Big Biba, the final flowering of Barbara Hulanicki's legendary Biba store in London, was a shop like no other, before or since. It was a fabulous fantasy palace that brought the indulgence of Hollywood to the world of retail. Big Biba lasted just two years before it fell victim to recession, but the myth of the most beautiful store in the world continues to enchant both its former habitues and those who came to it too late. Founded as a corner-shop selling just one dress, Biba had grown in less than a decade to become a ...
Read More
Big Biba, the final flowering of Barbara Hulanicki's legendary Biba store in London, was a shop like no other, before or since. It was a fabulous fantasy palace that brought the indulgence of Hollywood to the world of retail. Big Biba lasted just two years before it fell victim to recession, but the myth of the most beautiful store in the world continues to enchant both its former habitues and those who came to it too late. Founded as a corner-shop selling just one dress, Biba had grown in less than a decade to become a seven-storey department store filled with own-brand products throughout. Here the committed Bibaphile could buy not only a new wardrobe, fully co-ordinated from head to toe, but also a complete range of cosmetics and soft furnishings, together with the washing powder to care for her clothes, and food for both herself and her pets, all presented in the distinctive Biba packaging. Alternatively she could just hang out, either lounging in the shop-windows (Biba didn't do window-displays), or sipping cocktails upstairs amongst the flamingos that lived in the Roof Garden, or in the Rainbow Room, where on a good night there might be a live performance by the likes of the New York Dolls, Liberace or The Manhattan Transfer. Welcome to Big Biba is the first book dedicated entirely to this dreamland, with over 150 colour photographs - most published here for the first time - of the store and of the products and graphics created for the various departments, from bathrooms to ball-gowns, from cosmetics to colouring-books. Styled by Steven Thomas, the designer of Big Biba itself, and with text by Alwyn W Turner, author of The Biba Experience, this book evokes the glamour, humour and fantasy of the store, the audacious style that could turn a shop girl into a Hollywood star.
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Contains: Illustrations, color, Illustrations, black & white. Includes: illustrations, color, illustrations, black & white. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. -A love letter to the most beautiful shop in the world-Designed by Steven Thomas, the designer of Big Biba itself-Written by Alwyn W. Turner, author of The Biba Experience-Featuring over 150 color photographs-Coinciding with The Biba Story exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, from 22 March to 8 September, 2024Big Biba was the final flowering of the near-mythical Biba retail brand. A shop like no other, all seven storeys stocked own-brand products packaged in the distinctive Biba style. Customers were immersed in a sensory smorgasbord-the complete shopping experience. A committed Bibaphile could buy a satin skirt, a leopard-print suitcase and a new bathroom, then spend the afternoon sipping cocktails among the flamingos in the roof garden, while the legendary Rainbow Room doubled as a live venue for some of the coolest acts in the world. In the wake of this decadent dreamland's 50th anniversary, and in honor of the 60th anniversary of the very first Biba shop, Welcome to Big Biba is being republished, complete with over 150 color photographs of the store and its products and designs. Written by the author of The Biba Experience and designed by Steven Thomas-the designer of Big Biba itself-these pages offer readers a genuine slice of the greatest pleasure palace in retail history. 'Welcome to Big Biba is an exceptional production...a perfectionistic coup'-Phil Baker, The Art Book.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. 1851496645. *** FREE UPGRADE to Courier/Priority Shipping Upon Request ***-*** IN STOCK AND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT-Flawless copy, brand new, pristine, never opened--HARDCOVER. 96 pages; 140 illustrations including 94 in color. Description: "Big Biba, the final flowering of Barbara Hulanicki's legendary Biba store in London, was a shop like no other, before or since. It was a fabulous fantasy palace that brought the indulgence of Hollywood to the world of retail. Big Biba lasted just two years before it fell victim to recession, but the myth of the most beautiful store in the world continues to enchant both its former habitués and those who came to it too late. Founded as a corner-shop selling just one dress, Biba had grown in less than a decade to become a seven-storey department store filled with own-brand products throughout. Here the committed Bibaphile could buy not only a new wardrobe, fully co-ordinated from head to toe, but also a complete range of cosmetics and soft furnishings, together with the washing powder to care for her clothes, and food for both herself and her pets, all presented in the distinctive Biba packaging. Alternatively she could just hang out, either lounging in the shop-windows (Biba didn't do window-displays), or sipping cocktails upstairs amongst the flamingos that lived in the Roof Garden, or in the Rainbow Room, where on a good night there might be a live performance by the likes of the New York Dolls, Liberace or The Manhattan Transfer. 'Welcome to Big Biba' is the first book dedicated entirely to this dreamland, with over 150 colour photographs-most published here for the first time-of the store and of the products and graphics created for the various departments, from bathrooms to ball-gowns, from cosmetics to colouring-books."--with a bonus offer--
