Winter Holiday Countdown: T is for Twenty Years Later Barneys to Take Back Chelsea

By: Tamara Arnew 

BARNEYS NEW YORK, FORMER CHELSEA STORE
PHOTO CREDIT: FASHIONISTA.COM

Although not-posed to open until 2017, Barneys divulged that the department store will return to the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan where they have garnered historic and sentimental space.  The Seventh Avenue store location is currently retailed-in by Loehmanns but from 1923 to 1997 was the flagship for Barneys New York. 

BARNEYS CHELSEA LOCATION IN 1997
PHOTO CREDIT: THE NEW YORK TIMES 

In Chelsea, over the seventy-four years prior to moving the department store to occupy the Soho and Upper West Side locations, Barney Pressman developed the luxe business from a rented 500-square-foot space with a "no imitations and personal attention to every detail" philosophy. The success of this location eventually came to encompass the entire block (and ten stories up) between 16th and 17th Avenue until it's closure. The Rubin Museum of Art, that shares the space with Loehmanns, will remain in the location as Barneys recaptures former, future and fortune. 

With it's New York "Bright Lights, Big City" synonymy and the appeal of shopping curator splendor in the nostalgic building, the opening in 2017 will signify twenty-years since the department store's departure and a new age of choice extravagance.    

BARNEYS HOLIDAY 2013 WINDOW INSTALLMENT
PHOTO CREDIT: AZURE MAGAZINE 

Since Barneys is known for their experimental and dimensional window displays, including their Winter 2013 seasonal installment in collaboration with Jay-Z, here is an overview of some of the current New York City Holiday Window Displays from preeminent fashion retailers. The list includes the four B's (that being Bendels, Bergdorfs, Barneys and Bloomingdales), as well as several other laureate storefronts. For something a bit closer to home, Holt Renfrew's Bloor Street Location hosts a holiday vignette worth visiting. 

Sources: New York Journey, The Real Deal Magazine, NYC The Official Guide, The New York Times, The WallStreet Journal, Fashionista.Com, Marketing Magazine, Azure Magazine 

The Top Three Style Inspiring Collections From New York Fashion Week

By: Tamara Arnew

"One's life and passion may be elsewhere, but New York is where you prove if what you think in theory makes sense in life."  Miuccia Prada

STEVEN ALAN SS14 LOOK 6
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

STEVEN ALAN SS14 LOOK 1
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

STEVEN ALAN SS14 LOOK 19
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

With a tousled airy-ness that moved beyond the effortlessness of "just rolled out of bed"and towards the daydream of fashion that is both lackadaisy and with cool, uncommonly classic indifference, the Steven Alan Spring/Summer '14 collection was inseparably styled. Taking away from the overwhelming athletic wear feel of the collections of New York Fashion Week with Japanese-Argentinian cultural influence, the clothes were without a definite city derivative aesthetic. Minimalist, slightly disheveled seersucker, featherlike but voluminous linen layers, lengthy silk and dresses over pants, out of the ordinary sprightly floral print — all the whilst keeping in mind the easy sportiness of it all without so much of a fuss. This is the post-grunge trend look we'll weather the winter for. 

BAND OF OUTSIDERS SS14 LOOK 9
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

BAND OF OUTSIDERS SS14 LOOK 11
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

BAND OF OUTSIDERS SS14 LOOK 13
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

Band of Outsiders' collections never fail to lend irony to the design houses' name, and their show at NYFW was done with a smirk. The Outsiders are street style insiders through and through. Variations on running shorts with boxy tees and under mesh, wildflower trenches, socks and sandals paired with all of the looks and Baja wear white that gave the west coast vibe a sneaker stark contrast. The pieces shown were separates that will become the mainspring of the season's nineties inspired garb for The Locals. 

OPENING CEREMONY SS14 LOOK 21
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

OPENING CEREMONY SS14 LOOK 7
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

OPENING CEREMONY SS14 LOOK 1
PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

Opening Ceremony's first NYFW show was met with the kind of anticipation, attendance and execution that designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim have been revving to go fast and furiously after for a while. The collection was shown as a part of the brand's BTW (by the water) pop-up market held at Pier 57 for the duration of Fashion Week and the drag race feel, driven by the underground location.  With Vice commentary, bold Korean inspired prints and coupe silhouettes that are reminiscent of everything we loved about Gwen Stefani's No Doubt style, OC are leaders of the pack in reviving the decade lost to our youth. 

Sources: LA Times, Style.com, Vice Magazine

American Apparel Buys NYC Retailer Oak

By: Tamara Arnew

PHOTO CREDIT: OAK NYC

American Apparel is out to prove that they are more than just the Helvetica, high socks, human rights and hype advertising that we have given them credit for. The company purchased cult fashion retailer Oak as a division of the brand, with two stores located in NoHo and Brooklyn as well as a wholesale and e-commerce oriented platform. Oak has operated as an independent specialty retailer founded by Louis Terline and Jeff Madalena, with a defiantly and influentially hip perspective.  

OAK STOREFRONT IN NOHO, NEW YORK CITY
PHOTO CREDIT: PULP MAGAZINE

The clothes have all of the traits of the American Apparel men's and women's lifestyle, while allowing for a more apparent forward thinking perspective and definition of each to their own edge.  They’re all for black being forever cool and the twist in ease that we associate with New York’s style.  

OAK COLLECTION FALL/WINTER '13
PHOTO CREDIT: OAK NYC

OAK COLLECTION FALL/WINTER '13
PHOTO CREDIT: OAK NYC

With two minimalist and recognizable influences the American Apparel brand will continue to develop as a crucial closet filler and keep us anticipating the next wave of owning our own daring with basic-but not basic pieces. Plans for expansion of the Oak division and new store openings have not yet been released, however the Fall/Winter 13 collection is available for pre-order through the online store. 

PHOTO CREDIT: OAK NYC

Sources: WWD, WhoWhatWear, Oaknyc.com