Only 24 hrs to go until the opening of the most anticipated retail addition in the last decade…Barneys NY. Can you feel the excitement shopping fans? Being a New York girl there really was nothing that compared to taking a walk down the street to Barneys. There I experienced my first taste of Nars, Stila, Lorac and Philosophy and that was just the makeup counter. We can’t even discuss the floors and floors of clothing… in fact some of my friends and I have been known to snap photos of the racks of Narciso, Demuelemeester, Proenza and others just for our own viewing pleasure once we left the store. Silly as it may sound, the store captures the feeling of New York like no other store I can think of…
For some desert dwellers the Barneys name brings about much mystery so of course I feel compelled to educate, if not for any other reason that just to spew off the trivia stuck in my cranium. Barneys started out selling tailored men’s clothing at discount prices back in the 20’s and by the mid 60’s the store re-vamped it’s image by selling more upscale goods. In the 70’s the store became a full fledged luxury purveyor by featuring European labels like Hubert de Givency, Christian Dior and Pierre Cardin and by the mid 70’s the women’s wear category was added comprised mostly of imported designers.
Soon the store added beauty, accessories, antiques a restaurant and housewares. What sets the store apart? Barneys historically has been known to take chances on emerging European and independent designers and brands. Often the store has been known to seek out new lines that don’t fall into the mainstream but rather sit on the innovative edge.
Expect to see brands like Erdem, Junya Wantanabe, Lanvin, The Row, Stella McCartney Organic, Costume National.
Tonight Barneys kicks off the pre-opening festivities with a highly anticipate soiree’. I of course am looking forward not only to voraciously perusing the racks but hopefully catching a moment with Simon Doonan. As he notes in his own blog, in NY he is 5 ft 4.5 inches, but here is Scottsdale is Shaq-tastically gigantic. If you have ever seen him in action or read his books…agreed, he is the cat’s meow and we heart him. He will be at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday at 10:15. So get ready Scottsdale-ites… there will be much to report tomorrow!
Below are looks straight out of Barneys Fall Lookbook
I’ve only been the the Barneys in Seattle, but they actually tend to have some pretty good sales. Hope this Barneys will too!
I can’t wait to visit Barney’s. It has been years since I have been in one.
I remember, when i was a little kid, it was called BARNEY’S BOYSTOWN and only sold mens’ clothing.. it went co-ed in the 70s….
as someone who lives part of the time in NYC, i go to the Madison ave store a lot. many of my forner classmates from design school sell there. great place, real fashion– great quality…embodies NYC quite weel.
heard their jeans area actually priced pretty affordable…
I love the crazy lookbook shots. Can’t wait for the opening!