Dublin Rock N Roll Festival

 

Dublin's annual Rock N Roll festival took place last weekend from August 11th to 13th. 

It was a weekend packed full of Rockabilly fun and frolics and of course fashion!

Above are the original vintage looks of the 1950s and 60s from Dirty Fabulous.

The super photography was by David Gannon.

The fabulous retro hair was by Lunatic Fringe
 Gorgeous make-up by Makeup Forever

We can't wait for next years festival!

Pink and Red.... The colours you're missing out on!!!

Pink and red is one of our favourite colour combinations, but it's not one people often think to try. 

Now's your chance! There's no better time to give it a whirl than during a romantic week in February!

If you don't believe how chic and femine these two colours can look, then take some inspiration from some of the original vintage and modern images we've chosen for you...

Image from Harpers Bazaar, 1951

 Isn't this the kind of outfit you'd like to wear when wakling the dog!!! 

Image from 1959

1960's pink and red air hostess uniforms...ultra short!!!

 

Adding a splash of red with the accessories in Vogue 1955

 Another pretty 50's ensemble with bright gloves and necklace. 

Image from Moygashel Fabrics 1959

Now, how to turn these inspirations into reality:

We love how these modern looks have a nod towards the past.

Tea length skirt, statement blouse, cape and travel case. Super chic! 

Image via Pinterest

The hot pink sweater and tea length skirt has created a much bolder look. It's classic with a vibey edge.

Image via Pinterest

If skirts aren't your thing then how about some 1940's style tailoring?

Lena Hoschek 2016 fashion

Inspired by The Designer: Nina Ricci

It's not uncommon for us to come across vintage dresses that are similar to those of well known designers. Like now, trends were important throughout the decades and dictated what women wanted the fashion houses to create.

Some of these designers will be known to most, such as Chanel and Christian Dior.  Others you might recognise the name but are unfamiliar with their creations .

Perfumes might spring to mind when thinking of the name Nina Ricci, but she was actually a fabulous designer who opened her couture house with her son in 1932. The design house is still creating beautiful pieces to this day. 

Below is an image of an original Nina Ricci dress from 1966 and one we currently have in store which is very similar in style.

1966 dress by Nina Ricci

Our dress is by Robert Strong for the department store B. Siegel Company in Detroit. The fabric is a slightly quilted cream brocade which is decorated with a pearl, bead and rhinestone trim.
The mermaid shaped skirt is ultra flattering. 
This two-piece gown would be ideal for a Winter wedding. It has all the glamorous touches that are typical of the 1960's. 

Our fabulous gown is available now in store or on Open For Vintage 

Steal her Style : Amal Clooney

Image via E Online

Amal Clooney's style is pretty flawless. She sticks to a very classic and timeless look that often echoes's the 1960's. She's a lady who loves fine tailoring and we adore her for that!
Get Amal's look vintage style in Dirty Fabulous now! (Sorry we can't provide you with Mr. Clooney!)

Harper's Bazaar 1963 Bubble Editorial

I was inspired by our recent trip to France to seek out some chic, vintage, photography. When I came across this one it pretty much blew me away! It's from a 1963 edition of Harper's Bazaar which was shot by Melvin Sokolsky. The model was Simone d'Aillencourt and the atmospheric location was of course, Paris.

This "Bubble" series is so striking an unusual. Can you imagine the excitement and curiosity it drew from passing Parisians in the early 60's. 

Sokolsky had the bubble constructed to be reminiscent of a Faberge egg and a telescopic crane hung the bubble in various locations throughout the city. It must have been a huge production at the time. I'm sure it was seen as extremely elaborate and ambitious even in the heady and bohemian days of 1960's Paris!

Vintage Coats: Somebody Help Me, I Have a Problem!!!

Am I the only one to be thankful to feel a nip in the air? I probably am, but let me tell you why:

I am addicted to vintage coats.

addicted I tells ya!

These are some of my favourites.

 coats take up a lot of room......a lot of room... I recently had to invest in another wardrobe to house my growing collection....Well, everyone has to have a hobby!

First up is a sherbert orange Lilli Ann 1960s jacket. I love this coat, it's light enough to wear in spring and an Irish summer! It does have moth damage but I that doesn't bother me. It is part of a suit but I can't fit into the matching dress, it is also too far gone with moth holes to invest in alterations.

 But I love wearing the coat.

  Next up is a 1950's bubble gum pink silk swing coat. So much fun!

