Happy Holidays, see you in the New Year!

That's it folks for 2013!

Hope you all have a super, duper, festive, fun filled Christmas 

and a 

Sparkling New Year!

Dirty Fabulous will be back on January 7th, 2014

See all you then with more vintage gorgeous gowns and bridal dresses.

Happy Christmas

From

Caroline & Kathy

x 

Frivillous Feathers

1920's feather fan

1960's Feather helmuts by Jon French

Evening dress | Mme. Jeanne Paquin  (French, 1869–1936) Hattie Carnegie, Inc. ca. 1938 from Adored Vintage

1920's French flapper dress by Louise Boulanger from The Met Museum

1920's periwinkle cutwork lace and feather dress from Pinterest

Ginger Rogers wearing a feather dress in 'Top Hat'

1960's House of Givency from The Met Museum

1930's wedding gown from The Frock

From Pinterest

Pierre Balmain 1950s feather and crystal gown courtesy of V&A

1960s Duck egg blue silk and feather suit from Pinterest

Who doesn't like a bit of fluff and fabulousness!!!

Although not ideal for every occasion, feathers make the perfect show stopping accompaniment for that must 'WOW' event.

And if you can't wear feathers at Christmas then when can you?!

Forget feather boas and look for feather adorned vintage dresses and capes instead.

Designers from the 1920's right up to the 80's used plush plumage's at times to decorate their masterpieces.

Dirty Fabulous often has some feathery offerings so make us your must go to shop for your next big event!

Call 01 6111842 or email info@dirtyfabulous.com for your appointment now.

Elsa Schiaparelli, the glamorous surealist!

Elsa Schiaparelli was a fashion pioneer from the 1920's throughout her career to the 1950's. She was arguably one of the most important designers of her era along with Coco Chanel, although she couldn't have been more different than her understated counterpart!
She began designing basic sweaters and sporting clothes but in the early 1930's expanded her collections to include everything up to couture.
Schiaparelli was an artist and a designer, her pieces drew heavily on surrealism and whimsy. She collaborated with many famous artists on her collections which had themes such as circus life, Greek mythology and the zodiac.
She loved to stray away from what was currently in vogue and constantly liked to shock the fashion world.
Personally, I love Elsa's designs. She was a true innovator and when I look at her early pieces I can see many of today's designers paying homage to her. Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lulu Guinness  and Alexander McQueen echo elements of Schiaparelli's collections.

The many signature Schiaparelli elements:

• High Waistlines
• Shoulder pads and broad shoulders
• Exaggerated Silhouettes
• Bright colours such as royal blue and shocking pink
• Trompe L'oeil knits
• Zippers and decorative elements
• Long-line, bias-cut dresses
• Backless evening gowns
• Geometric prints
• Whimsical designs

As you can see from the collection below, Schiaparelli's customers needed to have a degree of confidence and attitude to wear her pieces!

1930s evening gown with typically exaggerating structure, this one focusing on the bust

The Tears Dress, fabric designed by Salvador Dali courtesy of the V&A 

As pictured in Vanity Fair

Typical high waisted mermaid dress with pink embroidered bolero which highlighted the shoulders

The Apollo of Versailles Cape, 1938

Backless pale silk gown from the Circus Collection

This beautiful pink and ivory silk gown was designed to accentuate the female form and represent whats underneath the corset,

This was an idea that Elsa first showcased with her controversial "Skelleton Dress" in 1938.

While on honeymoon last year Caroline went to see this dress in the Museum of Modern Art in Vienna. It must have been incredibly radical looking in 1938!

1940's dress with whimsical butterfly print

Loud geometric silk print coat from the late 1930's

Droooool...... I love this 1940's cape with the giant bee! 

Schiaparelli's more wearable evening jacket ensembles. When she was young, Elsa was often told that she was short and unattractive so it was her desire to create pieces which elongated and enhanced the female form.

Pale green evening suit with gold buttons

Humorous hand clasp belt

Bias Cut gold silk evening gown

Moorish inspired belt

Elsa's 'shocking pink' and black 1950s ballgown

Beautiful salmon pink and embroidered 1940s blouse

1940's purple, floral garland decorated evening gown

Beautiful contrasting blue and coral crepe gown with fish buttons

Blouse from the Zodiac collection with sequins bursting out to represent sun rays

Above images courtesy of  The Met Museum

Shocking pink 1930's gown as featured in Vogue to celebrate The Mets exhibition  “Impossible Conversations,” 

Which explored the striking parallels between Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada 

1940's Mirror print suit also from Vogue

A Beautiful Bride in 1950s Dirty Fabulous!

http://www.stephenmacphotography.com/

We previously posted about Elaine, one of our gorgeous brides who wore an original vintage 1950's tea-length wedding dress and bespoke veiled headpiece for her wedding.

But when her photographer Stephen contacted us with his professional photos we just had to share them too!

Simply stunning!!!

Christmas Gift Ideas!!!

Christmas in Dirty Fabulous

Christmas cardi's, twinkling jewels and intricate headpieces

Chic retro accessories

Beautiful bags and headpieces galore

Statement turban, vintage necklaces, black patent classic bag and fabulous red gloves

Evening wear accessories

Winter warm headpiece, tapestry bag and festive gloves

Delicate vintage veil, elegant clutch bag and gorgeous sparkles!

1950's pearl costume necklaces

Vintage rhinestone earrings, add some sparkle to her life!

The gift that every lady wants!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, yes indeedy it is!

We are Christmas crackers here in Dirty Fabulous and it can never come early enough for our liking.

Are Christmas decorations and songs too much in September?...No way Hosay!!!

If like most normal people though you are just beginning to think about the Festive Holidays then Christmas shopping is probably high on your list.

Dirty Fabulous has oodles of gorgeous gift ideas for the lovely ladies in your life, be in your Mum, sister, aunt, best friend, bride to be or bridesmaid or a sneaky pressie for yourself.

Prices begin an €20 and go up to whatever you wish to spend.

Call us now for an appointment to browse on 01 6111842 or email info@dirtyfabulous.com