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Simon Doonan makes dreams come true at Barneys
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Last Thursday, Barneys New York creative director, Simon Doonan (he’s the dude who comes up with all those brilliant window displays) rubbed elbows with some of San Francisco’s fanciest fashion mavens – particularly those of the shoe-obsessed variety.
Photos by: D.R.R.
With his latest book, Eccentric Glamour proudly displayed, Doonan was at the store to give people his snarky style advice and, more importantly, give away a couple of shoes that could be used as barter for my monthly rent.
Obviously, next to Doonan, the stars of the evening were the shoes on the second floor of Barneys. As people munched on little nibblies and guzzled down champagne, I managed to snag a couple of words with the popular New York Observer columnist (if you haven’t read it, then you are missing out).
The first thing that came out of my mouth was, “So what is the hot shoe of the season?”
Doonan’s eyes lit up with excitement and his mouth let out a gasp as he led me to a pair of Christian Louboutins that looked like a hybrid of a sexy high-heel shoe and a Sperry Top Sider.
“This is the shoe,” he took it off the shelf and presented it to me like it was the Holy Grail. “It’s very porno meets preppy.”
The Loubou-sider.
Indeed it is. The shoe mixes the glam with the casual to produce this sultry spring/summer shoe (a.k.a. the Jefferson Platform) that would make everyone from Pam Anderson to Donna Reed drool.
As we were discussing shoes, I asked his opinion on the YSL cage shoe. I thought they looked like a snazzy interpretation of a Spider-Man shoe while Doonan thought they were comfortable – comfortable enough to run in. But I don’t really think he has actually ran in them.
A cage for your foot always looks hot.
Then, the inevitable question about the economy came into the conversation. I hate asking the question, but it is a valid considering that no one is really shopping anymore...and as a blogger/reporter, I have to ask questions that I hate asking.
He laughs when I bring it up and says that his friend calls it the “reception,” which is a reference to one of his recent columns (click here to get a full explanation of the quip). It seems as though he is not too worried about the recession – that or he just doesn’t let it get to him.
“With all that’s going on, I think I would just be a whore,” jokes Doonan. “But I think I am just getting to old for that kind of stuff.”
I answer, “Well, you’re never too old to turn a couple of tricks.”
After we have a jovial laugh, Doonan goes and does his duties as the evening’s host. He draws five names from a basket and each of those lucky ladies have gets to pick a pair of shoes from Barneys’s luxe selection for free. Yes, you heard that right – FREE.
Doonan gives away some fancy shoes.
As each name is drawn, dreams certainly do come true. The ladies who win, squeal with utter delight. Everyone cheers and celebrates. All the while, I keep on thinking, "Why didn't they do this in the men's section?"
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