I truly believe that London is unsurpassed in it’s wealth of deliciously unique and lovely stores, pop-up shops and quirky boutiques. But my absolute favourite would have to be Liberty. It is to me what Tiffany’s is to Holly Golightly – no matter what mood I entered in, I always leave feeling happy, inspired, and clutching a purple bag full of tiny (or not so tiny) treasures.
The building itself – a mock tudor affair with grand paneled wooden walls and staircases – lends half the charm, but it’s the styling and the edit that really make Liberty what it is today. Due to it’s relatively small size for a department store (it’s manageable enough to do the whole place in an hour – whereas it takes that to do the cosmetics floor alone in Selfridges, et al), the buyers edit the best selection from the best brands – avant garde (Comme des Garcons, Alexander McQueen), chic (Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant) and cult (Vivienne Westwood, Opening Ceremony). And the styling is exactly how I want a store to look – there are mannequins with crazy Marie Antoinette wigs reclining on old oak tables in the homewares department, old cinema chairs and squishy couches covered in handmade cushions for a mid-shopping rest, books strung from the ceiling in the reading area, and always the best window displays in London.
I love coming here for the best fashion, accessories, and skincare, gorgeous candles, chocolate, and perfume, and whimsical stationary, tea cups and books on London or design. I also love poking around in the habadashery section for the lovely nostalgia it evokes for me. As a child, my mother would always take me to Liberty on our trips to London and somehow managed to transport rolls upon rolls of Liberty print fabric* and bars of their rosehip and clover soap back to Australia.
Do you love Liberty too? What are you favourite London shops?
Love, Miss B xx
Liberty of London – Great Marlborough Street, W1F (off Regent St, behind Oxford St, or enter through the back door on Carnaby St).
* My childhood was a happy blur of tea parties in my back rose garden, always dressed in a handmade Liberty floral dress or playsuit with a giant matching bow in my hair.
Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella says
London retail is amazing I have to agree! It seems so geared up towards people purchasing from the displays to the range of items. I absolutely LOVED Liberty the last time I was there. It was such a gorgeous shop with what seemed to be chic, hand picked things 😀
Courtney Michele says
Sadly I’ve never been to London. 🙁 But when I go (someday) I’ll have to vist this store. It looks so lovely. I love stores that have that power to make you happy no matter what. We all have one of those. 🙂
xox Courtney Michele
agirlastyle says
Courtney, when you do drop me a line and i’ll happily give you a list of recommendations!
What is the best store you’ve ever visited?
B xx
Shannon says
Hi B,
This is my first post but i’ve been really enjoying your blog for a little while now!
Am visiting London in 3 weeks and would love to know if you have any other must-visits… shopping-wise or otherwise?
Jad says
génial ce blog j’adore…
http://www.leschimeresdejad.com