Barneys New York

A book as unique as the luxury specialty retailer itself, Barneys New York is a comprehensive and lavish volume that celebrates the retail giant as it’s shaped the New York fashion zeitgeist through its collaborations with artists, photographers, and designers; tongue-in-cheek advertising campaigns; iconic window displays; and glamorous in-store events. As Sarah Jessica Parker once told Vanity Fair, “If you’re a nice person and you work hard, you get to go shopping at Barneys. It’s the decadent reward.” Known as the style hub where art, culture, and fashion merge and a mecca for discerning clothing connoisseurs since 1923, Barneys New York is a Manhattan institution that lives and breathes its mantra “Taste. Luxury. Humor.”

Founded more than ninety years ago when Barney Pressman opened his first store in Manhattan, Barneys New York has since expanded into the premiere designer emporium with locations throughout the United States. Featuring over two hundred iconic images, Barneys New York invites readers into its always stylish, creative, and eclectically chic world.

This stunning visual album, designed by Stefan Sagmeister, traces the evolution of New York fashion from the perspective of Barneys New York by showcasing the fashion designers whose careers the company helped launch, including Giorgio Armani, Dries van Noten, Christian Louboutin, and Proenza Schouler; images of its storied window displays; iconic advertising campaigns shot by Herb Ritts, Juergen Teller, Deborah Turbeville, and Corinne Day, among others; its celebrity collaborations with stars like Jay Z and Lady Gaga and philanthropic efforts such as its recent Transgender project by Bruce Weber; and the acclaimed store design and architecture of its flagship stores and restaurants. This one-of-a-kind gem captures the luxury, whimsy, and quintessential Manhattan spirit of Barneys New York.

Christopher Bollen is a novelist, journalist, and editor who lives in New York City.