Thursday 26 June 2014

Winners of The Best Bridal Retailer 2014 !






Woohoo...crack open the bubbles....Dirty Fabulous is a winner!
We were super chuffed to win the Best Bridal Retailer in the Mrs2Be Brides Choice Awards.
It's just fantastic to feel so much love and support from our wonderful customers and other bridal retailers.
A big shout out to Mrs2Be for making our day!
For the full list of winners have a look here



Tuesday 24 June 2014

Vintage Earrings: The Perfect Addition To Any Dress!


 €90
€95

€110

 €110
Bogoff €100

€100

Oh my....I do love a fabulous earring!
There's just something about the sparkly tones of a vintage rhinestone that scream "beauty and quality".
I think it's one of the easiest ways to dress up any outfit and if you don't have your ears pierced have no fear, Dirty Fabulous has lots of screw-back and clip-on earrings in store.
The above pretty earrings are just a tiny sample of the original vintage jewels we have in stock.
To see our full collection just call us on 01 6111842 or email info@dirtyfabulous.com to make an appointment

Tuesday 17 June 2014

A beautiful bride in blush!




Beautiful bride Tina, chose an original 1950's ivory tulle and lace wedding gown from Dirty Fabulous for her recent wedding. The bespoke blush birdcage veil, headpiece and sash that we added finished off an absolutely adorable look. 
Vintage elegance at it's best!
Congratulations Tina on your recent wedding!



Friday 13 June 2014

Call Of The Wild Confetti Summer 2014

Doesn't Teodora look STUNNING in our boho lace wedding dress...Sigh....so dreamy...
€850



 This baby blue parachute silk 1950's gown is from designer Henri Bendel.
It would be gorgeous as an alternative wedding dress or for a bridesmaid. €410

Vintage tulle veil....in a vintage Porsche! €160 (for the veil not the car)

To see the full shoot head on over to Confetti
The Talented Team for Confetti:
Photography: Paula O'Hara Photography / Creative Direction, Styling, and Props: Alise Taggart / Makeup: Laura Kay Makeup using MAC Cosmetics / Hair: Clara Donoghue for Eden Glamour / Florals: Floral Earth / Stationery: Rachel Koo Design / Signage: Paper Bark Bespoke Event Stationery / Cakes and Pies: The Cake Cuppery / Cheese Cake:Sheridan's Cheesemongers / Vintage Porsche: Star Car Hire / Illuminated Lettering:Electric Alphabet / Persion Rug, Bentwood Chairs and Dresser: Historic Interiors / Models: Teodora for 1st Option Management, James for Andrea Roche Model Agency and Zarah / Shot on Location at The Millhouse

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Proms, proms and more proms, who doesn't love the 1950's!

1950's pale blue and cream polka dot prom dress with lace trim €320 
B32" W27" size 8

1950's raspberry pink satin brocade bubble prom dress €220
Bust 32" waist 26" size 8

1960's pastel lime prom dress with draped shoulders €250
Bust 34" waist 26" size 8

1950's I. Magnin cobalt blue silk chiffon prom dress €240
Bust 36" Waist 26"

1950s hot pink ruched bubble prom €360
Bust 34" Waist 26" size 8

1950's pale apple green prom dress with embroidered waist €290
Bust 36" Waist 28" size 10

Aren't these delish! I'm such a huge fan of the prom dress and these gorgeous gals are a few of my favourite's in the shop at the minute.
These vintage dresses are some of our smaller ones and are all around a size 8.
We have lots of other dresses in different styles and sizes.
Call us on 01 6111842 or email info@dirtyfabulous.com for your appointment.

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Adrian... Hollywood Designer Extraordinaire!



You may not have heard of him, but believe me you know his designs!
Gilbert Adrian was a major Hollywood costume designer from the 1920's to 40's.
He designed costumes for Rudolph Valentino and Cecil B. Demille, eventually moving to the mega Hollywood Mecca that was MGM.
It was here that he became know as one of the greatest film designers having designed costumes for over 230 films.



Fully beaded gown worn by Joan Crawford in The Bride Wore Red

Jean Harlow in Dinner At Eight

Katherine Hepburn in Philadelphia Story

Greta Garbo in Inspiration

Hedy Lamarr in Ziegfeld Girl

Lana Turner in Ziegfeld Girl

The Wizard of Oz

Adrian became a favourite collaborator of icons such as Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Jean Harlow and Lana Turner to name but a few.
He is the man responsible for giving Joan Crawford her legendary strong shouldered silhouette in the 1939 movie The Women.
I recently watched this movie and was blown away by the costumes and in particular the technicolour fashion show in the middle.
He was also the designer on The Wizard of Oz and Philadelphia Story. (Two more personal fav's!)
Unfortunately he never won an Oscar for his work but that was because "costumes" weren't added as a category until after 1948.

Hi costumes were extravagant from angular, crisp, tailored suits to Ostrich plume and crystal embellished gowns. They were just what the depression era audiences were craving. Full-on indulgent glamour!
They actually went crazy for his looks, Macy's sold half a million reproductions of the frothy shouldered gown that Joan Crawford wore in Letty Lynton. A staggering number at that time...and what were all those ladies wearing that dress to???

Joan Crawford in Letty Lynton

As a designer he wasn't afraid to experiment. He used bold colour blocking, unusual prints, elaborate beading and he even showcased some Gothic themes!




Adrian's most famous legacy the "coat hanger" silhouette became a key look of the 1940's: padded shoulders, a slim jacket with details that emphasised the shoulders and a pencil skirt. Pretty much an inverted pyramid!

So now you know who Adrian was, or at least what he did.
He is one of the reasons we adore watching vintage movies:
Their jaw dropping and extravagant fashion; make us wish we lived in Old Hollywood, a land of make-believe glamour and opulence...

To see a few more instances of his work check out these YouTube videos:


This one is particularly informative: