Dark Florals: A Trend We Love for Winter!

October 5, 2015

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

New Circus: Gorgeous Gingham!

June 9, 2015

Summer is back and we have the perfect print! Gingham! It’s been around for a while, but the print is having a revival this season. Taylor Swift has been spotted in a check dress and Kerry Washington made headlines by taking to the red carpet in a blue gingham number. We have designed two garments from Circus with a nod to the trend. Our ever-popular Anna blouse is perfection in blue. The bow tie makes the blouse both feminine and chic. Definitely reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly! We have also made our classic Ava dress in a bold red check. It looks great when paired with tan accessories for the perfect Summer outfit. What do you think of our new gingham items?

check gingham summer dress vintage

The Ava dress is available here.

gingham, blue, Kirsten Dunst

Kerry Washington gingham dress

retro blouse 1950s style

Anna blouse available here.

Taylor swift retro fashion

Musicgals: The Inspiring Style of Women in Music

April 9, 2015

It’s no secret that music inspires our lives every day, not to mention the musicians and their own personal style behind it. Women in music, past and present, are a driving force of inspiration and expression in personal style for us here at Carousel. Whats cooler than an all-girl punk band in mini-skirts singing about how powerful women are? Kathleen Hanna once said ‘I believe in the radical possibilities of pleasure, babe.’ She was talking about buying dresses right? Or did I get that one wrong, I mean, a full wardrobe of new threads seems pretty pleasurable to me.

Or what about a 50’s Jazz beauty, dressed to the nines in a gorgeous midi dress, telling us stories of her long lost love? By emulating these stunning and powerful women, we can be transported to a different era. Style is timeless, and if you wanna pop to the shops on a Sunday morning in an Ella Fitzgerald-esque 1940’s frock, then we are all for it! Style is about having fun! If metaphorical dress-induced time travel doesn’t float your boat, you can always stay right here in 2015, “Shake Off” the bad vibes, and dance to the good ones in your favourite party dress á-lá Taylor Swift. And well, that seems pretty perfect too. Just do you, girl.

“That girl thinks she’s the queen of the neighbor hood, well I’ve got news for you.. SHE IS!” (Bikini Kill, Rebel Girl, 1993)

aretha franklin vintage style soul singer

Channel soul sensation Aretha Franklin with 1960’s inspired A-line dresses and sweet floral sundresses. Finish off the look with some accessories that are ‘sweeter than honey’.
(Green Claudette Dress here, Twiggy Dress here, Sunglasses here, Earrings here)

sarah vaughan jazz women in music

Emulate the effortless 1940’s femininity and grace of jazz singer extraordinaire Sarah Vaughan, but stay cool and moody and true to her jazz roots in dark, cool colors and dark cat eye shades.
(Grey Lillian dress here, Blue polka dot Ingrid dress here, Necklace here, Sunglasses here)

solange knowles singer retro style

Get colorful and daring with some bright retro styling like the eternally cool Solange Knowles.(Butterfly Betty dress here, Red Ava 1940’s dress here, 1940’s Sunglasses here, Daisy print scarf here)

Taylor Swift style pop music singer circus

Grab Taylor Swift’s perfectly pretty style in gorgeous separates. Our Olivia skirt (Which just so
happens to be the name of one of Taylor’s cats… Coincidence? I think not.) and Marlene blouse just ooze preppy-cool. Simply add a pair of Taylor’s signature wayfarer sunglasses to finish the look!
(Burgundy Olivia skirt here, Rabbit print Angie shirt here, Blue Marlene blouse here, Floral 1950’s Anita skirt here, Wayfarer sunglasses)

kathleen hanna style riot girl carousel

Steal riot grrrl icon Kathleen Hanna’s unique and rebellious style in super cool mini skirts, shift dresses, and huge glasses!
(Peach Angie blouse here, Spot Skirt here, Black Shift dress here, Sunglasses 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.

Vintage Style Inspiration from Queens of the Screen!

March 9, 2015March 9, 2015

Girls on Film – we get some vintage style inspiration from the movies!

For decades, women in film have inspired how we have dressed. The iconic ladies of the screen have an incredible way of creating characters that bring out a desire to “BE” like them. Here at carousel we definitely find some new vintage style inspiration every once in a while that influences how we want to dress. Nine times out of ten, it’s definitely dictated by a character, actress, or women in history, that we really admire.

First, lets look to fictional characters: Take “Penny Lane and the Band Aids” In Almost Famous (2000) for instance. Penny and her gal pals exude the quaint essential 70’s chick style. Too cool for school (did they even go to school?) and always effortlessly styled in loose-fitting spring time vibes. Now I’m not saying we should all copy these characters, because that wouldn’t exactly be creative now would it? Instead, how about we imagine we were part of their gang. Now that’s way more fun! (And who doesn’t love a super cool girl gang?) So grab your groovy gal pals, stick on Tiny Dancer by Elton John and blast it out on a highway while wearing these cool threads:

movie quote style almost famous

70s style vintage inspiration movies

Next up, a woman with on and off screen style: Let’s take it back to the 40’s and 50’s with the ever chic, Jean Seberg. Muse of French New-Wave director Jean-Luc Goddard, and all-roundminimal beauty. Jean encapsulates classic cool French style on film, and in her own personal style, with pastel blues, baby pinks, and adding an edgy touch to her classic feminine style with a short pixie cut. Which (be warned) you may even be tempted to try out a pixie cut yourself if you fall for her like Goddard did.

inspiration movie style jean serberg

And last but most definitely not least in our current girls on film loves: A woman with incredible personal style – the unfathomable Bianca Jagger. How is she even a real person? Too hot to handle, queen of the 60’s & 70’s, the ultimate risk taker. Bianca’s style was, and is not, for the faint of heart. But luckily enough, its not so hard to emulate. So get your stilettos and head scarf wrap on, and take a look at how we re-create her style.

Celebrate Style Icon Anna May Wong this Chinese New Year!

February 19, 2015

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today, we’re taking a look at one of our favorite vintage style queens, and very influential lady, Anna May Wong! With a career that spanned from the 1920’s to her death in the 60’s, Wong (1905 – 61) smashed through prejudices in a deeply racist 1920’s Hollywood. She became the first Chinese American movie star, and gained international recognition for her talent. While she was often cast in roles that perpetuated Asian stereotypes, she paved the way and made a crucial first step for many Asian actors in the movie world.

Apart from her talent, and important role in movie history, Wong was also a stunning style icon! We love how she mixed elements from both Chinese and American fashion. She created a truly unique and glamorous look. We’ve picked out some of our favorite looks below, and get some inspiration from the great Anna May Wong!