Spring/Summer 2022 Collection

March 28, 2022July 12, 2022

Spring/Summer 2022 Collection Launches at ilovecarousel.com

A sustainable collection of clothing, designed in Dublin and ethically made in our partner factory, Good Earth India.

The Circus Spring/Summer 2022 collection aims to invoke a sense of nostalgia in the wearer. The vintage colour palette brings a softness to the collection. And the retro-inspired prints inject a huge amount of personality into each piece. You’ll find beautiful vintage florals, colourful graphic prints, fun retro repeats and soft classic stripes in the Circus SS22 collection.

This past year, we have spent time sourcing sustainable fabrics and registering with Lenzing™, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). We are delighted to say that we now only use BCI or Organic cotton, Lenzing™ EcoVero™, deadstock or other sustainable fabrics in our collections. Currently we are also looking at introducing bamboo derived fabrics and Tencel.

We can say with full confidence that we know the manufacturing journey a Circus piece makes from beginning to end. We collaborate closely with our partner factory, Good Earth India. It’s a spacious, modern factory with comfortable conditions for all its employees. The factory adheres strictly to a minimum working age and maximum working hours per week. The workspaces are well lit and air conditioned. There are policies in place to deal with workers safety, protecting the environment, and sexual harassment in the workplace. Good Earth India has recently been GOTS certified to manufacture organic garments.

A selection of our Spring/Summer 2022 collection is already available to buy at ilovecarousel.com:

Ava Painted Flower Dress – €75.00 – Size UK 8-16

Jazz Daisy Print Dress – €79.00 – Size UK 8-16

Anna Antique Floral Top – €49.00 – Size UK 8-16

Jasmine Wave Print Skirt – €65.00 – Size UK 8-16

Livia Circle Print Dress – €79.00 – Size UK 8-16

Don’t forget, there’s free shipping to Ireland & the UK on orders over €50. And we’re very excited that we can now offer free returns to our Irish-based customers. Simply drop us an email letting us know your order number and the items you’d like to return, and we’ll generate a free return label for you.

Send your free returns requests and any questions you may have to support@ilovecarousel.com.

The Carousel Team xoxo

A Peak at our Nostalgic Spring/Summer 2021 Collection

February 17, 2021February 23, 2021

We’re all looking forward to brighter days and warmer weather. The team at Carousel are no different and this year we’ve created our happiest and most radiant collection yet! We wanted to create beautiful vintage style clothing that will put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step.

The Ava is a gorgeous shirt dress inspired by the glamour of the 1940s. Perfect your vintage style with elegant cap sleeves, a removable belt and a full a-line skirt. Featuring detailed yellow sunflowers printed on a rich blue cotton with teal undertones.

The Ava Midi Sunflower Dress, €79, Available Now

We’ve created a collection of vintage inspired clothing that celebrates our nostalgic memories of summer as a child. There is a reassuring comfort in remembering our childhoods fondly, and we all need a bit of comfort at the moment. When creating our prints we were inspired by moments such as; occupying ourselves picking flowers, spending our pocket money on penny sweets, splashing through puddles after a rain shower and of course trips to the seaside.

Splash through puddles in our Ingrid Umbrella Dress, €65, Available Now

We design our own brand “Circus” at Carousel that celebrates individuality, femininity and nostalgia. Our aim is to create fun and flattering clothing that empowers the wearer, with a touch of vintage flair. We’re very excited about our Spring/Summer 2021 collection and we can’t wait to hear what you think! A few items from the collection are available now. And the rest of the pieces will be available at ilovecarousel.com over the next few weeks.

The Nova Geo Floral Dress, €69, Available Now

We have created a selection of our Spring/Summer 2021 pieces using Organic Cotton. We’ve also started to introduce our new recyclable packaging. And of course, each piece of clothing is ethically made in our partner facory, Good Earth India.

Sweeten up your wardrobe with our Twiggy Lolly Dress, €65, Available Now

From the beginning of Carousel in 2001, we have focused on doing things the right way. We believe in order to deliver exceptional vintage style, we need to design our products alongside our values. And so our aim is to create excellent vintage inspired clothing for women to enjoy and feel good about wearing!

