Liberty windows for London Fashion Week

Balloons

National Treasures at Liberty

Liberty's annual British Design windows (to coincide with the London Design Festival more or less I think) are the usual beautifully executed showcase of the best of what's out there right now. My impression is that they commissioned a bunch of pieces by different British icons (including a suitcase by one of Dragon's Den, cufflinks by Vinnie Jones, and a tea towel by Nigel Slater (on a side note if you haven't seen Toast the film of his life with Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore then see it, it's great). Turning some of the windows entirely into the interiors of wooden tea chests was really great, and the graphics were beautiful as well. My only problem was when I looked for some of the pieces in store and couldn't find them - maybe they had sold out or I was looking in the wrong place but... nowhere to be found. Still, it made me go into the store to look for them, so they clearly worked well even to a cynical retail hack like me.

Reflections of the way we used to be

Great new window at Topshop on Oxford Circus - mannequins arranged on the floor and then reflected on big slanted mirrors towering over them. Simple and nice.

Liberty All At Sea

Dem Libs take a trip to the seaside for their windows just now - as ever lots of beautiful detail including an amazing ghost train track and some suggestive seaside humour. We'll have a go on your stick of rock any day! Enjoy pics below...

Windows 3: Topman

And finally if you ever wondered where your lost luggage has got to it may be in Topman's alien landscape menswear window on Oxford St.

Windows 2: Fortnum and Mason

It's elemental god-tastic crossed with the Arabian Nights at Fortnum and Mason right now... we liked the metal molding used as facial hair on the men.

Windows 1: Liberty

Some new windows at Liberty - following a kind of nature/bird/egg/anthropology theme - some sweet moments and very well executed as per. We especially liked the beautifully made clamp like devices attached the the 'flying' glasses to give them little wings. It's all about the details in these small spaces.

Liberty windows

LOOK! at Liberty's beautiful new windows for their furniture and lighting department! Once again making brilliant use of the small space available, they've been able to completely tile one in updated Delft blue tiles, and flood another with sunflower seeds. Very simple and beautiful and for the new homo-wners amongst us some lovely furniture porn on display. Windows in conjunction with amongst others the V&A's Cult of Beauty exhibition which opens April 2.

New shoes at Selfridges

We were wondering what was going on behind all that hoarding... phase one now open at Selfridges.

High Frequency Pink and Yellow

We've always loved Flashback Records in Islington. Call us old fashioned but sometimes there's nothing more satisfying than a good old rummage and bargain on some good music. Having picked up a CD there at the weekend we noticed upon leaving this kind of awesome window display. Who knew there was so much magenta and yellow out there in Music and DVD land? And is it all the Sex Pistols' fault?

Oxfam at Selfridges?

The Oxfam Curiosity Shoppe opened its doors today at Selfridges, to big queues we're told, full of shoppers eager for a one-of-a-kind Oxfam bargain. Big names including Annie Lennox have donated some of their personal belongings to the sale, which Oxfam hopes as ever will fund their continuing fight against poverty in Africa. Nice to see a little social conscience at work. And well done Selfridges, luring in the shoppers who might not otherwise set foot in an Oxfam! We eyed some lovely books (Turkish Self Taught Conversational Grammar, for those trips to the barber), Bob Dylan records, and a lovely set of jugs, if you must know. Shoppe open until May 20.