Simon Doonan

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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Simon Doonan
Shopping

Holiday Gift Guide: Custom and Personalized Presents for Everyone on Your List

Having your name or initials emblazoned on something never gets old. It goes back to that pride you felt back in third grade, when writing your name into your favorite books sent a statement to the world: “This is mine.” (And if you’re like me, you also drew a unicorn and stars for good measure) As far as gifts go, something personalized or custom-designed shows that you put a bit of effort into it, when you could totally just buy an iTunes gift card.

With that in mind, we gathered a bunch of customizable gift ideas at various price points. Whether your recipient is into fashion or not, here are ten ideas for cool custom gifts. Click through to check them out.

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Marc Jacobs Cast In A Movie, A Pippa Middleton Book and Lauren Conrad’s Kiddie Halloween Costumes

Marc Jacobs Is Going To Be In A Movie: Marc Jacobs let a little secret slip at the WSJ Innovator of the Year Awards this weekend: “I got cast in a role in a movie,” he told Style.com. “They’re filming next week and I’m excited. I get to play a character that’s not myself at all.” Wonder what movie it is? {WWD}

Missed Connection From the YSL Sample Sale: Whoever was wearing purple pants and had a bunch of shoes was apparently the “prettiest girl” at the YSL sample sale last week; the mystery woman inspired a missed connection that fills me with jealousy for this man who is both sentimental and a fan of YSL. {Racked}

Pippa Middleton Might Be Writing A Book On Party Planning: Pippa apparently organized her sister’s April wedding reception and frequently works for her parents party planning business, and is reportedly meeting with publishing houses to work out a party planning book deal. Brace yourself for round 2 of Middleton mania. {Daily Mail}

Lauren Conrad’s Childhood Halloween Costumes: Check out lil’ LC as a super cute genie and witch in her early days. {Lauren Conrad}

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Parties

Fashion Group International’s Night of Stars Honors Raf Simons, Daphne Guinness, and Andrew Rosen, the ‘Godfather’ of Fashion

Last night, despite a cold, blustery rainstorm, the fashion industry elite put on their black-tie best and headed down to Cipriani Wall Street for Fashion Group International’s Annual Night of Stars Gala. The event is known for it’s glittery mix of designers, retail execs, editors and celebrities, and this year’s event was no exception. Elle’s Kate Lanphear (in an incredible YSL cape) told us, “This is one of my favorite events of the year. I’m a big fashion nerd, and I always try to come if I’m in town.” Spotted in the glamorous crowd were fashion luminaries like Proenza’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Harper’s Bazaar Editor-in-Chief Glenda Bailey, Bergdorf Goodman’s Linda Fargo, model Lindsey Wixson, and style legend Lee Radziwill, who accompanied Star Honoree designer Giambattista Valli.

Many designers in attendance were excited to support Corporate Leadership Award winner Andrew Rosen, the President of Theory and an investor in young fashion brands. Stacey Bendet Eisner, founder and designer of Alice and Olivia, a company that Rosen has invested in and mentored, said, “I worship him. I talk to him every morning at 6am, or around that time. He’s the most amazing person in this industry; he’s the Godfather.” Misha Nonoo of Nonoo NY added, “Andrew Rosen is one of the most exciting people in fashion at the moment. He recognizes talent at a seedling level.”

Some highlights from the awards ceremony:

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  • JESSICA GOLD
  • Friday, Oct 28, 2011 / 6:30 PM
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Fashion Is Fun

Back-to-School Fashion Reading List: The Karl Lagerfeld Illustrated Chanel Bio, a Definitive Diana Vreeland Photo Book and More

Some of you are just back to school and some of us are sadly done with school for good but we remember how fun it was to gather all your required back-to-school reading and dive in (okay, we were nerds). So in the spirit of the back-to-school reading list, we’ve put together a list of some awesome, essential, fashion reading. There are some really beautiful and important fashion books out recently and they are worth investing in. And that means actually going and buying the hardcover versions because these books are filled with Karl Lagerfeld illustrations, Diana Vreeland-styled editorials, and more really good stuff. Stuff not to be wasted on an e-reader.

Click through to see your required reading. Don’t skim! There will be a quiz!

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Zach Galifianakis, Handbag Designer?

We love Zach Galifianakis, but really? Designing a handbag? We thought he just carried one in the movies.

We never saw it coming but it’s true. The comedian has been tapped by Keith Richards’ wife Patti Hansen to design a one-of-a-kind handbag for her line Hung On U, which will be auctioned off for charity at the bag line’s Barneys launch party. Proceeds will benefit the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation

Galifianakis isn’t the only unlikely guest celebrity designer:

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Reviews

Costello Tagliapietra Spring 2012: Lighter Than Air(Dye)

It would be tough indeed to find a male design duo more appealing than Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra. In addition to cutting killer draped dresses season after season, their uniform–plaid, suspenders, and those signature grizzled beards–make them the original cuddly hipsters of the fashion world. But back to those dresses!

