BIBA is Back

The most glorious London fashion retailer of the 60's and 70's, Biba was the totally original brainchild of Polish born Barbara Hulanicki, a skilled fashion drawer-turned- designer. The Biba business had humble beginnings. Starting off as a mail-order boutique with a few cheap garments cut all to the same tiny size, but then these designs took off in a big way.

The first store opened, in Kensington in 1964, became a huge hit as the young and fashionable flocked to pick up the cheap, wearable and devastatingly cool fashions. Biba went from strength to strength opening a massive "Big Biba" in 1974 at the seven storey Derry & Toms department store. The shop had a luxuriant art deco interior more suited to a 30's film set than a 70's store. Big Biba sold everything- Mens, womens and children's clothing, groceries, shoes, make-up, accessories, playing cards, souvenirs and more. There was even a roof garden with live flamingos!

Biba later closed in 1975 due to poor organization & financial difficulties.

After a couple of failed relaunches for BIBA in 2006 & 2007, House of Fraser bought the company in November 2009 for a second relaunch by an in-house design team announcing Daisy Lowe as the new face of the label in an attempt to return to its high-street roots.

The collection launched 9th of September & i was lucky enough to witness the unveiling.

I loved the collection, lots of velvets, feathers, prints & hats in typical BIBA style.

Here are a few of my fave pieces.

Photos courtesy of telegraph.co.uk, houseoffraser.co.uk