Tuesday 29 April 2014

Made in Dublin in the 20's

Now here is a treat! We generally only stock American vintage, this is for a number of reasons. Primarily it is because we prefer the style but also in part because it is a much bigger scene there. This means there are more serious collectors so a better quality of high end vintage gowns are available for Dirty Fabulous to buy and bring home to you lovely ladies!
We rarely if ever come across Irish vintage in really beautiful condition. We have had a stunning Sybil Connolly full length crochet gown but we bought this in New York and not in Ireland.
Sybil Connolly is so collectible and coveted we didn't have it in the store long enough to get a photo of it for our own archives!

So we are thrilled to present this 1920's blush satin and intricate gold lame lace gown in stunning condition.








This wedding gown was sold by Slyne and Co, 71 Grafton St, sometime between 1917 and 1922.
Slyne and Co. were a ladies dressmaker of very expensive gowns.
The shop was owned by a widower called Kathleen Clare Hyland nee Slyne. She re-married in 1917 and definitely already had the shop prior to being married. 
We were also told that while dresses were made to order in Dublin for sale in Slynes, they also stocked high end luxury gowns from Paris. There is no way to be 100% sure which is the case with this particular dress. It has the original Slynes label but nothing else to guide us in our research.
We have the original box with the order details and this was a very very expensive gown in its day. At the time this gown cost £95 which in today's money would be €3,500!
It also came with an original pearl 1920's headpiece, (in many parts!) and we are currently restoring it to it's former glory.

A view down Grafton Street showing Slyne & Co. two thirds the way down on the left.
This is were Boodles is now situated.
image via dublinforum.

During my research on the company I came across the following auction lot description of a catalogue from Slynes- unfortunately it sold at auction about 8 years ago and  there are no photos now available of the catalogue.

Irish Slyne Catalogue Dublin Fashions 1920s 
Album
8 page catalogue on strong paper with 14 illustrations - see enlarged image. Elegant ladies with great 1920s styles.
Expensive costumes! - the average wages in the Dublin of the 1920s was approximately £3.00 a week!!
Slyne & Co. Ltd., Ladies Tailors, 71 Grafton Street, Dublin.


The following link is to a brochure/programme for the Rathmines and Rathgar musical Society in 1914 which has a Slynes advertisement for a fabulous sounding black evening gown!

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Vintage Milliners and Fabulous Hats!

There are a number of fabulous vintage collectible milliners that we always keep a look out for. And also some highly collectible designer named hats that we have come across and passed by,
 (Christian Dior in the 60's we are talking about you!)
In this post I wanted to share a number of things!
 Firstly a designer that you may not be familiar with,
Aage Thaarup

(image courtesy of http://sheepandchick.blogspot.ie/)

He was a Danish milliner, born in 1906 in Copenhagen, much favoured by royalty, of both the monarchy and Hollywood variety!
He traveled quite extensively between 1926 and 1932 at which point he opened up a store in Delhi that specialized in mourning hats. His London store opened in 1932 and his designs were considered very avant garde by society ladies of the day.
By the end of the war and towards the beginning of the 1950's he was considered Britain's No.1 milliner.
He was the designer of choice for Queen Elizabeth for her going away hat after her marriage to Prince Phillip and she would remain a loyal customer for another 40 years.


The Queen Mother in 1947
(image courtesy of http://sheepandchick.blogspot.ie/)

He wrote a book called "Heads and Tales" in 1956 and I own a first edition signed by the man himself!



I have yet to add one of his hats to my collection!

We have a big selection of hats in stock in Dirty Fabulous ranging in price from €60 to €180, below are just a few.









This 1960's hat was actually owned by Brook Shields!

And to finish off I thought I would share some of my personal collection. I generally don't need much of an excuse to wear a hat!



Subtle and understated, going to a murder mystery dinner party in Kathy's house!

In my 1920's collapsible silk top hat!

Feeling flirty in 1940's veiled glamour.

