As i often find it hard to contain myself in any mention of festive activities, I was literally besides myself as i approached Libertys in all its glory this time last week. I could see the icey blue christmas lights twinkling as I crossed over from regents street, slowly coming into focus as i quickly and excitedly power walked my way through the seasonal hustle and bustle of christmas shoppers towards the store; there it was 'Libertys Luella Christmas', hanging like the star of bethlehem over the Libertys entrance.
I was in. A warm smell of christmas berries seemed to welcome me as i walked through the scarf section (although this could have been a figment of my over indulgent festive imagination), for a moment I was distracted by the Burberry checks and Marc Jacobs patents- but surprisingly not for long, I was on a mission, a mission to find the Luella Grotto.
My mind was dancing around in a bubble of expectation, what quirky christmas miracle had libertys & luella got in-store for all us style suckers? Beautiful leathers hanging from the tree? Christmas angels kitted out in the most extravagant mini Luella designs? Elegent with a twist of couture, stocking fillers galore?
FOUND!
This is it? Really? A tiny room crammed with people, windows sprayed with tacky snow spray, christmas decorations a go-go. Most of the room seemed to be taken over by a large christmas tree (although we all love a good traditional fern), this seemed oddly misplaced, although I did find the large stuffed owls hiding between the branches, wearing party outfits and accessories quite a curious attempt at visual merchandising. For a moment I hoped it was merely the fumes from the perfume room getting to my head, causing this criminal act of underwhelment upon my eyes. Alas, i found it was reality as I passed through the exit, seasons greetings passed my way by a polite sales assistant.
HUMBUG.
On a lighter note, upstairs at Libertys i was finally in awe, I love Luella Bartley (perhaps i aspire to even be her), and am quite sadend by their current state of affairs with news of her label going bust spead along all gossip magazines. The Black Polka Dot Corset Dress is beauty in every dimention and lives up to Luellas well know aesthetics of mixing and mashing up what fashions key pieces already know, addind bold and somewhat cute polka dot prints, mixed with almost overly loud and sexual corset fastenings streamlining down the centre of the piece and sensual ruffles on the bust, destroying all the preconceptions of the lbd. Dear santa...(im a size8!)
