Rose goes Vintage
‘You call me a moth, but I am really a butterfly without lavish clothes, hunting for colour in your second-hand wardrobes.’ Second hand Cabaret Rose.
Photo By Scott Anthony Kelly, Clothes by Lulu's, Designer French Vintage, Hat by KateBetts, Make up by Ruth O'Rourke MUA
1. Lulu’s of Monkstown. Designer French Vintage.
Lulu’s is one of Dublin’s petit miracles. Veronique, the owner goes to Paris every few weeks and returns with hand-chosen designer Vintage from the Couture Capital of the world.
Rose was lucky to be dressed in Lulu for her most recent photoshoot (featured). She says stepping inside is like going to a Gauguin Gallery… or revisiting the Parisien streets where she grew up as a child…. it is a shop full of the mysterious grace and beauty of that city… Cafes, elegance, the music of ‘Amelie’….Rose recommends.
2. Grogan’s pub.
Home of The Black stuff and The Bitter, drunk by the artist, the anarchist and the resident bitter, Rose says Grogans is the best pub in town for ‘Cabaret Revolution!’
A safe haven for Rose, she hid here in the Celtic Tiger years with the other guerillas against the boom. She would often come in the afternoons for the best ‘toasties’ in town, served with a pot of ‘normal’ tea (all they have - and ever will have).
Heaven was sitting in the vintage old-style decor, in the dusty stained-glass light, writing songs like ‘A Night Star with a Golden Core.’ . She even gave a copy of this one in thanks to the owners – hand-written in pink! (www.roselawless.com/my-songs)
3. Dirty Fabulous.
Dirty Fabulous is like Vintage in Technicolor. Classic greens, reds and blues (and they also do a celebrated turn in bridal white), it makes you think of ‘Guys and Dolls’, Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly – and all the great screen idols who did glamour in vivid colour.
Run by two sisters, Cathy and Caroline, they have a charming talent for choosing clothes, for both their elegant chique and their irrepressible celebration of feminine fun. Rose loves Dirty Fabulous for the two words in its name – and she really recommends finding it on Wicklow street for a special treat in technicolour!
4.Bohemia
Another great Vintage point from which to see ‘reclaimed’ Dublin, Rose likes Bohemia as a wonderful symbol of self-expression. Set in ‘The Liberties,’ the shop epitomises the spirit of ‘Liberty,’ she loves in that great inner city location.
Eve, it’s ‘belle’ owner, runs her shop of kitsch and luxury treasure, without the use of email, phone or logo. An actress who studied Stanislavsky, as well as being a wise merchant in vintage, she’ s a fascinating person to talk to about running a good business, while holding her castle of ‘no surrender,’ fast from the modern web-world. Vive Bohemia! Vive The Liberties!
5. Jenny Vanders
The grandmere of Dublin Vintage, this shop is full of the history of its exquisite stitches. Jenny Vanders has been around since Rose was an anarchic teenager and she’s often wandered in on a happy penniless Dublin afternoon to browse – and wonder who wore these elegant gloves and jewels…. Jenny Vanders clothes don’t just compliment Cabaret – they inspire it and create it. Rose has always dreamed of wearing one of these mysterious pieces to perform in.
So she was overjoyed last autumn, when she was sponsored to wear a Jenny Vanders see-through flapper dress, to sing ‘My love is like a Water Rat.’ A dark love song, inspired by the Liffey at moonlight, Rose dedicates it to her lover, the rockn’ roll Hungarian, Farkas.
6. Juice
Rose recommends Juice as a place to stop off from your Vintage trail, to try the most celebrated smoothies in town.
Centrally located, surrounded by the best second-ware stores and Dublin fun spots, Juice is is an essential part of Rose’s Cabaret Dublin: You’re very likely to bump into her here, having a political chat with Anthony, the owner, about who should really be running the country – David McWilliams or David McSavage. She comes regularly with her mates (and lover – Farkas) to enjoy the best vegetarian deal in town – Just 7.95 for two delicious quality courses in a sunny surrounding, with elegant and friendly waiters.
It’s just opposite ‘The Matchbox Theatre‘ so you might catch Anthony on a Saturday night off at Rose’s ‘Cabaret Revolution‘. You’ll know him as the one sitting at the front, endearingly handsome in heavy vintage spectacles.
7. Rose’s Vintage Cabaret at ‘Le Cafe des Irlandais!’
One thinks of the Wild Geese and their revolutionary descendants, who fled to Paris from Imperial Britain…. They might have established something like Le Cafe as they became more Parisian than the Parisian themselves – while retaining their dreams of Saor Eire.
This imaginative theme of France a la Irlandaise is maintained gracefully throughout Le Cafe – from the rua-haired chef who studied the art of cuisine in Paris, to the classy European Cafe decor with a Celtic Patriot feel – to – Finally! Drum roll, Ladies and Gentlemen! - the Salon-style Cabaret, born of the urban grind and glory of Dublin!
Our anti-heroine, Rose Lawless, with her black hair and pale skin, stained with freckles, will be declaring the unsung longings of our city’s back streets, while staying faithful to this radical european genre. She’ll be singing Cabaret Revolution! downstairs in The Matchbox Theatre (run by new impressario Gavin Logue), every Saturday, March 5-April 23rd, 9pm. 15 euros/12.50 concession. Free Glass of wine on entry. Vintage dress optional. With great prizes from our featured sponsors. Bookings 085 8079612 Vive le Revolution! Vive la liberte!
* Additionally, Rose will be performing an exciting installation in the window of ‘Le Cafe des Irlandais’ every Monday (excluding March 7th), from 5.30-6.30 pm, during the run of her show. Rose is designing these window displays with Siobhan Kelly (siobhankellie@gmail.com) and each one will be a Cabaret-inspired tribute to her Vintage sponsors. If you’re passing by this shameless piece of exhibitionism, please don’t forget to come and try to make mannequin-Rose laugh.