So if you have an occasion that you simply need a hat for then make an appointment and come and see our wonderful collection!





Wednesday 16 April 2014

Orchids and Sparkles!


Another beautiful picture of one of our brides who chose to wear a bespoke headpiece for her big day which was decorated with silk orchids, pearls, rhinestones and veiling.
Congratulations to Sinead on her recent wedding!

Monday 14 April 2014

oooooh now you look familiar!

Claudette Colbert in The Palm Beach Story, 1942
(photo via theblondeatthefilm.com)



Lace long sleeve gown with draped chiffon full length skirt - €980 (€735 in our April sale)

Jean Patchett appearing in Vogue in the 1950s
(photo via www.chictopia.com)

Dirty Fabulous
1950s "Sabiens"hot pink satin structured one shoulder dress with peplum €410 (€307.50 in our April sale)

Marilyn Monroe looking smokin hot! This is a wardbrobe still for the movie "Niagra" shot in 1952, released in 1953.

Dirty Fabulous
This is a super awesome 2 piece suit, single rhinestone strap wiggle dress with ice blue satin feature bow and the cutest little matching jacket. €480 (€360 in our April Sale)


Carey Mulligan on the cover of Vogue giving it her greatest Gatsby style.

Dirty Fabulous
1930's chartreuse green velvet gown (much closer to the colour of Careys dress in real life!) €420 (€315 in our April sale)




Wednesday 9 April 2014

Are you a Boho Babe or Garden Party Gal?

If so then we have some fab dresses in stock for you!

1970's Studio 54 era draped jersey dress with side slit for extreme dancing!
€480 (€360 in our April sale)
We have a selection of embellished lace capelets to add a touch of romance and give you a little evening chill coverage.
Capes from €110 - €170
This is a Christine Phillipe taffeta tiered gown with simple little straps €640 (€480 in our April sale), I have teamed it with a 1940's handmade blush crochet cape €130 and a bespoke belt €125.

You can change the look of your vintage gown very easily just by changing your accessories.

White plunging neckline 1970s Jersey gown €790 (sold)


Lilli Diamond cream jersey halter gown with flower lace over nude lining.
€620 (€465 in our April sale)


 1970's cream lace Gunne Sax tiered off the shoulder gown with satin belt detail.
€850 (on hold)




Monday 7 April 2014

Lilly Dache stop and stare vintage hats!


As a milliner, Lilly Dache began her career in the early 1920's when she saved her earnings and bought out her then employer, The Bonnet Shop and opened her own millinery salon. It was an instant success!

By the 1930's her business had grown to include a line in bags and other accessories. 
Lilly also began to design hats for movies to compliment the dresses of Hollywood designer Travis Banton.

She was the most famous milliner of her era, particularly in New York, at a time when hats were as important and sometimes even more important than the dresses they were worn with.
From the mid 1930's to 40's hats were de rigueur, milliners and designers were constantly trying to out do each other in terms of over-the-top fabulousness and Dache's were amongst the most outrageous.

Lilly Dache hat and jacket as featured in 1948 Revlon advert (image courtesy of H Prints)
(Caroline would consider trading her beloved cat for a hat like this!)


Her major contributions to millinery included draped turbans, brimmed hats molded to the head, half hats, visored caps, coloured snoods and romantic massed-flower shapes.
Lillie continued this reign for over three decades.








She had a vast movie star clientele from Marlene Dietrich, Betty Grable, Carole Lambord, and Joan Crawford to Lorreta Young, who actually bought the last 30 hats in Dache's collection before her retirement in 1968.

Carmen Miranda in a Lily Dache Pom Pom Hat

Delores Del Rio

Joan Crawford

Loretta Young 
Images courtesy of Movie Star Makeover

I was practically drooling over these hats whilst writing. I love how they are so unusual and still feel contemporary.
So next time you have an event that you need to make a statement at, start with the hat and work your way down!