I must admit, I do use the phrase 'it's so me' a little too generously these days. I can't help it. When I get overly excited about something, that's just what comes out my mouth (I'm not apologising for it, so don't try and make me). But if there was one thing, one boutique that was SO ME it would have to be the East London (9 Pearson Street) power vintage house, House of Liza.
And let me tell you why.
Never have I seen a collection of the most fantastic, nostalgic, heroic, 'out there' clothes in one shop before. The geniuses behind the boutique have seriously tapped into the zeitgeist of the expression-through-fashion era of the 70s and 80s. Exquisite vintage Versace, playful JC de Castelbajac and gorgeous Moschino are just a few labels you might expect to find at the House of Liza.
The boutique exclusively stocks on Farfetch.com, and when I went along to their digital dress up session, I couldn't help but take some snaps of some of the bits Farfetch had to offer.
What's more, the name is SO ME too, so I had to find out where it came from. I asked Goncalo of House of Liza a few questions...
Me: Where does the name come from? Any relation to Liza Minnelli?
House of Liza: The name sort of came to me by accident. I wanted it to be a pun on the concept of Fashion House or Maison and I also wanted it to reflect my collection of record covers, especially those designed by Andy Warhol. As it happened I was staring at the wall thinking about possible names when I realised I was staring right at the face of Liza Minnelli, immortalised by Andy Warhol. It was perfect. Her bohemian and at times tragic life story, her sense of fashion and glamour… seem to encapsulate not only my collection but where the store is located too!
House of Liza: The name sort of came to me by accident. I wanted it to be a pun on the concept of Fashion House or Maison and I also wanted it to reflect my collection of record covers, especially those designed by Andy Warhol. As it happened I was staring at the wall thinking about possible names when I realised I was staring right at the face of Liza Minnelli, immortalised by Andy Warhol. It was perfect. Her bohemian and at times tragic life story, her sense of fashion and glamour… seem to encapsulate not only my collection but where the store is located too!
Me: What is House Of Liza's ethos?
HoL: The shop stocks unique vintage pieces by designers who were at the cutting edge of fashion when the pieces were created. Today’s consumers prefer their products to have history and evoke a sense of the past. House of Liza focuses on clothes that defined the vanguard of their period. The collection is based on my own personal archive that I have been collecting for a few years now. The archive reflects my passion for fashion, the designers that have inspired and surprised me. These tend to be from mainly the 80s and 90s, which is when I was growing up. It was a very exciting period, with a buoyant economy and a sense of rebellious experimentation.
HoL: The shop stocks unique vintage pieces by designers who were at the cutting edge of fashion when the pieces were created. Today’s consumers prefer their products to have history and evoke a sense of the past. House of Liza focuses on clothes that defined the vanguard of their period. The collection is based on my own personal archive that I have been collecting for a few years now. The archive reflects my passion for fashion, the designers that have inspired and surprised me. These tend to be from mainly the 80s and 90s, which is when I was growing up. It was a very exciting period, with a buoyant economy and a sense of rebellious experimentation.
Me: Out of all the pieces you've sourced, what's been your most exciting discovery?
HoL: I have a few favourite ones, but maybe the Teddy Bear coat by Jean Charles de Castelbajac (1988.1989), made with 40 peluche teddy bears!
HoL: I have a few favourite ones, but maybe the Teddy Bear coat by Jean Charles de Castelbajac (1988.1989), made with 40 peluche teddy bears!
Me: What does fashion mean to you
HoL: Fashion is an expression of one's inner self, of ones identity. At the end fashion is an illusion!
HoL: Fashion is an expression of one's inner self, of ones identity. At the end fashion is an illusion!
Some of my fav pieces:
FOR THE GIRLS...
Versace skirt suit and Moschino's Christmas cake shirt (as shown above)
FOR THE BOYS...
