Wednesday 9th November 2011, 17.52
Our womenswear buyer Stephanie Jones picks out her top ten frocks for Spring Summer 2012 for Vogue.com…
1. Isabel Marant – “This is one of Isabel’s limited edition pieces from the collection – it’s an intricate handmade French lace and I love that it’s been styled over the metallic tank dress to give it a modern and sexy edge.”
2. Peter Pilotto – “The pencil skirt and nipped in waist on this dress give it an elegant ladylike feel, but I love how every last inch of it has been adorned in embellishment. Peter and Christopher have perfected their use of print but this steps it up a notch into the perfect piece of eveningwear.”
3. Acne – “I am so drawn to the bright pop of candy pink – you must feel like a princess stepping into this dress but I love that it’s been toughened up with the black tasselled sandals. It’s completely scooped out at the back which is a great subtle way to reveal some skin.”
4. Carven – “Guillaume Henry created a brilliantly vibrant and playful collection and I can’t wait to get my hands on this perfectly structured ikat print dress.”
5. Jonathan Saunders – “In a collection that proved Jonathan as a master of colour and print, what I love about this dress is the clash of the prim below-the-knee structured skirt with the sharp vivid green and almost kaleidoscopic print. This is a real statement piece which is guaranteed to get heads turning.”
6. Dries van Noten – “While being perfectly on trend with this season’s hot-house flower designs, Dries adds his own twist through prints of monochrome landscapes against hazy green palm trees to transport you to the humid jungles of the tropics in an easy clean shape.”
7. Stella McCartney – “The electric blue and pyjama-inspired slouchy feel to this dress make it sit perfectly with the trends for next summer, whilst the sports mesh inserts keep this dress fun and playful.”
8. Michael van der Ham – “Michael continues his signature patchwork of juxtaposing textures and fabrics but translated into seamless prints for easy versatile dresses. Patches of white keep this look really fresh and contemporary – perfect for summer.”
9. Richard Nicoll – “Richard adds a youthful touch to this dress with the bold pop colour and a relaxed feel through the slouchy tiers and fine spaghetti straps for effortless elegance.”
10. Teatum Jones – “I’ve had my eye on this collection so I’m really excited to be launching it for spring/summer 2012. Catherine and Rob are a talented duo combining a considered and delicate use of print with sharp attention to cut and detailing, whilst really understanding how to flatter a woman’s body. From a distance this dress looks like a subtle polka dot print but if you look closely you can see the dots are in fact images of baby’s fist, eyes and a smile – from a picture of Catherine’s baby niece.”
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Wednesday 2nd November 2011, 17.16
Lets admit it, even your Sunday best is nothing without a lush piece of designer arm candy to match. If we could, we’d have a different bag for every day of the week! Our buyers have picked out their top seven styles of the season to suit every occasion; whether it’s a versatile satchel for the office, a bright pop to liven up your LBD or a timeless classic they’ll be investing in.
1. Proenza Schouler Berry PS1: The ultimate satchel in this season’s must-have hue.
2. Tila March Zelig Boston Tote: This exclusive style has gorgeous ponyskin panelling
3. Givenchy Two Tone Leather Tote: In a subtle moss green that won’t clash with your outfit, and big enough to fit all your every day essentials.
4. Florian Denicourt Cocktail Flap Satchel: Vivid canary yellow to give inject some colour into your winter wardrobe.
5. Jerome Dreyfuss Pedro Bag: A classic tan leather to see you through the seasons.
6. Jas MB Red Riley Satchel: A relaxed and versatile satchel perfect for a weekend getaway.
7. 3.1 Phillip Lim Camera Bag: Unusual cobalt blue neoprene compliments the black leather perfectly.