This 1950's orange wool swing coat was given to me by a friend, I've had this coat for about 10 or 12 years now but I take it out every Winter and get it dry cleaned before it gets put away again in Spring.

I bought this black 1950's coat with fur collar and cuffs the first time I went to New York. It weighed an absolute ton, I had to wear it on to the plane to keep my baggage allowance from going into overdrive. It's great for really really cold days.

 My 1920's blue velvet cape is for more glamorous events. 

 This 1960's powder blue wool and fox fur cape is a recent splurge. I couldn't help it. I fell hopelessly and madly in love. My husband despairs of my addiction and his lack of wardrobe space.
 I wear this mostly on girly Sunday outings, art galleries and things like that. 

This was the inaugural debut of this coat, see how happy I am, new coat love....

This 1960s silk turquoise coat is also by Lilli Ann and very similar to the first coat but with sparkly buttons and an attached scarf. It too has a matching dress! I couldn't help myself.....I might need an intervention...

 This is more my every day coat, it's a teal blue 1970's, sort of like suede but not, it has sheep skin collar and cuffs. 

So there you have it, my secrets out...

Hello, my name is Caroline and I'm addicted to coats!!!

What's your fashion addiction?

Which era is for you? Part 3: 1960's and 1970's

The Swinging 60's

This era was all about change!
 Paris lost it's title as the fashion centre and all eyes were drawn to London for the next big thing.
Young people had a new sense of freedom which they explored through culture, music and fashion and the power balances shifted. They began to make things happen for themselves.

 Image from Pinterest

After 30 years of conservative styles, the 60's saw a throwback to the 1920's as hemlines rose up to minuscule proportions and haircuts and figures became more boyish.
The preferred designs of the time were simple, neat, trim and boldly colourful.
Shift dresses and boots were all the rage and hats lost their appeal as something fussy which belonged to an outdated older generation.
It was the decade which saw psychedelic prints, space age designs, op art and the hippie movement emerge. All radical fashion trends at the time.

Dirty Fabulous vintage 1960s mod shift 

€190

Dirty Fabulous Vintage psychadelic tunic dress  

€210

1960s Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin

 images from Pinterest

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1960's accordian sleeve dress (part of suit)

€310 

The 1960's was also a time of some influential partnerships of celebrities and designers:
Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy are probably the most well known although Jackie Kennedy and Oleg Cassini were just as influential. There were also a few models who became worldwide inspirations, most notably, Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton

Image of Jackie Kennedy wearing Oleg Cassin dress from Reto Gran

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1960's green silk shift dress 

€260

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1960's peach sherbet tunic dress 

€240

Audrey Hepburn and Hubert Givency

Dirty Fabulous Vintage one shoulder floral boho wedding dress 

€620

Twiggy image from Pinterest

Image from Pinterest

1970's  - The New Age

There were a few key looks this decade which some saw as the end of good taste!
The hippie look continued and flourished, the punk era emerged and finally 'disco!' was born!!!
I have to say, along with the 80's I have some issues with the 70's...
I love a good floaty maxi dress, some of the glam disco looks and a boho vintage bride can be an utterly beautiful one but after that I have to bow out!

Images from Pinterest

Looking through archives at 1970's imagery you can see how current the look is now. I saw a lot of 1970's gals who could have easily been walking down todays high street.

You can also clearly see how celebrities today are channeling a 1970's vibe.

How cute is Debbie Harry here!

The Mother of Punk, Vivienne Westwood championed an anti-establishment and indeed an anti fashion movement but still remains one of the most iconic designers today.

image from Woodstock Wardrobe

Two more designers who thrived in the 70's and continue to be big fashion players today are Biba and Halston. I do love a lot of their vintage and current designs.

1970's Biba image from Metro Retro Of London

1970's Biba

Dirty Fabulous Vintage pink velvet turban 

Turbans are so hot right now!!!

1970's Halston

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1970's plunging ivory wedding dress 

€790

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1970's hot red maxi dress 

€190

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1970s rhinestone embellished sky blue maxi dress
€480

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1970's canary yellow maxi with cape 

€190

Dirty Fabulous Vintage 1970's turquoise long sleeve maxi dress 

€240

So that's the last in my series of inspirational fashion by the decades. Did you decide which style you loved the most?

If you can't decide, then why not make an appointment to see Dirty Fabulous's full collection which houses dresses from the 1920's to the 1980's.

There are oodles of stunning looks to choose from, so make Dirty Fabulous your number one stop!