The Vintage Fashion and Decor Fair held in the Ballsbridge Inn on 17th - 18th October was a showcase of vintage glamour and style. A long -time fan of vintage, Sonya Lennon was very impressed with the quality and quantity of vintage on offer at the fair. For Sarah McGuinness, Marketing Director of Benefit Ireland, sponsors of the Vintage Fashion and Decor Fair, this was her first visit to a Vintage Fair. Sarah declared that Benefit Ireland were delighted to sponsor this event which captures so well the retro glamour associated with Benefit Cosmetics. Sarah is now a firm fan of vintage fashion and is personally looking forward to the next Vintage Fair in Dublin.

Many of the visitors to the fair wore vintage, some dressed from head to toe in original vintage, while others mixed contemporary and vintage fashion to create their own unique style and look. Competitions held throughout the weekend included Best Hat, Best Hair and Makeup, and of course Best Dressed, the ladies prize sponsored by Benefit Cosmetics and Best Vintage Man sponsored by The Grooming Rooms of Dublin. The attendance of fashion designers /dressmakers Pamela Heaney and Nicola Kennedy to carry out alterations at the fair was a very successful  and welcome innovation, while the retro fashion makeovers by the Makeup.ie team and stylist Cabrini McArdle were very also popular, particularly on Saturday, with many clients headed for the fabulous Vintage Ball that night,   In fact, there was dancing throughout the weekend, with beginners dance lessons held during the fair, and some fabulous displays of footwork by afionados of swing and jazz dance which would put the Strictly professionals to shame. The fantastic Vintage Ball organised by Dublindy.com was a feast for the eyes and ears, with great music, floorshows and of course dancing till the early hours.

The Vintage Fashion and Decor Fair was organised by Joan Murray of Vintage Ireland. Details of the next vintage fair will be published on www.VintageIreland.eu and you can also follow VintageIreland on Twitter.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY FIONA MCGUIRE www.fionamcguire.ie