It's My Party & I’ll Buy If I Want To: Barneys Trunk-A-Paloosa
Tap It!
By jcoletteprosper
in Fashion Features
on April 23, 2010
Wednesday night, Barneys Co-op pulled off an ambitious trunk show, presenting upcoming collections from the young, bright things of today like Vena Cava and Alexander Wang. StyledOn was there to meet some of these brilliant minds, including Barneys creative director Simon Doonan, who knows a thing or two about hair accessories. Time to get schooled.
Last month, in an interview with Time Out Chicago, Barneys creative director Simon Doonan describes clothing as being a form of “nonverbal communication”. In my opinion, he’s 95% right. To me, clothing provokes verbal exchanges of information—eliciting Joan Rivers-esque “can we talk?” conversations with strangers at sample sales or haggling with a salesperson at Buffalo Exchange for the tiniest snag in a deep-discounted Marc by Marc Jacobs dress. “C’mon, it’s Marc Jacobs for like $30,” she points out. Anyway, I digress…. on to Barneys Trunk-a-Palooza!
Wednesday evening’s trunk show at Barneys Co-op on Madison Ave felt like an exclusive party but in this case, everyone was invited even if they didn’t know your name. But everyone was friendly including Mr. Doonan himself who complimented me on my Billie Holliday-like headpiece (that I made myself), which I mistakenly called a “fascinator” before I was kindly corrected. According to the creative director, a fascinator includes a face veil.
“But, we’ll call it a fascinator because it’s fascinating,” he offers.
Featuring first look finds from their new fall ‘10 collections, participating designers included Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim, Vena Cava, Rag & Bone, Shipley & Halmos, Richard Chai, Helmut Lang, VPL, A.L.C., and Wayne. Barneys kept the party popping with free Pellegrino, Boylan’s Lemon Soda, water and champagne. As guests wandered through party, designers were stationed at various points throughout the 7th floor and were open for conversation.
“Well, I’m just having a party,” says Andrea Liberman of the line A.L.C. soaking it all in. She was enjoying the opportunity to hobnob with her fellow designers including Nicole Colovos co-designer for Helmut Lang who is also pregnant. “Do you mind if I sit down?” asks the 7-month pregnant Liberman, who then immediately introduces me to her publicist Bonnie Morrison, who was also incredibly gracious.
Of the A.L.C. collection, the denim tux jacket with leather lapels was my StyledOn choice of the event (see below, right). And at $495, I would have to wear it for the rest of my life, but it wouldn’t matter because the jacket would transcend time.
“In this fast pace, fashion-loving world, if you’re crazy for something, go reserve that favorite piece now and ensure that it will be yours come Fall,” says Tomoko Ogura, Fashion Manager of Women’s Co-op on the store’s blog site. Shopper Mary Ann, a VJ, did just that, pre-ordering a black leather duffle with brass base rivets at the Alexander Wang table, which she expects to finally purchase when it hits Barneys in July.
“It’s $600 so I should be able to afford it by then,” says the VJ confidently.
Did you shop Barneys Trunk-a-Palooza? Do you generally shop at trunk shows?