Every year Barney’s chooses a theme for their holiday windows. This years theme, “Have a Dated, Barely Laughable Sketch Comedy Holiday”. Yup, SNL is officially high fashion.

SIMON’S TIPS:

Tip Number 1: Wearing insane makeup, crazy garish accessories, and demented outfits to fashion week is a really horrible idea… unless you want to get your picture taken continuously and have a wild and fabulous time.

Tip Number 2: Think you might have what it takes to be a supermodel?  There’s only one way to find out: hop on the runway for the finale and start working all your angles!

Tip Number 3: Hated the show but not sure what to say?  Simply barge backstage, air kiss the designer and shout, “You’ve done it again!”  It works either way.

Tip Number 4: Bring buckets of food.  If they eat hot dogs at football games there’s no reason why you cannot scarf down a tuna-melt at a fashion show.

Tip Number 5: If you are enjoying the music at a show feel free to sing along loudly…and bust a move.

Also, be sure to check the amazing window displays at W Hotel in Union Square location that Simon Doonan designed himself! I know this seems a bit overwhelming, but W guests in cities where there are Barneys locations will receive exclusive perks! Complimentary bellinis and discounts will be given when they shop at Barneys New York and Barneys Co Op stores through October.

For more on all the amazing deals check out the W Hotel website!

Goodbye Virgin Megastore, hello Nordstrom Rack! In addition to the discounts offered at Filene’s Basement and DSW, Union Square is making a name as the recession battle capital with the first branch of Nordstrom to open in New York City! Doors are slated to open sometime next spring providing shoppers with 50%-60% discounts on the same brands that Nordstrom carries. Alright Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney’s and Bergdorf Goodman, you better present some macho sales or Nordstrom is going to eat you alive! 

Thanks NY Mag! 

And so the complaints begin…only this time it was the Barney’s director filling complaint. Samuel Doonan, Barney’s creative director, was in for a little surprise yesterday whilst out of town. It seems as though the mannequin display on Madison was put up without Samuel’s knowledge, and after receiving news of the display he immediately ordered them to take it down. The display, which featured a twist on “I wouldn’t be caught dead in that”, was said by Doonan to have “clearly crossed the line.”

Mr. Doonan may be the creative director, but I have to say I disagree. Why does everything have to be taken as an offense? Come on, the idea is clever! Among all the violence and sex in fashion, red splattered paint on a window display is suddenly a cultural problem and offensive toward women. Really? Let’s get real people. I mean we predicted the complaints and comments, but to have the entire display actually taken down is just outright dissapointing.

Whoa. This gives a whole new meaning to ‘I wouldn’t be caught dead in that.’  Madison Ave. shoppers were a bit disturbed to see this new Barney’s display…I guess they thought it would be eye-catching, but I think all it did was offend a lot of people. Let the infuriated commenting begin…

SOURCE: Racked

Well, wasn’t that fast? Just last week Fashion Indie announced the introduction of the Comme des Garçons’ BLACK label to the New York area, and voila, the shop, anticipated to stick around for 18 months, opened yesterday beneath beneath the High Line on 10th Ave! Racked reported that the mood around the West Chelsea shop was relatively calm, despite a visit from Lynn Yaeger, while the Barneys pop-up shop received some crazed  business. Most pieces range between $120-$660, and while many items can be passed as unisex, the majority of pieces are for women. So, who else will I see there this weekend? 

GALLERY: FIRST LOOK: Comme des Garçons BLACK Store (NOW OPEN!)

Thanks Racked!

A new, limited-edition recycled denim collection, arriving just in time for the Earth Day fuss, has united Alexander Wang, Bottega Veneta, Derek Lam, Rodarte, Rogan, Stella McCartney, Versace, and Ann Demeulemeester.

Last summer Barney’s New York collected recycled denim, which these top designers have fashioned into outfits. The exclusive designs, now in a window display at Barney’s, will go up for auction on eBay April 30, starting at 99 cents each.  All proceeds will benefit Oceana, “the largest international advocacy organization focused 100 percent on protecting and restoring the world’s oceans.”

ELLE has even chipped in with a David Armstrong-shot editorial in their May 2009 issue.

Project Blue is working on the stat that less than 2% of clothing thrown out in the US is actually worn out. Alternatives, of course, include buying and giving away used clothes, or re-fashioning and re-purposing old clothing, as these featured designers have done.

GALLERY: ELLE Lookbook.

This content is RAW. It was pulled from another source and was not written by Fashion Indie. To see the original source, Click Here.

