Fashion on Bridge

Arthur Fields was the Man on Bridge who for 50 years took photos of people walking over O’Connell bridge in Dublin’s city centre capturing the changing times, people and style of everyone who crossed the bridge. Arthur Fields legacy has only been recently been discovered and his extraordinary photographic archive which has become a social history of Dublin has been beautifully and thoughtfully portrayed in a documentary, exhibition and book. As I mentioned in my 2014 highlights I was thrilled to contribute my fashion history knowledge to the documentary, which is still available to watch on RTE player here.

You can see the Man on Bridge exhibition in the Gallery of Photography in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar until the 11th of January, it was due to end on the 8th but due to popular demand has been extended- so get in quick- its a real gem of an exhibit. I visited this week and it was choc-a-block with Dubliners of the older generation walking down memory lane and looking at the fashion and old buildings around in their day and the younger generations looking for their Mammies and Grannies!

I took some snaps of Arthur’s snaps, an edit if you will of the extraordinary fashion that played out on O’Connell bridge for over 50 years. All I can say is we were a stylish bunch.

Here are my favourite Arthur Fields images that really rock some amazing looks and draws our attention to some lost fashion items we need to bring back to the bridge!

Handbag & Gloves

I love the composition of this image from the 1950s and the striking wasp-waist, 1950s belted check dress with brooch detail at the neckline. Its a dress that could be worn now and look super chic. The glossy framed handbag and gloves make it utterly fifties.

The Headscarf

Dublin is a windy rainy city and anyone who has walked over O’Connell bridge will know it gets worse as you step over the Liffey. The headscarf which has not been part of a ladies repertoire for a long time was a necessary way to keep hair beautifully set and I might add look rather cool too. I love the lady above from the 1960s who has a chiffon scarf tied over her sixties style bun and knotted in a little bow under her chin. Bring back the headscarf I say- this look beats an inside-out umbrella any day.

Hats at a jaunty angle

How cool is this image from the late 1940s? The felt hat gives the belted check cool a really a striking finish.

This sophisticated pair from the 1950s have almost movie star looks which centres around their beautifully sculpted hats.

The floppy hat worked with mini dresses and patent heels shows the influence of Swinging London model Twiggy on the streets of Dublin in the 1960s.

The Fur

The glamour of a fur, its politically incorrect to speak of fur today but they were the ultimate status symbol and the epitome of movie star glamour from the 1930s onwards.

An actual movie star on the bridge in fur in the 1950s. Va, va, voom! I love the woman in turban to the left turning her head and spotting the star in her midst.

More fabulous fifties fur collars and neat little hats to match. This is a gorgeous night-time shot which I can only imagine means these two ladies are off to a dance.