Bespoke Rangoli Hairwire

I just love sharing some of my client's weddings with you. It's really rewarding to receive photos along with kind words of appreciation - I am continually reminded of why I love my job so much! So thanks to each and every one of you who have shared your weddings with me.

Rachel came to me with an idea for a beaded hairwire. She wanted it to incorporate a variety of different sized pearls along with a little bit of sparkle. The classic hairstyle that she chose is so elegant and I think the hairwire complements it perfectly!

Rachel's family surprised her on the morning of her wedding with a gift of this Rangoli pearl and rhinestone necklace along with a matching bracelet, (which can be seen on my website).

I also designed a beaded headpiece for Rachel's Mum Rose, seen below, along with a delicate 9ct gold beaded pendant. Rachel's two sisters wore a bespoke comb and hairpins to match their gorgeous black and gold Monsoon dresses. Here are a few words from Rachel -

I just wanted to say a big thank you to Aisling in Rangoli Jewellery. I had heard of her work through WeddingsOnline. I purchased my hair vine and bridesmaids head pieces from Rangoli. Aisling is so easy to work with. It was a pleasure to visit her studio where she showed my sister and I various pieces she had made and allowed us to try them on. I showed her a picture of a hair vine that I liked and she made me exactly what I wanted.

On the morning of our wedding to my surprise I received a beautiful gift from my sister and mother of a pearl necklace and matching bracelet which Aisling made and complimented my dress beautifully. I will definitely be recommending Rangoli to as many people as possible as Aisling made the process very easy. I hope to buy some more products from her in the future.

Thanks so much Rachel - I really appreciate your kind words and wish you both all the best!

You can read more about my recent bespoke commissions or get in touch if you'd like to talk about a having jewellery or accessories designed for your wedding or special occasion. I also have a Rangoli Brides portfolio on my Facebook page which is great for inspiration!

Rachel's wedding was photographed by Paddy Burke.

Rangoli Bridesmaids bracelet

Here is one of my recent bridesmaid commissions. The beautiful dress is by Alvina Valenta and was purchased from White Orchid. This picture really does not do the dress justice as it is the most rich vibrant olive green.

This bracelet is made from fine crochet and incorporates a variety of Swarovski and vintage crystal as well as freshwater pearl drops. This jewellery is so light and delicate to wear and suits the floaty style of this dress.

The bride, Mother of the bride and three bridesmaids will all be wearing Rangoli jewellery for the wedding and I'm looking forward to seeing some photos afterwards!

Read more about my recent commissions -

Rangoli Competition for past clients

Hello to all my lovely past clients - I want to thank you for your support over the last twelve years.

I am inviting all Rangoli clients from 1998 to the present day to enter this competition to win a bespoke occasion-wear headpiece. I want to re-connect with as many of you as possible and am looking forward to designing a special piece for one lucky winner.

Inspire me with an image of an outfit that you would like me to design a bespoke headpiece for. Perhaps you have a dress you love or maybe you are still on the look-out for that special outfit. You have six weeks to choose and photograph your glamorous attire!

If you know of anyone that I have designed for, please tell them about this competition so that they can be in with a chance to win this special prize.How to enter - Simply become a 'Fan' on my Facebook page and read about the entry details. Please don't be shy - I want to hear from each and every one of you!
Here are the details about how to enter the competition.

Wishing you all the best of luck!
Aisling

Dirty Fabulous Open Day

It's true that Caroline and Kathy from Dirty Fabulous are friends of mine but I am such a fan of their Vintage boutique on Baggot Street! Their boudoir showroom is crammed full of the most glamorous one-off designs sourced in New York, Paris and Berlin. You can just imagine the stories behind some of these outfits!

Such is the demand for vintage bridal dresses that the girls are flying to New York next week and have already previewed a range of original vintage gowns from the 1940's to 1970's that they will be choosing from.

If you would like a chance to visit the shop without an appointment, then you should visit the Dirty Fabulous Open Day next Saturday from 10am to 6pm. This will be a huge opportunity to grab some gorgeous vintage bargains with some extra special 2 for 1 offers. For more info, visit the blog or read my previous post.

The girls are in New York from Tuesday 6th and will reopen on Thursday 15th of October. Book in now if you'd like to be one of the first to see their dazzling bridal collection! And remember these are all one of a kind gowns. This shop has something for everyone from mother of the bride to party goer!

For more information visit the website or contact the girls on 01 6624249

Love your bridesmaids...

Here is a recent commission for two bridesmaids that will be wearing olive green dresses. The hair will be worn in a low wrapped bun to the side of the head. I think that these delicate sculptural pins will really complement their hairstyles and dresses.

These hair accessories suit everyone from mother of the bride, bridesmaids or guests and can be customised in size or beading detail. Read about more Rangoli bridesmaids hair accessories.

This bridal party are on the final count-down to the wedding day and I wish them all the very best!

Dirty Fabulous

I am always being asked by clients if I can recommend somewhere special for their mum to source their outfit. Most are looking for something a bit different rather than the dated suits with matching hats or feathers that are featured in many of the bridal magazines.

Well, look no further than the Dirty Fabulous boutique on Baggot Street. Here you will find a treasure trove of one-off, high-end vintage outfits to suit all age ranges and occasions. Sisters Kathy and Caroline will offer advice and even tailor the garments for you.

Dirty Fabulous were recently featured by Constance Harris in The Irish Independent on May 25th 2009-

Retailers talk about offering more bang for their buck, but, in reality, is that true? It seems to me that sales staff are less skilled than ever, while stores are less willing to allow consumers to exchange items, let alone get refunds. Frankly, I think the consumer is often given very little by retailers other than the hard sell.

