Barneys unveiled the latest piece of its multi-year renovation today—a new 22,000-square-foot floor that is sure to have footwear fans pulling out their credit cards upon arrival. The bright, minimalist fifth-floor space, which has been under way since Gaga’s Workshop packed up back in the winter, houses both men’s and women’s designer shoes (a first for the Madison Avenue flagship), as well as travel accessories from the likes of Givenchy, Balenciaga, and Rimowa.
The new edition (58 percent bigger than the old shoe floor), done under the direction of Dennis Freedman and interior design firm Yabu Pushelberg, features white marble walls, brass fixtures, limestone flooring, iPad stations throughout (conveniently located next to the cushioned seats), and brass-mesh glass cases to highlight specific labels. In the women’s area, those two spaces are designated for two of the store’s major brands, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik. You’ll find Barneys-exclusive (denoted with the XO signs) styles from Blahnik, Sergio Rossi, and Maison Martin Margiela for women, and for men, shoes from the likes of Battistoni, Endless, and Harris. Co-Op shoes will remain on the eighth floor for men and on the seventh floor for women. In celebration of its newest renovation completion, Barneys has launched Perfect Pairs, a campaign to support the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and its Americans for Marriage Equality Program, with 10 percent of sales from the new shoe floor between today and Sunday going to the HRC. Next to be finished on the retailer’s flagship makeover project is the women’s ground floor, set to be completed in September. Here, a first look at the new fifth level.
—Kristin Studeman
Photos: Courtesy of Barneys
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