Hi everyone, hope you week is going well?
I had such a lovely day yesterday. My friend Ali and I went to the Liberty in Fashion Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum and finished the day off with a little trip to Liberty itself – incredible to admit this but it was my first every visit to the store.
The first room gave a timeline on one wall and an eclectic display on the other: the overall effect was very calming.
I particularly liked the smocking on this wedding dress – it looked so dated I couldn’t believe it was 1985 but the Dianasque sleeves gave it away.
Here are some more pics of exhibits I particularly liked:
Flower power! I wish I knew a man who would wear this suit and some super funky Jimmy Choos
Adorable details
At first I thought it was feathers but it is actually the material
My absolute favourite was a Vivienne Westwood dress in a gorgeous delicate floral fabric. I took a quick pic of the details so that I could include them in my post and it was only when I looked later I realised the fabric was designed by a former colleague of mine, Rachel Pedder-Smith so that was a lovely surprise.
Dress by Vivienne Westwood: Fabric designed by Rachel Pedder-Smith
For a more erudite round up of the exhibition, do head over to Fabrikated: Kate’s post has better quality photos and more of the history. The exhibition is on until the end of February so if you can get to London, I would highly recommend it.
Look at the scarf and not my face please!
Onwards to Liberty! I felt I was quite restrained in the circumstances (i.e. of being in Liberty). I bought a little headband so that I could try and emulate the sassy style of Suzi of Alternative Ageing and a silk scarf. I had been umming and ahhing about the scarf but then the most magnificent sales assistant wearing a gold jacket and black brocade maxi (see first photo) sallied forth and started tying the scarf on me in various ways – of course I bought it!
Finally up to the 4th floor and the fabrics! I bought a wonderful liberty tana lawn with a tiger design. I am going on a walking holiday tomorrow, hand luggage only, and I thought this would go perfectly with my blue/grey only palette. So, I threw myself into it when I came home and Tah Dah!
Grainline Scouttee in Liberty Tana Lawn
I will by using Instagram whilst I am away In La Gomera so please feel free to have a peek and see how I am getting on – my first ever holiday as a solo traveller (but joining a group of 14).
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
How distracting would it be to sew on this?!
clarinda kaleidoscope 
Thanks for the shout out Clarinda. I can’t believe I missed the Vivienne Westwood dress! I guess the textile was a little bit “Liberty” for me. I love your tiger T and hope you are wearing it on your adventurous holiday.
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The print on the Vivienne Westweeo dress is really beautiful! Enjoy your holiday!
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Not sure I’d like that sewing machine actually, but everything else is great. That scarf! So glad you bought that it is beautiful. The tiger fabric works wonderfully as a scout T-shirt great choice. Enjoy your hols.
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Just the top for La Gomera if you are carrying your back pack from place to place, light and little space taken. I went walking there with my partner about 10 years ago over the Christmas break and couldn’t believe that I could swim in the sea with comfort, bit of a change from Brighton beach at that time of year. Be warned though that it can get cold up in the rain forest if you go there. I’m sure you will have a great time.
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I’d love to get lost in the liberty store, it looks like heaven! Not sure I could sew with the flowery machine! 😀
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oh enjoy your holiday and I really cannot believe you have never visited liberty before!!
I’m off to the Liberty exhibition in feb…..
bestest wishes
d xxx
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Itching to head down to London now, but not currently possible. Isn’t the shop beautiful? You should be proud of yourself for being so restrained 🙂
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Me to but we’ll have to make do with Dewsbury! 😀
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Dewsbury will do me just fine 🙂
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I love the tiger design fabric. I didn’t notice the tigers at first! I would NOT like the sewing machine though!
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I love Liberty. Such a privilege to go there regularly. Next time book a beauty treatment, the treatment area is gorgeous!
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You and Kate have certainly convinced me to see this exhibition. The Liberty sales assistant is fabulous! Thanks for the link to Alternative Ageing – so stylish! Happy walking.
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