Fashionista

Amanda Brooks

Wednesday June 6th, 2012

Fashion News Roundup: Miley Cyrus’ Engagement Ring Cost $100k, Ryan Gosling Nail Art Is a Thing, and Victoria Beckham Says David Can’t Dance
Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Miley Cyrus’ Engagement Ring Cost $100k, Ryan Gosling Nail Art Is a Thing, and Victoria Beckham Says David Can’t Dance

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When Amanda Brooks left the city for the farm, she had loads of fashion goodies that she couldn’t take with her. Fortunately for those of us still left in the city, she left the likes of Prada, Phillip Lim, and Chanel to the New York City Opera’s annual pop-up thrift shop. {NYPost}

Miley Cyrus is engaged to Gale Liam Hemsworth! The engagement ring, designed by Neil Lane and featuring a 3.5 karat diamond, cost a reported $100,000. {Hollywood Life}

Victoria Beckham is British and proud of it! She appears in a video for Britain’s GREAT campaign in which she discusses great British design and music and lets the world know that hottie husband David can’t dance. {Styleite}

Gisele took a trip to her homeland of Brazil for the Green Nation Fest. The supermodel planted trees wearing a baggy shirt, leading to further speculation that perhaps she’s growing more than just trees. {PopSugar}

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Published at 1:58 PM

Thursday May 31st, 2012

Amanda Brooks Left Barneys To Be Like the Pioneer Woman

Amanda Brooks Left Barneys To Be Like the Pioneer Woman

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When Amanda Brooks announced, quite abruptly, that she would be leaving her post at Barneys to go live on a farm in Oxfordshire, England, it’s safe to say the fashion industry (us included) was pretty puzzled. We wondered: Had Barneys been displeased with her performance? Had the company’s precarious financial situation caused tension in the office? Was she poached by another company–or perhaps starting her own? Now, we finally have some answers. Sort of.

In an interview with the New York Times, Brooks revealed that she left the famed retailer not because of bad blood or another opportunity but because she was inspired by a blog. And not one that has anything to do with fashion. A New Yorker profile tipped Brooks off to The Pioneer Woman, a blog penned by Ree Drummond, a mother who lives on a ranch in Oklahoma, homeschools her children and calls her husband exclusively (seriously) ‘The Marlboro Man.’ It struck a chord.

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Published at 11:45 AM

Thursday May 17th, 2012

Tuesday May 1st, 2012

Amanda Brooks Is Blogging Again, Plans to Spend the Next Year Writing on a Farm in England

Amanda Brooks Is Blogging Again, Plans to Spend the Next Year Writing on a Farm in England

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It’s been over a month since Amanda Brooks unexpectedly left her post as Barneys’ fashion director and announced that she’d be relocating to England with her family “in the interest of further pursuing other opportunities.” And now we finally know a little bit more about why she’s decided to make the move and what she’s planning to do with her life.

Yesterday, Brooks updated her inspiring blog, I Love Your Style, for the first time since February 2011, when she began her “DREAM JOB” at Barneys. And you’ll never guess what her next plans are. She’s moving to a farm! With pigs and horses and everything. She is also probably writing another book. Here’s her little update:

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Published at 2:35 PM

Thursday March 15th, 2012

Amanda Brooks Leaves Barneys

Amanda Brooks Leaves Barneys

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File this under news we did not see coming. Amanda Brooks, who was named Barneys’ fashion director in January 2011, has resigned, WWD is reporting.

Just yesterday we attended an event at Barneys in which Brooks hosted a talk with the creative directors of Maiyet, introducing Barneys’ newest label to a group of online editors. She looked immaculate as always, and asked thoughtful, well-researched, questions. She also just wrapped a busy fashion month–a fixture in the front row and a favorite of street style photographers.

Brooks is leaving for England to pursue other opportunities.

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Published at 9:07 AM

Thursday November 17th, 2011

Derek Lam Designed 10 Crosby For the Female Version of Himself, Got Inspired on Smoke Breaks
Collection

Derek Lam Designed 10 Crosby For the Female Version of Himself, Got Inspired on Smoke Breaks

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Last night we headed over to Barneys to fete the arrival of Derek Lam’s new diffusion line 10 Crosby at the famed retailer. Champagne flutes and itty-bitty squares of the most delicious pizza were onhand to make the celebration official–as was Derek Lam (of course) and Barneys always impeccable fashion director, Amanda Brooks, who led a Q and A with Lam.

10 Crosby has already won over the fashion industry in just one season and it’s easy to why: There’s something for everyone–from a structured blazer for your mom to a head-to-toe pajama look for your fashion-forward bestie–in this line that successfully marries style and comfort. It’s a line for the every girl rather than the starlet on the red carpet. No wonder then, that Lam was inspired by real New Yorkers.

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Published at 4:30 PM

Friday October 21st, 2011

Barneys’ Amanda Brooks Writes Tone Deaf ‘Navajo Nation’ Post: Can the Fashion Industry Stop Describing Trends as ‘Navajo’? (Yes, We’re Guilty Too)

Barneys’ Amanda Brooks Writes Tone Deaf ‘Navajo Nation’ Post: Can the Fashion Industry Stop Describing Trends as ‘Navajo’? (Yes, We’re Guilty Too)

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The latest fashion news scandal, aside from the ongoing New York vs. Milan fashion week stand off, concerns the use of the word Navajo. The Navajo Nation has a trademark on its name, and made headlines when it sent Urban Outfitters a cease and desist letter for selling items called “Navajo hipster panties” and a “Navajo flask.” Urban Outfitters has since renamed these items the “Printed Hipster Panty” and the “Printed Fabric Wrapped Flask” but that hasn’t stopped Barneys’ fashion director, the girl-crush worthy Amanda Brooks, from writing a post on Barneys’ “The Window” blog about all things Navajo.

