Liberty of London Boutique (London, UK)

I was recently browsing the A.P.C. collection with a friend, when she turned to me upon sighting the current season's floral dresses and asked "does the Liberty-print have anything to do with that London department store?". The question didn't bother me - I'm guessing a lot of people don't know, but the answer of course is a big YES. For some, Liberty might just be another department store - personally it's my favorite in the U.K., because of the building's architecture, great staff and good range of products. For many, it's also the company that gave us today's most popular print pattern.

How an East Anglian village inspired one of this season's prints. Click to enlarge (image: Liberty).

While the Liberty archive consists of hundreds and thousands of different fabric designs - the company was founded in 1875, so you can imagine how large their back-catalogue must be - every season the Art Fabric design team will come up with new patterns which are based on architecture, nature and research conducted on everyone from children to sports commentators. The fabric can then be bought by consumers to create anything they need, whether it's pillow cases or skirts.

Left: Kate Moss for Topshop, wearing Poppy and Lilabell. Right: swatches of the Topshop Liberty-prints (images: Topshop).

Most recently the Liberty-print has graced Nike shoes, Cacharel's current collection and a few A.P.C. items not to mention Kate Moss' Topshop collaboration. Such is Kate's love for these prints, she decided to borrow from three classic Liberty designs to create Kate Nouveau, Poppy and Lilabell (named after her daughter). "Whilst researching the spring range we looked at loads of old prints and most of my favorites originated from the Liberty archive" says Moss. The next brand to feature the popular prints will be Theory, who are set to launch a more western-themed collection this Fall.

From top left: Cacharel, A.P.C., Theory, Nike and Topshop's Kate Nouveau

(images: Liberty)

But the true master of the Liberty-print is of course Liberty itself, who in 2005 launched its own luxury clothing, accessories and home decor brand. 'Liberty of London' draws on Liberty's heritage and operates under the creative direction of Tamara Salman (formerly of Romeo Gigli and Prada). Last year, the first standalone Liberty of London boutique opened on Sloane Street, which caters to nothing but the flowery print. I was intrigued by the idea, but never got the chance to visit until this year.

Liberty likes to call this boutique a 'concept store' though essentially it is a two-storey shop that sells nothing but clothing and accessories. If you are color-shy or have an aversion to anything patterned, this probably isn't the place for you. Upon entering the luxurious interior of the store - imagine lots of gold walls and crystal chandeliers - I was greeted by bright vivid hues everywhere. I love the Liberty-print and think it's a timeless design, but nothing prepared me for the colorful pattern overload. While the Liberty department store has the items somewhat spread out, seeing the pieces in such a confined space gave me the impression I had just walked right into a rainbow.

Left: Current season Cacharel. Right: Liberty of London bags

I was happy to see that the boutique also stocked items by other brands. The first rack held a nice selection of the current Cacharel range, but the main attractions are the Liberty of London pieces. A three meter long 'scarf bar' graced most of the right side of the store with various shawls and silk scarves in every color imaginable. Bags and purses occupied the shelves behind it, some made of leather and surprisingly pattern-free, others made of canvas displaying the iconic print.

The 'scarf bar'

Further along, I found a table filled with items I never knew I needed but immediately wanted: Liberty-printed eye masks, cosmetics bags, jewelry cases, stationary, silk house slippers and satin pouches filled with scented lavender. Very girly but not as kitschy as you might imagine. In the opposite corner, glass cases displayed some nice jewelry - some were silver and more low-key, others featured bright floral designs.

Boy, do I regret not getting that eye mask... Right: necklaces featuring bugs and flowers

The back area showcased the brand's own clothing range which is slightly more expensive. Most of the dresses and tops are made of silk, but you'll also find some cashmere cardigans or fine knit tops. The most recent addition to the line are swimsuits and bikinis in the most perfect summery colors and designs.

Liberty of London's own collection of clothing

Men should head to the top floor, where they'll find an assortment of ties, bags, shirts and anything else a guy might need. The menswear line is much more subtle compared to the ladies, so if you're a gal who's not embracing florals fully, you might want to pick out a souvenir from this collection instead.

Menswear on the top floor (image: Liberty)

One thing I do have to note is that the Liberty-print is also part of the interior design, but doesn't actually compete with the products. The stucco ceilings and black and white glass-beaded wall decorations all featured the prints, but these actually complimented the items instead of distracting from them.

If you're a Liberty-print fan, this store is a must. It's conveniently located a few steps away from Harvey Nichols so you'll probably end up in the neighborhood anyway. If you're wary about seeing too many patterned pieces, I would suggest you head to the Liberty department store, which is equally (if not more) impressive and houses a large number of other high-end designer pieces as well. And if you're sitting at home with a sudden urge to buy a Liberty-printed anything, I'd recommend you visit their online shop which sells the majority of their collection, in addition to items by other brands.

(individual images: Liberty)

Address: 197 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9QX
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-19:00
Liberty Homepage & Online Shop