Trend report: Liberty AW12 press day highlights
Liberty‘s press day is one of the highlights of the whole 2-month-long press day circuit. There’s always something new going on with the store (this year it’s the extension of the accessories hall into a space that will reach back to Kingly Street opening on May 1st) and the buyers are on hand to chat through their choices. Womenswear buyer Stephanie Jones, who I first met doing the Liberty Best Of British Open Call last year, gave me a wee tour…
“Roksanda Ilincic, Roland Mouret and Haider Ackermann are new for us for autumn-winter. I’ve been loving the Haider shows, real standing ovation stuff,” said Stephanie Jones. “I just fell in love with this collection, especially the tucked-in jackets and mismatched colours, mixing purple with rust and brick…”
Animal print is clearly not going away anytime soon. For AW12 it’s supersized and graphic…
Being Liberty, print is key, so this is a dream season for the store. I couldn’t not photograph PR manager Chloe Weguelin’s Dries Van Noten dragon-print dress. A Dries double breasted blazer and Hermione de Paula print blouse also stood out…
Printed denim continues for AW12, Paige Denim is totally owning the printed jean
The big story in outerwear is ‘protection’ so there’s an abundance of ‘Power Puffa’ jackets; black B-Boy leather and purple moire from Christopher Kane, outstanding cyber-print from Peter Pilotto…
More ‘protection’ outerwear comes in the form of boxy, double breasted coating in both mens and womenswear, including Carven‘s tweed coat, Kenzo’s layered boiled wool coat and Paul Smith’s men’s coat…
Biker jackets of every description are still going strong including this luxe green leather from Acne. According to Jones, “Acne has been a destination for us since it opened here. Along with Isabel Marant (which induces almost Balmania levels of hysteria) it’s one of our biggest sellers”
One thing Liberty does incredibly well is accessories. On the bag front, it has expanded its buy of Proenza Schouler’s PS1 to include more colours, while new for AW12 is Sophie Hulme whose leather shoppers are a bit of a cult thing in fashion editor circles…
A Jil Sander wallet-slash-newspaper-holder. Bonkers and overpriced but somehow covetable
OTT crystal embellished sunglasses from A Morir
I was a bit miffed to find out that the Assouline store has gone from the ground floor to make space for a new handbag room but I know a business opportunity when I see one. Accessories are a big seller for Liberty right now so handbags are key. Jewellery is also a super strong category at Liberty. I really like the weightier pieces like these Eddie Borgo bracelets …
26 March, 2012 @ 4:40 pm
Great additions to Liberty – you’re right, they must be in Clash ‘n’ Match print heaven!
Claire x
26 March, 2012 @ 5:51 pm
When I’m rich, I’ll wear Haider Ackermann – just like Tilda!