What a fab week at LiB!  Lots of happy customers and two very happy boutique owners! Nothing makes us smile more than when we are given a consignment of jewellery to sell on behalf of someone very special.

On recommendation (always the best way) we met with a new customer to Love Is who had inherited a huge amount of costume jewellery. Let me first tell you a little bit about it’s owner.

Mary was born in Surrey in 1925. A rather glamourous young lady, she was art school trained and then was sent to finishing school.  Mary had some pretty interesting jobs during her life.  She entertained at the American GI’s Club in London, she was a Twirler for the Coldstream Guards, a bit part and extras actress (starring in the very first Titanic film) and was a buyer and valuer for Harrods for many years, in their furs and fine jewellery departments.

But what made our hearts sing was hearing that Mary had been a dancer for Gypsy Rose Lee in the 50′s.

It makes perfect sense that Mary was a valuer at Harrods – this woman had an eye for beautiful things.  We spend over a week researching some of the jewellery, Lynne burning the midnight oil to make sure we understood where everything had come from.

These are Christian Dior pearls designed between ’52 and ’56 by Mitchell Maer. They have two rhinestone clasps that mean you can have one long link or two short links. So stunning, like new and will never date.

This crystal art deco cuff from Boucher was made in 1955. Mary had a safety chain added to make sure she didn’t loose it.  Obviously loved, as in mint condition.

Here is Mary (second from left) in her ‘Winter’ costume when she danced for Gypsy Rose Lee. The outfits were pretty racy for then! A body stocking with some strategically placed sequins!!  This photo was taken in the early ’50′s!

Mary loved her pearls! This double layer set has a sterling silver clasp that is set with rhinestones. A bit of history, a lot of glam and a piece of jewellery you could keep forever.

NOW these kinds of stories are what makes this the BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

Thank you so much to Mary’s niece for kindly letting us write about her beautiful Aunt Mary and for using her photographs. We have a collection of Mary’s jewellery in the shop from cocktail rings to brooches and necklaces. We won’t have it for long. That’s a fact.

With weather that is changeable, the shops choka-blocka with sale items from seasons ago and a miserable economic outlook for the year, it’s no wonder January is a totally hideous month.  We are getting lots of our lovely clients in, but none of you gals know what to buy!  We are just starting to take spring stock, no more coats or heavy knitwear. And we want some colour!!!

Starting to get the new season stock in is the most exciting time in the boutique. Our rails slowly morph from black, navy and chocolates into a rainbow of pastels and colour blocks, prints and patterns.  So what to buy now from LiB?  We’ve just had some great named jeans in – JBrand, Seven for all Mankind, Paige – and we are laden with designer handbags at some very good prices. We have 6 Gucci bags alone swell as Anya Hindmarch, Chanel, Mulberry, Celine and Tods.

If you’re ever looking for something a little special, why don’t you come and talk to us. We provide a sourcing service, so if we know what you want, we shall be on the look out for you.  You only have to ask!

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of the rather lovely Katie Brown working with us. Katie, a fashion blogger by night and ALevel student by day is hoping to skip off to do a fashion degree next year. We are very lucky to be having her intern at LiB during school holidays!  Not only is she as bright as a button but has a great sense of style for one still so young!  Look out for more of Katies guest blogs PLUS you can check hers out too!

Battle of the Brands – by Katie Brown

There has only ever been one defining question in my life since the awareness fashion revealed itself to me; To buy designer or not to buy designer? I remember poring over the editorial pages of my mum’s magazines, studying the sources of the garments; “Silk Minidress, £1040, Valentino”, ah. After calculating how many years it would take to save for this dress at a rate of £5 a week (4 years), it was at this point I would pay a visit to the nearest Dorothy Perkins / Topshop / Claire’s Accessories / New Look and splash out on 6 things that I would never wear again. A healthy compromise? I think so.

Now there have been certain circumstances in my life in which I have resorted to both extremes of fashion. First introduction to Primark: £50 spend on 45,000 small pieces of polyester clothing. First introduction to Liberty’s of London: £160 spend on Vivienne Westwood Red Label tartan skirt.

We all know that spending lots of money on small, badly made items isn’t generally healthy. It clogs up your wardrobe, falls apart after 2 wears, makes you feel good (when you buy it) then bad (when you get home and for the rest of the time you own it), and creates a lot of unnecessary waste. There’s also a quite considerable ethical issue with these clothes. I once purchased a pair of black sequin leggings to which my mother claimed she could “hear the small Indian children crying” whenever I wore them. Needless to say, I no longer buy heavily embellished clothes.

My personal issue with expensive designer clothes is that I love them so much, I don’t want to wear them (i.e. ruin them). Perhaps framing them would be a better alternative? But then thing of the cost-per-wear! (oh the dreaded cost-per-wear, which haunts me eternally)

It also worries me sometimes that items from designers can be found just as easily and almost identically on the high-street for a fraction of the price. What happens if I splash out on that *insert designer name here* dress, then see one that looks the same in Topshop  – or god forbid – someone I know wearing it having bought in on the high-street!

Topshop ring vs. Yves Saint Laurent ring

What is the solution to this problem? Buy vintage of course! Why? Well it’s generally much cheaper than buying new designer items, (unless you’re looking for something really famous / rare like an original Chanel quilted cross-body bag) as well as being better value than high street items in terms of quality. It’s also highly unlikely that you’ll see someone else wearing the same as you. Will the benefits never end?! I’ve collected several vintage items from various sources – small vintage shops, charity shops, eBay (it has been good to me) and, of course, Love is Boutique, where I could buy too much and still feel OK about it.

MiuMiu Glitter boots vs. Top Shop version…..

It’s not often I ramble (you know what’s coming now eh…) but as I haven’t done this on the blog for a while (ramble) I thought I would….

The last couple of months have been pretty WOW at LiB. From vintage fairs to charity discos, to 1,000′s of items of stock being dropped off, to 70 new members….it’s been fairly non stop.  Time to reflect, take stock and see where we go from here.  The dress agency side of our business is booming and it’s clear to see that this service is needed in society. Indeed, as the worlds population booms and we buy more and more to sate our appetite for the new, dress agencies along with charity shops will become more and more essential as a means to of dispose your unwanted purchases.

Whilst we build a business on the fact that woman fall in and out of love with clothes, shoes and handbags faster than a Kardashian sister, the best way to use Love Is to it’s full potential is to give AND receive.  Sell your items and, sometimes instead of taking cash, replace several unloved cheaper brands with just one luxe brand that you would normally never buy.  For instance, several dresses from Monsoon and that leather handbag you bought but never use could bag you an Armani jacket.  So whilst you are still adding to your wardrobe (and get that rush from shopping) you are being more fashion savvy!

Makes sense?  Call me a fashion mathematician……

Some pics from round the shop this last week so you know what you are missing…..

This LV bag is a bargain and will last forever in the fashion stakes

This McQueen skull scarf won't be around for long...

This Chanel jacket with jeans is timeless...

New stock is never a problem at LiB