Posts Tagged ‘Liberty’

Friday Fun: We’ve got you pegged

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Harvey Nichols‘ windows are looking completely fabulous this week. Back in the 90’s, when this store was THE fashion destination and Selfridges or Liberty were merely functional ‘department stores’, Harvey Nics windows were an event in themselves. Winning awards for their brilliantly creative approach. I think I could be right in saying that they were one of the innovators of using store window space as a totally creative area, building fantasy fashion playgrounds where the product was almost an aside. We think the current VM team is doing a sterling job in replicating that excitement.

The current scheme features this amazing dress constructed wholly from wooden pegs (hence the post title!), alongside a piano that seemed to be made from cassette tapes and a sports car made from battalions of tiny plastic soldiers. Why? Who cares! It looks fabulous and that’s got to be 99% of what fashion is about.

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Harvey Nichols

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Posted in Friday Fun, Store Windows | 4 Comments »

Friday Fun- Good Advice

Friday, July 16th, 2010

We spotted this in the super luxurious Designer show room in Liberty. We hope that they’ll forgive is for getting our camera out in store, but this was just so irresistible. Its typical of the innovative, humorous and quirky VM style for this stand out store. Very English-ly eccentric. Anyway, there are some sayings here that will suit many of your experiences this weekend so we thought this was perfect for our ‘Friday Fun’ slot.

Enjoy and happy Friday!

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Accessories: Nick at Liberty

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

We were passing by Liberty, peering in the windows as usual, contemplating what we were going to score at the Summer sale preview when we were utterly distracted by this stunning piece of shoe art, shoes, art… Well, whether this is about the shoes or the stunning vintage Liberty Art Fabrics ‘Bounty’ and ‘Santa Maria’ prints, its a winning combination.

We have long admired the work of Mr Kirkwood, and this collaboration as part of Liberty’s year long Flower Power event, has resulted in a three piece collection of limited edition, foot oriented joy.

So, plans to have a spend up in the sale went out of the window, and instead we started working out a crack pot scheme that would result in imminent ownership of the stunning Bounty Platform sandal…

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Nicholas Kirkwood for Liberty

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Blink Inspiration: Accessories Focus

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

For this post we drafted in the help of Gilly, our most trusted accessories aficionado, to review the Spring edition of the quarterly “Accessories” report. We asked her to pick out her favourite looks from the hundreds in this “Blink” report and these are her top tips for guaranteed style plus points. Perhaps not for self styling beginners as there are some bold looks here, but this is the place to have fun and experiment so don’t be shy…

These Mathew Williamson boots are so sexy yet still feminine. The proportion of the bow is brilliant.

Seen at London Fashion Week, she's rocking so many key accessories looks a once, yet she pulls it off perfectly. I think confidence is the key to this one!

This cuff, seen in the window of Liberty, would effortlessly dress up a very simple look. The scale and materials are exquisite.

Seen at London Fashion Week, this necklace is so bold but the knocked back colour and simple shapes mean that it's also understated.

Spotted on a student at LCF, this bracelet combines some really beautiful, diverse elements- including a bug! The aspect of surprise is something that accessories can add perfectly.

Click here for more on “Accessories” and if you’d like to see more from the quarterly “Accessories” report click here to find the details of your nearest ‘Blink” representative.

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Windows: Liberty’s Quilty Pleasures

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

When you think of Liberty and when you think of quilting, the images that may spring to mind are of nice Granny type ladies sitting around drinking tea while they hand stitch together patches of ditsy florals. I think that’s perhaps why we were so shocked at the sauce in the current window display celebrating “Quilty Pleasures” in a link up with the V&A’s quilting exhibition.

The windows feature quilts that seem to have sprung from the Tracey Emin school of needlework. Liberty commissioned  textile artists Amanda Fatherazi and Lou Gardiner to bring the notion of quilting well into the 21st Century. That is a mission that they certainly appear to have accomplished!

We’ll be featuring these shots and a couple more in the next quarter’s ‘Graphics’ report.

Click here for more on in-store displays.

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Blink Discoveries- Michael van der Ham

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

When retailing in Liberty last month we were, as usual, salivating over the stunning selection of new looks and beautiful presentation, but one label in particular sent our passion for fashion just a little over the normal state of excitement. There were a couple of mannequins styled in some amazingly constructed, almost patch-worked pieces that blended textiles and colour in a really fresh way. Our interest was piqued and we just had to know more. After searching down the mannequin’s back necks we saw the name ‘Michael Van der Ham‘. After a little online research we found out a bit more about this new designer.

This Dutch 24 year old is a recent graduate of Saint Martins. Van der Ham won the L’Oreal Professional Fashion Design Award for his Graduate collection in 2009, which was inspired by the dress collection created by Andy Warhol where he  dismantled designer dresses, mixed them up and reconstructed them into new dresses. He has taken this inspiration to a fabulous new level that feels perfect for the newly softened and relaxed formal mood that’s kicking off 2010.

Do head into Liberty for a closer look as our window shot really doesn’t do these styles justice.

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Michael van der Ham

Michael van der Ham


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Blink Seasonal- Creative Liberty

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Now for our final Christmas award which goes to Liberty. This is a special commendation for humor and glamour combined to create a fabulous fashion take on Christmas decs. Yes, we do bang on about Liberty at every opportunity, but they are truly one of the most inspiring retailers that we have here in dear old Blighty. Oh, and I’m not on the payroll (but wouldn’t refuse a Christmas stocking full of Liberty vouchers if anyone’s wondering!).

How do these manage to still look chic?

Liberty

Liberty

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Posted in Dresses, Events, Store Windows | 3 Comments »

Details- Hanging out in Liberty

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

When out collecting information for this month’s reports we came across this genius bit of in-store creativity in Liberty. Yes, this is another post proclaiming our love for this stunning store…

As we wondered through the super luxe womenswear department we spotted this amazing installation just draped in the corner. Flocked cutouts, in the shape of birds, dangled from a collection of chains and strings of pearls. It served no particular purpose, apart from looking ethereal and delightful.

Click here for more on Visual Merchandising.

Click here for more on ‘Details’.

Liberty

Liberty

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Retail highlights- Liberty

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

You probably already know that we LOVE Liberty. It was an extra special Liberty treat to turn the corner in Carnaby Street and come across this view. It put a smile on our faces and added the cherry on top of a great day retailing for this month’s reports. This super scale presentation of a classic Liberty print is English eccentricity supersized!

Liberty store

Liberty store

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Posted in Pattern, Store Windows | 2 Comments »

Animal Magic

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

In past month or so, we have seen a veritable zoo pass before our eyes in the windows of London’s stores. This seems to be the fashionable display theme of choice. We think this kooky and kitsch look at animal life has added a little sneaky smile behind all the serious style statements. Grrrr!

Selfridges

Selfridges

One of a Kind, vintage, Portobello Road

One of a Kind, vintage, Portobello Road

Luella

Luella

Liberty

Liberty

Selfridges

Selfridges

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