Barneys New York to Feature Daphne Guinness Preparing for The Met Gala

Barneys New York announced today that they have collaborated with Daphne Guinness to curate a selection of pieces from Guinness's private collection, as well as from the collection of Isabella Blow, to be featured in the Madison Avenue windows. This will be the first time Blow's collection has been seen in public since Guinness acquired it in the summer of 2010. The window display will include several experiential moments, beginning on Monday, May 2nd when Guinness will prepare for The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala by presenting a staged display in the window while donning a gown designed by Alexander McQueen, who is being celebrated at the event later that evening.

The windows will feature twenty-six complete looks from Guinness's extensive archives, ten of which were created by Alexander McQueen. Also included will be ensembles from Haider Ackermann, Balmain, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Hauliuetrige, David Koma, Hogan McLaughlin, Rick Owens, Gareth Pugh, L'Wren Scott, and Three As Four. Vintage and self-designed pieces will also be showcased.

Clothing from the Isabella Blow archives will be seen publicly for the first time since Guinness acquired her friend's collection in its entirety to ensure it would not be broken apart and sold at auction. Several of Blow's signature hats - created for her by Philip Treacy, a great friend and collaborator - will be featured along with sixteen ensembles from Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and Viktor & Rolf. Also featured will be Yoshiki Hishinuma's voluminous parachute dress.
Guinness's appearance in the windows will be projected on the façade of the Madison Avenue store while simultaneously being live-streamed on Barneys New York's luxury content site, The Window.
Over the course of the six-week installation, Ms. Guinness will return to the Barneys' Madison Avenue flagship window several times to dress and each appearance will again be live-streamed on thewindow.barneys.com. A short film providing a glimpse into Daphne Guinness' life, using the Barneys installation as a backdrop, is also in production and will be released following the collaboration.