Barney’s NY is sending a rock-inspired spring mailer featuring New York-based band The Virgins for their designer collections. Donald Cumming, Wade Oates and Nick Ackerman rock fashions from some of the hottest designers including Lanvin, Balenciaga, Thom Browne, Margiela, Dior Homme and more.

LINKAGE: Starworks

Kanye West and his girlfriend Amber Rose were front row at many shows during Paris Fashion Week, including Hussein Chalayan, Sonia Rykiel, and Givenchy.

Amber Rose wore one of my fave dresses from the Alexander Wang Spring 09 show, which she accessorized with Louis Vuitton heals and bag (also straight off the Spring 09 runway).

‘The risky dress is completely sheer, with a few strategically placed black embossed swirl coils. Another feature is that the mini dress has cut-out thumbs at the sleeves.’

According to Red Carpet Fashion only 2 other girls wore this dress,  Erin Wasson, and Sarah Harding and it’s available at Barney’s for $995.

Mary-Kate and Ashley sure are keeping busy!

They’re already working on a menswear line for The Row and an Elizabeth & James shoe line with Steve Madden.

Now, just weeks after the sneak peek at the men’s pieces for The Row, WWD has reported that the Olsens will also launch a menswear line for Elizabeth & James. It will be available at Barney’s this fall.

Ashley said the collection will be “about balancing uptown and downtown.” The sisters reportedly found inspiration in Oliver Twist and Peter Pan’s Lost Boys.

Photo from People.

Erin Wasson’s anticipated collaboration with RVCA has been given a launch date of February 1.

In August Wasson signed a 3-year deal with the skater-influenced brand

Expect Alexander Wang-inspired grungy basics of black, white, and gray, and of course, denim cut-offs.  Her line will be available in the U.S. at Opening Ceremony, Barney’s, and Ron Herman.

Thanks for the info, Bleach Black.

This morning the kind folks at Volkswagen were kind enough to pick me up at my massive abode in the Upper, Upper East Side (a.k.a the Bronx). Currently Im sitting at breakfast with creative genius Simon Doonan at Barneys Fred restaurant. In love with the new wagen. And very sad to dish on the bitter end of Simons column for Vogue. Yet another casualty of the new antiglossy economy.

We’re a bit biased on the whole Mooka Kinney split since we had one half of the divorced design duo, Rachel Antonoff, participate in Fashion Indie Week Brooklyn this year, but when we heard that Alison Lewis was set to hit Barneys we knew you’d want to know. 

I guess this would be the real life equivalent of seeing your ex move on way before you, but Lewis’ entire Spring 09 was picked up by Barneys and her duds, a mix of girly and vintage-inspired pieces, are already getting praised by the likes of Fashionista’s editors. After checking out her her collection on the Lewis site, I’m fairly sure that Lewis has a strong enough brand to compete with the normal Barneys offerings, I just hope she maintains the same following she had back in the MK days.

Lanvin sneakers have stomped to the front of the scene with significant insight in mind. The hightop sneakers come in a variety of colors and are crafted with a wide range of materials. The collection features colors such as blues and golds that meet the eye with a sparkle as well as more basic browns and blacks. The materials include leather and suede for an elegant flair of distinctive confidence. Pick up Lanvin sneakers at Barneys or Aloha Rag.

Thanks to Selectism for the pics!

Diane Von Furstenberg

Levi’s

Burton Snowboards

Gap

Sphinx

Seiko

Royal Elastics

Loop

Paul Frank Industries

Bond No. 9

Barneys

I think it’s been made clear that the, often overrated, work of Andy Warhol is becoming widely used and revealed; however, until this stops, we’ll keep on telling you. Brands across the board refuse to stop the sale of designs featuring Warhol’s images; in fact, some designers are just joining the pack! What is this? The long list of designers and stores include Diane Von Furstenberg, Levi’s, Burton Snowboards, The Gap, Sphinx, Seiko, Royal Elastics, Loop, Paul Frank,  Bond No. 9 and Barney’s. Some of the designers are new to the Warhol scene; however, some just keep at it. Barney’s featured Warhol images in 2006 and recently they’ve swapped the images for “inspiration quotes” on Warhol’s behalf.

The beloved Simon Doonan, creative director at Barney’s, is getting married! The self proclaimed fashionista will wed interior designer and Top Design judge  Jonathan Adler. The ceremony will take place in California. Although the ceremony is a joyous occasion, Doonan says that Adler is already his spouse unofficially and getting married “is more like paying a parking ticket.” He assures his fans that the event will take place after the main event: New York Fashion Week. Congrats Simon!