Summer Brights: New Vintage Inspired Summer Dresses

July 24, 2018

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Desserts and Dresses: Our Photoshoot in Laduree Dublin

July 11, 2016

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

June 13, 2016

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.