This quirky baby cactus design is printed on 100% organic cotton, a first for Circus this Spring/Summer. The Maude dress features a classic shirt bodice with a gathered skirt for a relaxed and flattering shape. We designed this dress for you to find the fun in expressing your individual style every day.

The Maude Baby Cactus Dress, Made from 100% Organic Cotton, €69, Available Now

All of these items and many more vintage inspired pieces will be arriving at m2.ilovecarousel.com over the next few weeks.

We would love to hear what you think of our new collection! Get in touch on Instagram @ilovecarousel or tag us using #ilovecarousel.

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.

Summer Seaside Style with Circus

June 5, 2018

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!

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

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.

Some of our vintage inspiration

Gina polka dot dress

Olivia Boat Dress

Gloria Polka Dot Dress

Debbie Boats Dress

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!

April 18, 2016

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 skirt Don’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!

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.

Trends we love: The Versatile and Vintage Pussy Bow!

July 14, 2015

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!

First Ladies of Summer Style: Malia, Sasha, and Michelle Obamas Style

June 23, 2015

We have been taking lessons in chic, feminine summer style from the Obama ladies during their recent trips to London and Milan. We cannot get enough of Michelle, Malia, and Sasha’s mix of bright colours and bold patterns with elegant, vintage style shapes. Have you ever seen a more polished and put together family? They make looking this stylish look effortless, and we were inspired here at Carousel to recreate similar looks for you!

The fit and flare silhouette is clearly a favorite amongst the Obama ladies at the moment, and we can see why. A classic shape that was all the rage in the 1940’s and ’50’s, it continues to be a popular choice for many women today. The fit and flare flatters by nipping in the waist and giving you a great shape, but also allows movement and comfort with a full flared skirt. Team your fit and flare outfit of choice with sleek hair and pumps for that First lady look.

Fit and flare dresses are perfect for more formal occasions, but Michelle Obama nailed an easy to wear day time look when arriving in Milan. She combined a simple block colour top with a retro flared patterned skirt, a versatile look that can take you from work to a casual lunch. Keep accessories to a minimum, and your hair style simple, to let your chic, lady like outfits do all the talking!

Get Michelle Obamas style at Carousel!

(1.) Closet denim dress available here (2.) Amber chambray dress here (3.) Red Anna blouse from Circus here (4.) The Peggy sunnies skirt from Circus here (5.) Polka dot neck tie blouse here (6.) The 1950’s floral skirt here.

Michelle Obamaa style vintage fit and flare dress London

(7.) Closet floral pleat dress here (8.) The Brigitte star print fit and flare dress here.

Summer Style Inspiration: Keira Knightley in Begin Again

March 27, 2015

Our Carousel film recommendation this month is Begin Again (2013), a charming, music-infused film from the director of Once (2006), John Carney.

Summer style inspiration from Keira Knightley movie

As in Once we follow two broken hearts on a musical journey across a city. Dublin is replaced with New York, a bigger budget is added , with some star power in the forms of Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo. Both give warm and likable performances as a young singer-songwriter, and an aging producer, respectively. They’re both flailing on their own but gain energy and purpose from each other.

Begin again movie vintage style inspiration

The soundtrack doesn’t have anything to match the emotional heights of Falling Slowly, but it’s good enough to have us invest in Keira Knightley’s character as a musician and songwriter worthy of our attention. The songs are simple but have an emotional resonance, as does Keira’s surprisingly accomplished vocal performance, her voice sweet and affecting.

Mark Ruffalo is adorably crumpled, as usual, as a once idealistic producer hoping to find an authentic talent to cultivate.

With a colourful cast of characters to round out the film, Carney succeeds in creating a community we care about.

We loved Keira’s laid back, vintage-inspired style in the film, it’s giving us some real summer style inspiration! Mixing sweet sundresses and fun blouses paired with high waist trousers, she hits the Carousel fashion sweet spot. We can imagine lots of our favourite Circus pieces fitting right in to her wardrobe.

Carousel Blog

Vintage inspired, Irish owned & designed

Tag: summer