This is one of the most frequently asked questions in store, as you grapple with what does "Lyocell" mean or "Viscose"?
Lots of you love the traditional fabrics like cotton, silk and linen because you know what they are but tend to shy away from some lesser known, but equally luxurious fabrics. Be afraid no more!
Lyocell
This fibre is made from the pulp of eucalyptus trees and is obtained by an organic spinning process, so is Eco friendly. It is absorbent, wrinkle resistant and can take on the appearance of cotton or silk. Tencel is the brand name of lyocell. Loved and well used by Marimekko and By Malene Birger. Shop By Malene Birger: http://goo.gl/V7HNNH
Cupro
This is the European cousin to Tencel, made from reprocessed cellulose, primarily wood pulp. It breathes like cotton, drapes beautifully and feels like silk, we have a Second Female dress in this fabric and I was convinced it was silk. Shop here: http://goo.gl/RXxO0D
Ramie
Not as well known as linen, but nevertheless, one of the oldest fabrics and used in Egypt to wrap mummies!
Made from a plant called China Grass, a species of nettle, and has very similar properties to linen. Great incorporated into knitwear to create the interesting textures found in Crea Concept pieces. Shop Crea Concept: http://goo.gl/uGSNzq
Modal
The fibre is often made from beech trees and has the benefits of being very water absorbent and is silky smooth and soft. Perfect for luxurious basics which Marc Aurel does so well. Shop Marc Aurel: http://goo.gl/zwFTUj
Viscose
Structurally this fabric is very similar to cotton ( but must be cold washed!) and is made from wood cellulose. Just had a look through the rails and there are some great Marella and Marimekko pieces which at first glance look like cotton, but actually made using viscose. Shop here: http://goo.gl/bzPVW6
The beauty of all these fabrics is that they can be cold-washed too.
The sales are in full swing at the moment and undoubtedly they are a great way to grab a bargain and for retailers the Autumn Winter deliveries are starting to arrive, so the decks need clearing a little!
But....do think before you buy that piece for a snip, surveys have found that sale purchases are the items which tend to hang in our wardrobes with the tags still attached- bargain or expensive mistake?
Here are our tips for navigating the sales:
- The most important question to ask is, would you pay full price for the sales piece? If so, and it is marked down, what a bargain!
- What are the gaps in your wardrobe? Think about what you need.
- Look out for good quality wardrobe staples like well cut jeans, plain tees, trench coats, LBD's, and an investment leather jacket.
- The pale peach ruffle dress is marked down 70%, but does the colour/ ruffles/ cut really suit you?
DON'T LOOK AT THE DISCOUNT, LOOK AT THE PIECE
- Do you have accessories to match the lime green and purple dress, if not you need to factor in the cost of buying these too.
- Check the returns policy before you buy, the majority of retailers will not take back sales stock if you have a change of heart.
- Ask the sales assistants for help in picking out key pieces, by this stage they will know the stock well and be able to select styles to suit.
Happy bargain hunting!
Festival season is about a lot more than just the music—checking out all the fun style can be just as fun as catching all the cool acts. There are some great festivals on this weekend in Ireland including Sea Sessions in Donegal, Marlay Park in Dublin and our very own – The Westport Music & Food Festival.
With the weather being very unpredictable, sometimes it's hard to decide what to wear and what to bring with you without carrying a huge backpack.
Here we list our top fashion picks for any girl going to a festival this summer!
Smart Buy
Be weather-ready in cool layering and quirky prints. We love these colourful printed ponchos by Joules. They fold in their own front pocket which means they can easily be tucked away in your handbag. Shop here: http://goo.gl/gv2ii8
Our Festival-Go-To Dress
Maxi dresses are very popular among many celebrities heading to festivals this season. We love these Crea Concept & EMU black maxi dresses as they can be easily accessorised with a pair of sunglasses and a statement necklace. A very cool and simple look! Shop here: http://goo.gl/ee9EG0
Also, this Seasalt Swanpool Tunic is one of our favourite pieces for festivals; it's so light and works great with leggings or jeans. 
Fun & Comfortable Footwear
Swap your every day pumps into a cool pair of rubber boots or floral printed wellies! Our suggestion are these Ilse Jacobsen Rubber Boots – pair them with a funky pair of socks in soft and breathable bamboo, which will keep your feet cool during the day and warm at night; we went for these Seasalt Floral Socks. Shop rubber boots here: http://goo.gl/BaHPjW
These Joules wellies are another great option for girls who like to look stylish at festivals. They come in floral print or stripes – how cute?!
Best Festival Cross-Over Bag
This super cute and practical 'Penelope' leather bag by White Stuff is a must for festival goers. The zip-around purse has plenty of space for all your essentials and makes a fine companion to any outfit. Shop here: http://goo.gl/X4ccrv
Happy Dancing!
Whenever I go on my travels for Liberties I have a fail-safe "uniform" for travelling in the cities and going to showrooms, and it takes five minutes to pack. However, going on holiday had been a minefield of over-packing or forgetting something essential like flip flops - but a couple of years ago I decided to make a list and stick to it!
Here are my suggestions:
Flip Flops - Ilse Jacobsen do great ones with bit of sparkle.
Sarong - doubles as a scarf, dress, beach wrap etc, mine is by EMU.
Maxi Dress - my pick this season is from Ilse Jacobsen.
Cotton T-Shirts in a couple of colours - the By Malene Birger "Dawn" is my staple.
Espadrilles, give you a lift, but crucially you can walk in them! Got the beige Ilse Jacobsens this year.
Going - out Top with some nice detail - Marc Aurel have some lovely pieces.
Cotton (my choice is white) jeans by Pieszak.
Shorts (not too short for me anymore) in a soft denim from Seasalt.
Light weight summer jacket / knit - my favourite one is from Malene Birger...
Liberties stocks a fabulous selection of Irish and International fashion, accessories, home-ware and gifts.
Fashion brands include Marc Aurel, Orla Kiely, Stills Atelier, Michael Kors, Second Female, By Malene Birger, Marella, Ilse Jacobsen, James Lakeland, Sfizio, Marimekko, Indi and Cold, Crea Concept, Pinko, Joules, White Stuff, Seasalt, Pieszak Jeans, Sphere One by Lucy Downes and many more.
We also stock beautiful homeware and gifts from well known brands such as Orla Kiely, Alessi, Normann Copenhagen, Qualy, Max Benjamin, Rob Ryan, Happy Jackson and many more. You can shop in store in Westport, Ireland or online at www.liberties.ie.