Barneys

Lady Gaga w/Barneys' CEO Mark Lee (Photo: Getty)

Barneys New York Still Struggling Financially, Prompts Bankruptcy Fears

Is Barneys on the brink? The quirky high-end retailer has been working for years to revamp its business model, including a management overhaul in 2010, and some highly publicized promotional events such as the Daphne Guinness window display and Lady Gaga’s Workshop this past Christmas. But behind-the-scenes things may be a bit less upbeat for the retailer.

Barneys just hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, WWD is reporting. The firm is being brought in to help renegotiate a $200 million revolving loan that will come due this September. This immediately fueled speculation and concern that the retailer would be closing stores or possibly even filing for bankruptcy.

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: South Park Characters Get Naked for Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang is Expanding in Asia, and a Model Chooses God Over Victoria’s Secret

Alexander Wang is Expanding Eastward: Alex Wang is breaking the typical fashion business expansion mould (West followed by Eastern markets) with plans to open fourteen locations in Asia in the next year. The designer, who has no plans yet to open any more US stores (he currently has only one in NYC) says he has seen “the progression” of fashion in China years after his mom tried to (lovingly) pressure him into moving there. Wang’s 4,000-sq-ft Beijing flagship store will open its doors next month. {WWD}

Are Adam Levine and Anne V. Dunzo? Rumor has it that genetically-blessed couple Adam and Anne have parted ways after two years of unwedded bliss. The Maroon 5 star was looking “really heartbroken” at a Super Bowl party. Hm. {NY Post}

South Park Strips Down for Marc Jacobs: Following in the nudie footsteps of Victoria Beckham and Naomi Campbell, the cast of South Park have stripped down for some Marc Jacobs tees benefitting The Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group at NYU. Thankfully, Muscle Man Marc’s former co-stars have some strategically placed lettering preserving their modesty on the $35 tees – which are really, really funny. {WWD}

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BARNEYS NEW YORK Private Event
People We Like

Simon Doonan on the Food that Will Make You ‘Explode In a Nuclear Cloud of Gayness’

Being read aloud to by Simon Doonan is a rare treat–one that I was privy to yesterday when Barneys’ creative ambassador-at-large held story time at the department store to promote his latest book, Gay Men Don’t Get Fat ($24.95, Blue Rider Press). The book is Doonan’s fourth, and it’s a hilarious piss take at French Women Don’t Get Fat, dedicated to “the straight women of the world, whose lives seem insanely more complicated than my own and whose shoes must surely hurt like hell.” Being read to from it was like getting a slightly dirty totally hilarious bed time story from the gay uncle you wish you had, only at 9 a.m. over yogurt and berries at Barneys–so, even gayer.

Speaking of yogurt and berries, Doonan would tell you that they are totally gay foods. Foods, according to Doonan, can be categorized by their sexuality. He discussed this theory, and much more yesterday, including: why fashion people should stop being so masochistic, why he’d be a horrible addition to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the abysmal state of the red carpet, and why you shouldn’t get offended by his book.

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DVD Release of HBO Video's "Rome" - Inside

Barneys Forced to Cancel Several Online Orders Three Days Before Christmas Due to Unfortunate IT Glitch

Earlier this year, several Target x Missoni shoppers had their online orders cancelled due to a computer glitch on the Target website. While the retailer could credit a server crash and the outrageous demand for the limited edition capsule collection during that debacle, we wonder what Barney‘s excuse for canceling online order just days before Christmas.

The luxury retailer emailed customers four days before Christmas, informing them that due to technical problems with their system, their Holiday orders will not be filled this year, Racked is reporting. Here’s the email customers received:

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Beauty

Holiday Gift Guide: 12 Gifts for the Nail Art and Manicure Fanatics In Your Life

Chances are you either a) know someone who is obsessed with nail polish or nail art or b) are yourself obsessed. We understand this, and also understand that there are holiday wish lists to be made and gifts to be purchased. Therefore, we’ve rounded up the coolest gifts we could find for all the nail freaks in your life. And the best part is that none of these are very expensive in the big scheme of things. So get clicking. Here are our 12 favorite gifts for the nail fanatic.

