The biggest and best vintage fashion fair is this Sunday at the Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire. Doors open at 12pm, be there early to avoid the crowds and to find the best pieces first. Here’s a recap of the event.

I may be pushing it, but I’m bringing the little man with me decked out in vintage…including these rad kicks.

Here’s my quick review of last year’s event and here’s what I wore.

You can find out more at VintageIreland.eu and here’s what the folks at Vintage Ireland have to say about the event.

The fashion renaissance continues into 2011 with the return of the Vintage Fashion and Decor Fair to the Royal Marine Hotel on Sunday 17th April.

The enthusiasm for vintage shows no sign of abating, and fashion on sale at the Vintage Fair ticks all the important boxes for today’s savvy shopper: ethical, eco-friendly, good value fashion, and with Ireland’s best vintage sellers all conveniently gathered under one roof.

A veritable one-stop vintage supermarket, the Dublin Vintage Fair covers all areas of 20th century fashion, from clothing to jewellery, hats, handbags, shoes and accessories, even including vintage powder compacts, scent bottles, sewing patterns and fashion prints, along with unique 20th century decorator items and homewares. The event runs from 11am till 6pm.

SoGo Festival ♥ All around South Great Georges St ♥ April 30-May2

But wait, there’s more! There’s a special edition Dublin Flea SoGo car boot sale on Sunday! I’ll be there (husband in toe with promises of snacks, possibly burritos). Make sure you check it out too!  Sunday, May 2 – Eircom Carpark (off Andrews Lane and Exchequer St) from 12 – 5:30

AND the Crafty Market is on at Shebeen Chic (Georges St) on Sunday as well!

Yesterday I headed to lovely Dun Laoghaire for the Vintage Ireland Fashion and Decor Fair. It was amazing. Choc full o’  vintage dealers and collectors from Ireland and Europe. The folks at Vintage Ireland organised a great event with competitions, fashion shows, lindy hop demos, makeovers and a ball to top it all off. I only wish I could have stayed longer to soak up the atmosphere even more.

It was almost overwhelmingly lovely. Luckily for my wallet, I’m now getting to the rapid growth stage of my pregnancy so I couldn’t take advantage of all the wonderful dresses that filled the hotel ballroom. It was like visiting a museum of pretty things, with something to interest anyone–from 60’s cocktail dresses to cat-eye glasses. I actually liked all the odds and ends like old suitcases, porcelain pandas and record collections (I scored a few great pieces for my vinyl collection–a gift for the little-guy-to-be).

The next Vintage Ireland Fashion & Decor Fair is in Galway on July 18. Don’t miss it!

Follow the frocks and fashion on @VintageIreland

More info here

Join Re-Dress (and hopefully me) at the Clothes Swap for Haiti this Sunday, March 7. It’s a great cause and a great way to do a little spring cleaning. I might bring some of my favourite duds that no longer fit my 19week belly!  Be sure to bring some cash for a donation. Free entry. Boys and Girls clothes welcome. Read more about Re-dress

Re-Dress Clothes Swap for Haiti @ Twisted Pepper, Lower Abbey Street (March 7, 2-5pm)

Christmas at Farmleigh House is one of my favourite holiday traditions. Okay, so this is the first year we went, but I love Farmleigh House year round and I’m determined to make their Christmas market a tradition in the years to come. It was a pretty spontaneous trip, so I quickly got pulled on my jeggings and my comfy oversized cowlneck grey jumper, tied my hair up in pigtails and topped it all off with my peacoat from Bitten. I got his coat 3 years ago for $20. Definitely one of the best purchase I’ve made. We wandered around Phoenix Park near the Papal Cross (until I got scared by dogs) so I wore my favourite Joules wellies to run around in the wet grass.

Farmleigh is a real gem in the centre of Dublin. I love wandering around the gardens and the old rusty Victorian greenhouses, visiting the monthly food market and saying hello to the donkeys, horses and ducks that live there. The OPW host a lot of wonderful free events at Farmleigh, you should definitely check ‘em out! We tend to go a little crazy at the food market. Back when I was training for the Mini Marathon it was my little reward after running 5K to get a spring roll, salmon roll, crepe, potato cake, smoothie and cheese samples. Yeah, all in one go. This time we just had some hot cider and brought home this giant head of kale (€1!). The Christmas Market is open again this weekend and the Celtic Tenors will perform. Check it out to stock up on last minute Christmas goodies, including fresh poultry!

Merry Christmas!

]]> http://stylebynumbers.info/2009/12/christmas-at-farmleigh/feed/ 0 http://stylebynumbers.info/2009/11/tailors-hall/ http://stylebynumbers.info/2009/11/tailors-hall/#comments Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:29:24 +0000 laurendare http://stylebynumbers.info/?p=855

On my lunch break today I swung round to the Swap Shop to benefit the An Taisce Tailors’ Hall restoration project. It is a stunning building and I’m so glad to see it’s getting a new lease of life. The swap shop proved pretty fruitful for me. I spent €40 and walked away with a cute dress, waistcoat and a vintage broach and necklace. Pics of my finds to come, for now, here’s what you could have found…

Felling like you missed out? Check out Perk-Up Vintage and Dirty Fabulous Vintage (I’ll be making my way to their shops for a full review later) and be sure to support An Taisce’s efforts to conserve Dublin’s heritage.

That’s this Sunday, Nov 29 ♥ New Market Square, D8 ♥ 11am-5pm

Here’s a peak at what you might find (or might have found if I didn’t find it first).

♥Vintage equestrian and Lourdes themed silk scarves €3♥

♥Thrifty blue polka-dot asymmetric dress €5♥

♥ And of course all of this♥

Swap Shop for An Taisce

Friday, 27 November

12-10pm

Tailors’ Hall, Back Lane, D8 (opposite Mother Redcaps)

€5 entrance OR free if you bring clothes

For more information, or to find out how you can donate your pre-loved clothes, contact Lorraine at 01 707 7068 or email fundraising@antaisce.org

The Tailors’ Hall in Christchurch is the only remaining guild hall in Dublin and has played a fascinating role in the lives of Dubliners for more than 0 years. Dating back officially to 1706, the hall has been central in several events in Irish history: it was the meeting hall for the Dublin Tailors as well as other guilds; was used at various times for balls and other entertainment; functioned as an army barracks and also a courthouse; and served as a rallying point in 1792 for Wolfe Tone and the Catholic Committee of the United Irishmen prior to the 1798 Rebellion.