To celebrate the opening of Barneys New York’s downtown location on 7th Avenue and 16th Street, the very same block where Barneys first opened its doors in 1923, the retailer held a blowout party and “The Black Leather Jacket” auction in partnership with Christie’s on March 17.
Benefiting two non-profit institutions—White Columns and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Center of New York City—the auction consisted of twenty-three leather jackets decorated by famed artists and designers including: Azzedine Alaïa, Joseph Altuzarra, Susan Cianciolom, Dan Colen, Tim Coppens, Kim Gordon, Ella Kruglyanskaya, Helmut Lang, Glenn Ligon, Nate Lowman, Isabel Marant, Marilyn Minter, Dries Van Noten, Rob Pruitt, Ugo Rondinone, Sterling Ruby, Borna Sammak, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, Alexander Wang, Anicka Yi, and Lisa Yuskavage. The event paid homage to Barneys New York’s “Decorated Denim” event that was held in 1986, where prominent designers and artists—such as Madonna, Debbie Harry, and Iman— designed jackets, and the proceeds went to an AIDS charity.
Barneys New York Celebrates its New Downtown Flagship in New York City
Courtesy of BFA
This time around, guests were in the company of Swizz Beats, Andy Cohen, Derek Lam, Andrew Rosen, Gabriela Hearst, and more, while enjoying sips of champagne and miniature leather jacket cookie replicas by Auntie Apple. After wandering up and down the vast white spiral staircase, a key design by Steven Harris Architects, we were able to get sight of new collections stocked in all sections—men’s, women’s, accessories, makeup, and shoes.
Barneys New York Celebrates its New Downtown Flagship in New York City
Courtesy of BFA