Shop all bags now
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Tuesday 27th September 2011, 17.25
Last week our Buying Manager for Home & Gift Michelle Alger was scouring London for the most innovative and imaginative work at the London Design Festival,
“Highlights for me at LDF were the wonderful Zoe Murphy, who has been busy this year with the regeneration of Margate – and our order! Boeme had sumptuous botanical inspired fabrics and a lovely ‘Victorian greenhouse’ feel to their stand at Tent. I loved Design Junction, showcasing both new and existing brands and Surfacephilia had some amazing digital wallpapers at Tent that I will be rushing to add to our collection. Also Sean Dare from Dare Studio, everything on his stand was amazing including the hand chiselled blue cabinet.”
Michelle also had the pleasure of choosing the contents for five display windows at Origin: The Contemporary Craft Fair.
“The work selected was chosen on the basis of its cohesion of colour, texture and form and Liberty are very excited to be
collaborating with the organisers of Origin 2011 in this way. I always enjoy attending Origin in my professional capacity
as a buyer; I visit to make orders and commission work directly from the makers. Last year’s inclusion of the event
in the London Design Festival heralded a strong message about the desirability of contemporary craft.”
If you’re quick you can still visit Origin and take a look for yourself, the exhibition runs until 5pm tomorrow (28 September) with last entry at 4.15.
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Wednesday 18th May 2011, 15.41
Last night Liberty’s Home Buying Manager Michelle Alger was live on Facebook to answer all your questions about BBC2′s ‘Britain’s Next Big Thing’ series. The show follows hopeful suppliers who had the chance to pitch designs to the Liberty buying team at our Best of British Open Call.
Thanks to everyone who took part, here are our highlights of the Q&A:
Question: I have designed an amazing scarf collection…how do I get the opportunity to pitch to you!!?
Michelle: The best way is to send a concise price list with clear descriptions, images and your trading terms to us in the post.
Question: I would love to get my handmade candles into somewhere like Liberty, would you be looking at something exclusive to yourselves?
Michelle: You’d have to send us the details for that. We always love exclusives though!
Question: How did you get in to buying?
Michelle: I started off working on the shop floor and worked my way up to Head Office. It’s a great way to learn about the products first hand.
Question: What would you look for in a new Assistant Buyer for Home?
Michelle:
Enthusiasm, reliability, organisation and real passion for home-ware and design led products.
Question: When being shown products from a designer do you prefer to be presented with a large or more concise collection? Also, how to you feel about being shown handmade prototypes as opposed to manufactured items?
Michelle: I definitely prefer a concise range! I don’t mind seeing either handmade or manufactured items. If I see items which aren’t quite right for us at the moment I am always open to further suggestions and being presented amended work.
Question: Are the shows like ‘BNBT’ the only way to present your work to Liberty?
Michelle: No definitely not – I attend at lot of graduate shows and trade fairs. Don’t be put off if you receive a rejection, you could have the right product but it might not be the right time.
Question: What is the best way to start a creative business?
Michelle: Theo [Paphitis] really hit the nail on the head on tonight’s show. You need a great business acumen! You really need a good business plan and know about your profit and loss. You also need to know the true cost of things like VAT and shipping, and most importantly truly understand who your customer is!
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Monday 28th March 2011, 13.46
On April 12th BBC Two will air Britain’s Next Big Thing, a brand new show hosted by Theo Paphitis and focused on emerging design talent in the UK. The first episode will feature a behind-the-scenes look at our Best of British Design Open Call – in which the public is given the opportunity to present their designs to the expert buying team here at Liberty.
Past sucess stories from this unique opportunity include Richard Weston of Weston Scarves, fashion design duo Draw in Light and jewellery designer Katie Rowland.
To coincide with Britain’s Next Big Thing we’ll be sharing a series of short filmed interviews with you – some featuring some of our remarkable buyers, and some the designers who we now stock thanks to the Best of British process. First we spoke to Buying Manager for Home Michelle Alger, who has just opened the new Dining Room, and told us what she looks for in new designs.
Watch the Film
Register for the next Design Open Call on Saturday 20th August
Shop Best of British Designs
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