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Photo: WWD
Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Lady Gaga Wants to be Cremated in Chanel, McQ to Show at London Fashion Week and Gisele Poses for Givenchy

Lady Gaga to be Cremated in Chanel: In a Q&A surrounding her recent Barneys appearance for Gaga’s Workshop, the pop star said she might like to be creamated in the custom Chanel gown she wore to the event. She wants to burn Chanel??? {WWD}

A New Store and Runway Show for McQ: McQ, Alexander McQueen’s younger, lower-priced line, is expanding. A flagship store is set to open on Dover Street in London next spring. Shortly before then, the brand will stage its first-ever runway show during London Fashion Week. Exciting! {Telegraph}

The Times Is Not Into the New Barneys Co-op: The Times‘ Critical Shopper column can be relied on for a straight-forward account of each victim store they visit. Most recently, Barneys and its Mark Lee update was up for review. Jon Carmanica calls the newly merged Co-op floor “wide and long and inconsistently lighted” and says the new café there looks like the situation room from 24. He also said Usher looks “lumpy” now. {New York Times}

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Collaboration

Here are the 10 Best and Weirdest Things For Sale at Gaga’s Workshop at Barneys

While a Gaga appearance, drinks, and a party are all well and good, the holidays are all about, um, buying things. You’ll have ample opportunity to do that either online or in person at Gaga’s Workshop; the goodies managed to charm us. The merch was quirky, sometimes a little tacky, and yet surprisingly nostalgic and sweet. It was also sort of Dr. Seussian, which we liked. Click through to see our weirdest picks from the offerings, which you can purchase on Barneys website now.

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Collaboration

Lady Gaga Fetes the Opening of Her Workshop at Barneys In Custom Chanel

By Cheryl Wischhover Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011 / 12:08 PM

Photo: Neilson Barnard

Last night Lady Gaga was on hand in NYC to cut the ribbon of her highly anticipated Gaga’s Workshop at Barneys. Sadly, we missed Gaga’s giant-scissors-wielding entrance, but she clearly owned that custom-designed-by-Karl-Lagerfeld Chanel hoop-skirted ball gown.

After a quick sweep through the crowd (and a kiss for a lucky Bryanboy, who was wearing an enormous yellow feathered coat) Lady Gaga was gone, leaving behind a party loaded with blue and pink cocktails and a huge room full of Gaga-themed holiday goodies. Read more »

Image of the Day

Image of the Night: Here’s Karl Lagerfeld’s Sketch of the Dress Lady Gaga Is Wearing at Tonight’s Opening of ‘Gaga’s Workshop’ at Barneys

By Leah Chernikoff Monday, Nov 21, 2011 / 10:16 PM

Karl Lagerfeld is dressing Lady Gaga tonight for the opening of Gaga’s Workshop at Barneys New York. Here’s Karl’s sketch of the dress–it’s white tweed with black trim and accessorized with Chanel pearls, camelias and bows. It’s certainly more subdued than other things Gaga has worn in the past but we’re sure she’ll find a way to make it stand out. Stay tuned for live Tweets from the opening as midnight approaches!
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Photo: @BarneysNY Twitter
Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Lady Gaga Will Be at Barneys Tonight, Miranda Kerr Went Shopping at Victoria’s Secret, and the Perils of Injecting Fix-a-Flat Into Your Ass

Lady Gaga Will Make an Appearance at Barneys New York TODAY:  Well, it technically may be tomorrow. The ribbon cutting for Gaga’s Workshop is happening at 11:59 pm and she will reportedly be there. No word yet on whether Barneys is letting her wield the scissors.  {Facebook}

Rebecca Black’s Song “Friday” Used For–Wait For It–Black Friday Commercial: Is Kohl’s crazy? Or crazy like a fox? The retailer used the YouTube sensation Rebecca Black’s song “Friday” and adapted it for the biggest shopping day of the year. {New York Daily News}

Miranda Kerr Spotted Shopping at Victoria’s Secret: The Angel popped into a Victoria’s Secret store on Fifth Avenue and 19th Street in NYC over the weekend with baby Flynn. The shop girls couldn’t quite place her, but eventually they figured it out. Let’s hope they gave Miranda the employee discount. {Page Six}

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Collection

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

By Hayley Phelan Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 / 4:30 PM

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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Collaboration

Christopher Kane Launches His Collection for J Brand at Barneys; Thinks Kate Middleton Should Dress More Like Michelle Obama

Yesterday morning, over espresso shots and oatmeal at Barneys new interactive genes@CO-OP cafe (each place setting has a touch screen so you can browse Barneys on a flat screen before you shop it IRL), Christopher Kane presented his new resort collab for J Brand.

Kane’s line is synonymous with neon (“it’s part of my DNA now” he said) so it’s no surprise that his collection for the denim powerhouse, the first of many, is DayGlo-tastic. There are flares and shorts in bubble gum pink, highlighter yellow and safety cone orange with cute little cropped jean jackets to match. The line is available now at Barneys and everything is under $300.

J Brand’s founder and CEO Jeff Rudes interviewed the charming and humble Glaswegian designer about fast food, TV, oh, and fashion.

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