasions. If you don’t want to fully dive into summer seaside style, why not take a little dip with one of our printed tops or skirts.  Pair these with some jeans or a plain t-shirt for a toned down beach inspired look.

The Stella Seashell Dress, €69.00

If you’re looking for some tropical vibes, we have you covered with our blooming tropical flower pattern. We even have some exotic fruits like bananas and pineapples to add to this tropical cocktail! Inspired by classic 1950’s dress shapes, and the Hawaiian and Tiki style that were very popular in the United States at the time. Our vivid floral pattern is available in three  dress shapes – the Nellie, the Brigitte, and the Fay.

Summer seaside style with tropical flowers

Left to Right: The Nellie Tropical Dress, €69.00, The Brigitte Tropical Dress, €65.00, The Fay Tropical Dress, €65.00

Pair these dresses with some vintage inspired sandals and a large flower in your hair for the full 1950’s Old Hollywood South Pacific effect! These looks would be gorgeous for holidays, and like many of the other dresses above, they are all 100% cotton, so will keep you cool and looking fabulous on hot days.

summer seaside style tropical inspiration

Vintage Tropical Inspiration

Carousel Summer: Patterns, Press and Puppies

Carousel Summer: Patterns, Press and Puppies

Welcome back to the blog! We’re here to keep you updated on everything Carousel – from design news to event information and everything in between. Happy Carousel summer shopping!

Hot off the press

It’s been an exciting summer so far here at Carousel. While the bees are busy with the blooming flowers , the papers have been abuzz about our own brightly coloured creations.  On the 28th of June, we were delighted to be featured in the New York Times as one of the Five Places to Shop in Dublin! In a piece written by Elaine Glusac, we were mentioned alongside some of our favourite boutiques and restaurants in the city centre. The article touts our brand Circus and our beloved A-line skirts and unique vintage-inspired dresses and blouses. You can read the piece here!

Carousel summer 5 places to shop in Dublin New york Times article

If that wasn’t enough press coverage for one summer, on July 17 we were featured in the Irish Times Magazine. Irish Times fashion editor Deirdre McQuillan interviewed Carousel creator Tom Walsh about the story of Carousel and how Circus came to be. In the piece, Tom speaks about Carousel’s modern vintage style and the importance of Irish design. We’d like to thank Deirdre for her article and for continually promoting Irish design and small Irish companies.

Irish Times in interview with Circus creator Tom Walsh

canines at carousel

We held our first pup-friendly event  in our Exchequer Street shop on July 19. We opened our doors to our furry friends to raise money for Dogs in Distress. This brilliant charity works to find foster homes and forever homes for their rescue dogs. Between the hours of five and seven, we allowed our canine companions into the store and took donations for the charity in exchange for a personalised portrait of our customers’ pups. We offered a 15% discount on our Circus range on the night and 10% of all proceeds went to Dogs in Distress. Keep up to date with our Facebook page for information on more of our events!

dog photography and shopping night at Carousel summer Dublin

 

Desserts and Dresses: Our Photoshoot in Laduree Dublin

Photographing our new stock is always a pleasure, but when we get to use a fun, or in this case a delicious, location it is all the more exciting.  We try and switch things up as much as possible, and we are very lucky to have lot’s of great places to shoot around this fair city.

This week our neighbours at Laduree Dublin let us use their pastel and pretty surroundings to photograph some of our new arrivals, and boy did we have a sweet time.

Laduree dublin vintage style dress

This location really transported us, it didn’t feel like we were in Dublin anymore! It was like stepping back in time to the court at Versailles, a tea (dress) party held by Marie Antoinette herself! Macaroons and sugared almonds galore.  We just had to indulge post shoot – Pistachio being the groups favorite.

Laduree Dublin shop photoshoot

We welcomed two new shapes to our collection this month.  We have the ‘Cora‘ (below) and the ‘Sadie‘  that are two very different styles, but both have that nostalgic vintage inspired look that we are all about!

Laduree Dublin with the Cora 1940s inspired dress

The ‘Sadie’ (below) features an ascot style collar and a simple shift shape.  It comes in a cool cotton so its perfect for Summer.  Then once Autumn is upon us you can team it with navy tights and a cardi.

Laduree Sadie boats dress lookbook

The ‘Cora’ is a 1940’s tea dress dream and slotted right in to our setting. It has a wide waistband that cinches in the waist beautifully with cap sleeves and a shirt collar.

Laduree dublin Brigitte dress morning tea

We have also gotten some of our best selling and timeless classic shapes back in stock, in new colours and patterns for summer. These include the fit and flare Brigitte dress (above), now available in a fresh and fun botanic pattern. Back by the popular demand, the darling Ava dress in green (below), covered in an adorable pattern of swooping swallows and cute clouds, in now also back in stock, and available here.

Laduree Dublin vintage style maccaroons

Laduree Dublin Vintage Ava dress Dublin

Thank you to Laduree Dublin for allowing to use your beautiful surroundings. We think the combination of vintage inspired dresses and pretty macaroons is a match made in heaven!

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!

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

Carousel-Circus-Colour-Umbrella-Autumn-Winter-Fall-Shop

‘Circus’ Design & Inspiration Ideas, 4

Another week in Carousel and more Circus design & inspiration ideas. We have our sketches, inspired by Vintage fashion, and now we’re choosing fabric for the charming Shirley blouse.

This has a cute Peter Pan collar and a box shape so we’ve taken advantage of that by covering it in a cute print. Here’s what we’re thinking in terms of pattern and colour scheme-

Circus-Carousel-Shirley-vinatge-Retro-fashion-Style-Inspiration-Ideas

New Ideas for Shirley Blouse Spring/Summer 2015

Meanwhile we were doing a photoshoot yesterday with Betty. We’re all about brightening up the dull weather with pops of bright colour!

Carousel-Circus-Colour-Umbrella-Autumn-Winter-Fall-Shop

Brightening up the streets outside the store!

The dress Betty is wearing here is the Circus Keyhole dress (available at http://bit.ly/1tPkXOj ) . We’ve just discovered how well this shade of blue goes with purple!!

And how cute is this bobble hat? <3

Design & Inspiration-Bobble Hat- Carousel-Dublin-Winter-Autumn-Fall-Hat

Bobble Head Betty! click on the image for outfit details…

You can get the bobble Hat outfit details here: http://m2.ilovecarousel.com/get-the-look.html .

Enjoy your weekend! Love, Carousel. xoxo