Liberty Blue

If you like frocks, Liberty Blue is a bit of an institution, especially if you like something a little different.
They do a brilliant range of vintage-​inspired clothing, especially lovely floaty and flattering dresses. Stocking brands not available in other Belfast shops, you will get something different here, and not feel ripped off. It is one of very few independent clothing stores in town, so give them some love.

Now catering exclusively to females I have fond memories of this shops small but great mix of men’s fashion back int day. The new approach seems to be doing well as the day I visited it was packed with women of all ages going through the racks and checking out the funky retro accessories.
A far cry from the usual fashion outlets in town the shop was even playing Bob Dylan who’s not a name I normally associate with a days clothes shopping. The shop itself was well laid out and done up nice with some rather lurid wallpapers and lights.
For any females looking something a bit different and ‘boho’ then this place is well worth a look.
Pros: Unique clothes.
Cons: Nowt for the lads unfortunately.

I love this shop. It is a treasure trove of all things lovely!
It really reminds me of what used to be my favourite clothes shop in Dublin, Sabotage, on Wicklow Street in that it is quirky, fun, individual and stocks some classically stylish clothes. Liberty Blue tends not to follow any trends and instead trusts their customers discerning eyes.
When I was at college in the city, I used to come here and browse through the rails of clothes hoping that all the studying would pay off and I would land a top newspaper job so I could buy all these lovely clothes. Seriously, I used to motivate myself to work harder by lusting after clothes I couldn’t afford. It works!
The window displays are usually very striking and are the thing that draw most punters in off the street. Inside the store is beautifully laid out, it’s the kind of place which is a pleasure just to come in and browse around. There are cutesy skirts, cool Edie Sedgwick t-​shirts, gorgeous dresses, both casual and fancy, Audrey Hepburn style cardigans and good music to boot.
On display in the middle table there are some handmade broaches, rings and jewellery trinkets, funky tights and a battered old suitcase with some vintage belts in every imaginable colour– a snip at £4 each or 3 for £10.
The jewellery also deserves a special mention, the necklaces are really cool, chic and very charming. Long gold chains with bird cages or little gold Eiffel towers. These necklaces have done me for many birthday presents this year, they all come moderately priced too.
The assistants are really friendly and always make a point of saying hello, which is a really nice touch I think. Check out the sale rail down the back for some bargains.
Prices vary and should suit all customers. The more expensive party dresses range from £50-£70 and there are really good quality dresses from about £20. Definitely cheaper than their contemporaries Topshop and Urban Outfitters.
I don’t mind paying money for something quality that looks unique and it’s always an added plus to be supporting such a fabulous and unique local business.

It was a really sad day for me when Liberty Blue went all fancy pants on all us Indie chicks. It used to be a really cool hangout for the best looking Indie boys in town and if you hung about outside you’d meet nice blokes. It also stocked cool t-​shirts for boys and girls and offered a printing service inside.
Nowadays the printing service is still there, but not really obvious as lots of people I have mentioned this service to in the past have been shocked and mystified, having been in loads of times and never noticed.
I don’t go in as much as I used to simply because I can’t fit my body into any of the clothes they stock. There are loads of gorgeous, quirky dresses and beautiful quaint patterns and fabrics — all in tiny sizes!
They do sell quite nice jewellery that is very much on the vintage inspired side. The stuff isn’t cheap but I think it’s fair enough to ask a few pounds more than other high street stores because this place is one of a dying breed of city centre independent shops — it’ll be a sad day for me if Liberty Blue closes down.

Liberty Blue used to be the shop indie boys would go to for their t-​shirts and cord trousers. These days, it’s where the hipster teenage girls go to get their fix. Basically, if you’re an Urban Outfitters fan, you’ll like this place.
Hell of a transformation, no? Well, Liberty Blue pulled it off with aplomb, becoming one of Belfast’s favourite boutiques. In fact, it’s one of the only independent shops in the city centre these days, which is nice.
It’s a great place to go for a funky dress or a vintage-​inspired top and while it is slightly more expensive than its high-​street counterparts, sometimes you just have to be prepared to pay for something less ordinary.

I remember checking out this place as a moody fourteen year old baggy jeans wearer and thinking it was the coolest place ever. Design your own tees, gorgeously kitsch clothing and funky dressing rooms… this was the place to be!
Thankfully I’ve lost the baggy jeans and the attitude, and Liberty Blue may have overhauled its style just a tad, but this captivating shop has lost none of its charm. Mainly stocking cute printed dresses and vintage tops, as well as the most delightful jewellery and accessories, Liberty Blue is a must see. The staff are wonderful, and even as I ventured into the shop at 5:25pm (having worked in retail, I know this is a big no-​no, but I couldn’t help myself!), they were all smiles and «oh, don’t worry, have a wee look around». The prices are most definitely affordable too. Roll on pay day…

This place is a pretty cool shop. It used to do guys clothes but not any more, so the only use I have for it is their printing facilities.
In the middle of the shop, surrounded by clothes only the coolest, tiniest people in Belfast may wear, is a large selection of books filled with all different types of print you can get added to a t-​shirt. Some of these are band related, others cult TV shows but there’s also a lot of random kitch stuff to choose from.
The service is pretty expensive but it is the only place I can think of that actually offers it so who can complain! The staff are also really friendly and will help you choose if your like me and the least assertive person in existence.

I wish wish WISH I fitted into the clothes here. Hopefully if I stick to this diet I will be able to someday… but anyway, the clothes here are really lovely, decidedly different, fashionably funky, and reasonably affordable too. I just wish that this shop, like many others that I like, did larger sizes — I’m not enormous, I’m a size 18 and tall, but it mostly caters for slimmer ladies which is a shame because thier cut and style of clothing and the tailoring they seem to have always looks so well done that they would actually be able to flatter a fuller frame if they went up a few sizes –plus they would increase thier custom too. It’s got a mostly vintage feel, with some other newer brands thrown in for good measure. Someday… when I’m skinny…