The post is titled “Navajo Nation: Amanda Brooks tries out fall’s hottest print,” and it features items from Barneys and sources inspiration photos of Joni Mitchell, Emmanuelle Alt, Daria Werbowy, and the female equivalent of the Native American from the Village People (see: white bikini and headdress).

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Published at 11:23 AM

Sunday October 2nd, 2011

Friday July 15th, 2011

Barneys’ Amanda Brooks Shares the Secrets to Her Flawless Hair
Parties

Barneys’ Amanda Brooks Shares the Secrets to Her Flawless Hair

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It’s a weird fangirl-ish thing to ask Amanda Brooks, Barney’s impeccably well-heeled and well-coiffed fashion director, about her hair. But enough people had told me they were “obsessed” with it so I sucked it up, channeled Emily Weiss at Into the Gloss, and asked her about her locks after we had finished chatting about $39,000 crocodile backpacks at Barneys launch event for The Row’s new luxury handbag line.

Brooks was caught a little off guard by the question, laughing at first, but then, in a very refreshingly down-to-earth way, delved into her surprisingly low maintenance hair care routine.

“I do my hair myself,” Brooks said. “I have to say, I have good hair–my dad gave me his hair.” Which, she confesses, is a blessing and a curse. “I have a lot of hair–which means I also have a lot of hair on my legs, so there is a pay off. I shave them don’t worry.”

And in keeping with fashion’s latest trend of not washing your hair, Brooks only washes it once a week.

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Published at 5:30 PM

Thursday July 14th, 2011

Barneys’ Amanda Brooks and Simon Doonan On The Row’s New $39,000 Bag and the Return of the Backpack
Parties

Barneys’ Amanda Brooks and Simon Doonan On The Row’s New $39,000 Bag and the Return of the Backpack

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Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were on hand at Barneys last night to fete the launch of their new line of luxury handbags for The Row (I’m pretty sure I know which one is which now thanks to our handy guide–Ashley’s in the floor length embroidered number, MK’s in the blazer, both from the Row).

“I think the bags are triple super chic,” said Amanda Brooks, Barneys’ new-ish fashion director (who, as evidenced by our Textbook post today, is pretty chic herself). The line, she said, fills a void within Barneys highly competitive bags and accessories department–a younger more streamlined Celine-esque sub-in for the Birkins they don’t stock. “Obviously we don’t carry Hermes bags in the store so we were trying to find something that appeals to that customer who is willing to spend a lot of money on a bag that’s going to last a long time and has a classic design.”

When Brooks mentions a customer willing to spend “a lot of money on a bag” she means up to $39,000 on a bag. That’s how much the crocodile backpack in the Olsen’s new bag range for the Row will set you back.

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Published at 4:27 PM
Textbook for Fashionista: Amanda Brooks!
Textbook

Textbook for Fashionista: Amanda Brooks!

by John Jannuzzi

If you’re familiar with Barneys New York–one of the city’s, nay, the world’s, best department stores–then you ought to be familiar with Amanda Brooks. Ms. Brooks, the fashion director, is a somewhat new addition to Barneys, having joined in February. Prior to her position uptown, Ms. Brooks worked as brand consultant for everyone from DvF and Roger Vivier to Chanel and Tod’s. She’s most certainly wise in the ways of fashion. But if that’s not clear from her resume, then just take a look at her personal style–she’s got a closet that makes any editor jealous. Brooks has already done quite a few interesting things at Barneys–see Daphne Guinness, Carine Roitfeld for proof–and we’ll continue watching her work at the Madison Avenue landmark closely.

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Published at 12:30 PM

Monday May 2nd, 2011

The Top Ten McQueen Dresses We’d Like to See at Tonight’s Met Gala, and Who We’d Like to See Wear Them
Fashion Is Fun

The Top Ten McQueen Dresses We’d Like to See at Tonight’s Met Gala, and Who We’d Like to See Wear Them

by TARA LAMONT-DJITE AND STEFF YOTKA

With the royal wedding finally over, the fashion world moves on to the next big event on the fashion calendar: the Met Gala. The gala celebrates this year’s Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, on view from May 4 through July 31. “Alexander McQueen was best known for his astonishing and extravagant runway presentations, which were given dramatic scenarios and narrative structures that suggested avant-garde installation and performance art,” Andrew Bolton, Curator for the Costume Institute said in a release. “His fashions were an outlet for his emotions, an expression of the deepest, often darkest, aspects of his imagination. He was a true romantic in the Byronic sense of the word – he channeled the sublime.” The exhibit celebrates the late designer’s iconic work, featuring over 100 pieces of ready to wear from the McQueen archives, and approximately 70 accessories.

What we’ll all have our eyes on though are the McQueens that walk the red carpet of the Met tonight for the gala, and the daring and lucky fashionistas that showcase the late designer’s pieces (and creations by his successor/royal wedding designer Sarah Burton). In advance of tonight’s fashion Oscars, here’s our fantasy list of the 10 dresses we’d like to see walk the carpet, and who we’d like to see wear them.

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Published at 7:04 PM