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Liberty in London

Liberty is a historic department store located on Regent Street in the West End shopping district of London.

In 1874, with a £2,000 loan from his future father-in-law, Arthur Lasenby Liberty set up a shop on Regents Street selling ornaments, fabric and artistic household objects from various other countries. Eighteen months later, Mr. Liberty had fully repaid the loan, expanding into more and more space along Regents Street, adding carpets and furniture into his shop.

Becoming one of the most fashionable places to shop in London, Liberty launched an in-house apparel line to challenge the fashions of Paris. With these contemporary in-house designers, the store became associated with the new style of Art Nouveau, referred to in Italy as Stile Liberty, after the store of its origins.

Today’s Liberty is housed in a Tudor revival building. It was in 1924 that this new store was constructed from the timbers of two ships. The department store was planned around three wells that formed the main focus of the building. Each of these wells was surrounded by smaller rooms to create a homey feel. Many of the rooms had fireplaces, which still exist today. The wells created a platform to drape exotic rugs and quilts, with side rooms for the display of smaller items.

Arthur Lasenby Liberty died in 1917, seven years before the completion of today’s majestic Liberty home, but his name will live on forever as one of the most prestigious stores in London. Stop by, if only just to browse the multiple floors of clothing and home goods, and the design of the building itself.

Harper Lee's 2nd Novel debuts Today!

To Kill a Mockingbird was first published by Harper Lee in 1960, on the cusp of a changing America. 

There was tension everywhere to be found - racial, sexual, political, and social. Some describe the era as a bubble that was ready to burst after years of hostility on so-called freedoms. So it was only fitting for the time to introduce a book that would challenge the notions of race in America.

To Kill a Mockingbird addresses many socially challenging situations, both directly and indirectly, all through the innocent eyes of a six-year-old girl. Very thought provoking. 

Controversial or not, the book and the movie, which was produced 2 years after the novel's debut, are both still taught in many classrooms to this day. The author, native Alabamian (Nelle) Harper Lee, has received many honors for her only published novel, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Harper Lee would be releasing her second novel, some fifty-five years after her first, one, and only, publication to date. Obviously, due to the popularity of To Kill a Mockingbird, and the fact that Harper Lee was once closely tied to the famous author Truman Capote, which sparked its own controversy of the book itself, this book release is and has been highly anticipated.

So, without further ado, Go Set a Watchman will be released to the public on Tuesday, July 14th. Buy the audible edition and Reese Witherspoon will be reading the story to you, what a treat!

But for those of you that just can't wait any longer, after all fifty-five years has already been a long time, The Wall Street Journal is releasing a sneak peek at the first chapter today! Oh, and if you haven't seen To Kill a Mockingbird yet, go out and get! Book or movie, I won't judge...

Vera Bradley Bags

While useful all year round, Vera Bradley bags just remind me of the summer. Maybe it's the fantastic color combinations or the light cotton fabric, but it's definitely a seasonal transition bag for me.

The signature collections change year after year, and it's hard to beat the vintage originals, but new or old, a classic Vera pattern usually entails a paisley print or some kind of flower motif. The totes are great for every day use, but come the weekends, you can't beat a the duffle for a quick and easy getaway.

Images courtesy of verbradley.com