Whether their frocks are cowl- or halter-necked, wrapped or belted, the guys consistently resist the urge to incorporate newfangled cuts or daring body-con. This was no different for spring ’12, but amongst their usual bold solids, Costello and Tagliapietra worked in a number of gorgeous digital-print numbers too. “We took photos of flowers, put them on the computer and layered and layered them,” Costello said. “That’s how the prints came out and informed the collection.” As for the palate–forest green, grey-blue, dusty rose-colored prints–Tagliapietra told us “the colors don’t wear you, they emphasize your personality.” Simon Doonan agrees. “I thought the colors were enormously sophisticated,” he said. “They have an unusual juxtaposition of color.”

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  • Elana Fishman with Amanda Enowitz
  • Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 / 5:11 PM
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Parties

Fashion Folk Pick Their Favorite Vintage Playboy Pix

Playboy is (finally) putting their entire archives online at iPlayboy.com, accessible through phone, iPad, and laptop. Yes, the entire archives. Are you drooling yet?

To celebrate, the mag asked some fashion/art/film folk to pick out their favorite images from Playboys of the past for an exhibit which opened last night at Partners and Spade (and lives online too). This group of fashion-y curators included: Simon Doonan, Waris Alhuwalia, André Balazs, and Sarah Shotton, the creative director of Agent Provacateur among others. Unsurprisingly everyone played it safe–less lady bits and more culture.

The party, however, featured large prints of Playboy bunnies on the wall for sale at $1500 a pop. Naturally the retro styles and naked woman were a conversation topic among the trillions of guests. (Seriously, was all of the East Village there to make up for Simon Doonan’s absence?)

There was such a large young crowd, so I did some investigative journalism and ask the guests what makes vintage Playboy so alluring to twenty-somethings today. (Hint: no one said the articles.)

So click through to see the images selected by big shots (plus their commentary from the exhibit) and to find out what motivates contemporary readers to revisit Playboy’s past. (Obvs NSFW)

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Parties

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

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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People We Like

L’Wren Scott Launches Handbags While Getting Acquainted With Some Bloggers

L’Wren Scott is all about the details: the placement of a hemline, the click of a handbag. The stylist-turned-designer doesn’t do anything haphazardly, so it was no surprise that she decided to launch her handbag line by introducing it to a group of 20 or so bloggers on Wednesday morning. (Barneys, who has the exclusive on the bags this season, hosted the breakfast.) Because as everyone from Proenza Schouler to Reed Krakoff knows, it’s really The Bag Snob–the be-all-end-all of accessories blogs–who makes or breaks your collection.

Along with the opportunity to get to know the Lula–Scott‘s introductory piece, available in three practical sizes and a variety of colors and skins–we were lucky enough to get to know Scott, who not only did a Q&A with O creative director Adam Glassman, but also answered questions from the audience. Given that her runway show is as exclusive as Tom Ford‘s–seriously, like, less than a hundred people are invited–this was a real treat. Especially since she’s such a charismatic and sincere person. The big takeaways:

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Beauty

How to Make Your Perfume Last, Karl Lagerfeld’s Favorite Scent and Other Tidbits We Learned at Barneys’ Le Labo Event

Yesterday Barneys had an intimate gathering for the ever-charming Fabrice Penot, one half of the founding team of the cult-favorite fragrance line Le Labo. Le Labo launched five years ago; both founders came from the Armani fragrance behemoth and both saw a need in the market for “fresh” perfumes. Fresh meaning they mix it up in front of you and put your name and an expiration date on it.

In the five years since its inception the line has been massively successful, and in addition to their freestanding stores and shops in Colette and Barneys, they are up for a Fifi award for the scent collaboration they did with Anthropologie.

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Events

Simon Doonan and Reed Krakoff on Inspiration, Celebrity and Working Your Ass Off

It was a meeting of two fabulous and very creative minds at Parsons The New School for Design last night. Alumn and “new” designer Reed Krakoff, who is also the Executive Creative Director at Coach, teamed up with the very funny Simon Doonan to discuss…fashion, of course. Moderated by Simon Collins, dean of the School of Fashion, this series of discussions is aimed at giving students a glimpse at the reality of working in the fashion industry and the chance to meet some pretty darn successful industry leaders. Last night’s chat coincides with the upcoming Parsons Fashion Benefit on May 9, where Krakoff will be recognized as an honoree for significant contributions to the field of design.

The evening’s discussion centered around several major industry ideas and issues, including what sparks inspiration, sustainability in design and the role of fashion in modern culture.

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  • Tara Lamont-Djite
  • Tuesday, Mar 8, 2011 / 2:00 PM
  • 2 Comments