Liberty’s Sunglasses Salon, London
1st May 2011 As well as the choice of incredible opticians across London, the department store Liberty is an excellent destination for quality sunglass collections, including some quite rare finds. I recently visited the new Sunglass Salon to research the RetroSuperFuture designs, and was delighted to see there are now 24 brands on show, with 14 new ones and some very strong eyewear names, such as Thierry Lasry, Moscot, Cutler & Gross Vintage, Persol and Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow.
The new interior of the Sunglasses Salon features antique cabinets that have been reworked to fit the frames perfectly. Nothing is behind glass so customers can see the designs easily and take advantage of the full length mirrors so they are assured in the sartorial eloquence of their purchases. A giant central area provides a style clinic where you can get expert advice on exactly what suits you and what doesn’t! One wall of the salon takes its inspiration from childhood trips to the optician and is covered in handheld optical lenses, layered together to create an outlandish 3D wallpaper.
For anyone who loves sunglass design and wants to see something a bit different, it’s a well balanced selection, offering trendy and outlandish as well as sophisticated and paired down shapes. Liberty themselves highlight the 1950s and 60s frames for S/S 2011, such as the Alexander Wang catseyes and the Cutler & Gross 1004 feline shape in black glitter. To see some of the frames on offer and to purchase online, visit www.liberty.co.uk