Retailers talk about offering more bang for their buck, but, in reality, is that true? It seems to me that sales staff are less skilled than ever, while stores are less willing to allow consumers to exchange items, let alone get refunds. Frankly, I think the consumer is often given very little by retailers other than the hard sell.

So, it is with delight I tell you about an original shopping experience. Not cheap, but offering a special service, Dirty Fabulous is a vintage-clothes shop that moves shopping, and vintage, to new levels.

Sisters Caroline Quinn and Kathy Sherry opened the store only six months ago and already they have a huge portfolio of press clippings and coverage. It was a secret among fashion stylists — not any more.

Kathy and Caroline go to international vintage trade-fairs buying as any fashion buyer would, using their knowledge of their customers’ needs and applying high-fashion insight. They try to buy in colour blocks and with seasonal changes in mind.

They buy garments from the Thirties through to the Sixties, though the odd bit of Seventies’ OTT fabulousness creeps in. The clothes are pure fem and not everything is high glamour. In fact, my favourite dress — apart from the to-die-for Thirties’ crepe gown a la John Galliano for Dior — was a simple, cornflower-blue, American, Fifties’ sundress.

The two choose dresses on a love basis. Sometimes, a garment may be damaged and they will think creatively how they can restore it. As women have become larger, most vintage dresses are too petite, so finding crafty ways of converting a dress into a size 14 or 16 is part of Dirty Fabulous’s genius. Also, they aren’t afraid to slightly redesign a garment if they feel it needs more oomph.

Located on the top floor of a Georgian house on Dublin’s Baggot Street, with plenty of parking, visiting at Dirty Fabulous is by appointment only, thus guaranteeing a one-on-one service. The shop is laid out like a couturier’s salon. There’s a luxury dressing-area, couches and tea, coffee or champagne. The sisters will delight in sharing the fashion history of the dress you love.

Brides, especially, come asking for vintage dresses for their bridesmaids. It’s a testimony to the quality of the shop’s service to see the number of pictures sent by wedding-party clients. They all look fabulous and happy. If anything, the bride in her modern dress tends to look a bit flat compared to all the vintage-clad, glowing goddesses at her side!

Visit the website and blog too for lots of inspiration!

Fascinator Hat

Recently I had the opportunity to design a headpiece for a mother of the bride. The starting point for this commission was the Louise Kennedy outfit that she had chosen to wear. The dress, seen above is a truly classic style with simple, elegant lines. The navy and cream colour combination is dramatic yet under-stated and the graphic floral design is very striking.

My client wanted a small headpiece that would complement her outfit. She is not someone who likes wearing large hats or fussy headpieces so I suggested the simple form of a small fascinator hat. Once we had tried on an example of this type of hair accessory, I was able to discuss lots of different possibilities for embellishing the form.

French navy veil netting was a perfect match for the outfit. Cream pearls were a lovely way of introducing the cream colour. I designed a pearl and rhinestone flower detail to add a little drama to the piece. I also worked some tiny pearls into the netting.

I love designing custom pieces like this and it is also an enjoyable experience for the client to be involved in the design process!

Facinator hats and alternative headpieces

I have found that many clients including mother of the bride and bridal guests are looking for an alternative to a large hat or feathers. Many want to dress up their hair in an elegant and more understated way.

With this in mind, I have been designing a range of facinator hats and sculptural hairpins and combs that can be customised to match any outfit. These pieces are very versatile and can be worn in a number of different hairstyles. Some are attached to fine alice bands so that they sit securely and comfortably on the head.

Why not have a piece designed specially for you and enjoy being involved in the design process!

Photos by Brendan Lyon

Mother of the bride

My collection of jewellery and hair accessories are designed for anyone who wants to add a touch of glamour to their special outfit. I often design custom made pieces for mothers of the bride or bridal guests.

Recently I have been getting a lot of requests to design something elegant to distinguish the bride or groom's mother, that is an alternative to a hat or feathers. Hats are definitely not for everyone and there are lots of sophisticated and elegant headpieces that will really complement any occasion outfit.

Where possible I ask clients to bring along their outfit so that I can advise on the best style of headpiece or jewellery to co-ordinate with it. Other elements to take into consideration are the bride's gown as well as the the style of wedding that is being planned. I find that my clients enjoy the process of being involved in the design process and having bespoke accessories created for such a special occasion!

Dirty Fabulous

Dirty Fabulous is a vintage clothing boutique specialising in high end vintage wear, jewellery and accessories. It was launched in 2008 by my glamorous friend Carloline and (equally stylish) sister Kathy!

Caroline and Kathy have turned their love and knowledge for genuine vintage clothing and accessories into a dream job! They have the enviable task of visiting Paris, New York and Berlin to source beautiful original vintage clothing and accessories. A visit to their showroom is a personal and fun experience and Caroline will individually tailor each garment to fit you perfectly as well as offering advice on the style of shoes and accessories that will complement your outfit.

If you are a bride looking for a truly vintage, one-off gown then Dirty Fabulous should be your first port of call! Mothers of the bride will also love the choice of outfits as well as the one-on-one attention and advice. In fact any woman who loves glamour, sparkle or understated elegance should make an appointment to visit the showroom, step into the world of chandeliers and sip on a glass of sparkly!

Watch out for further updates and pics of gorrrrgeous dresses or subscribe to http://dirtyfabulous.blogspot.com/

Dirty Fabulous
No 97 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
01 6624249
info@dirtyfabulous.com