They All Came to Barneys - by Gene Pressman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Telling the intertwined story of a legendary New York retailer, the fashion world's evolution, and the Pressman family's ambitions and conflicts, this book recounts Barneys' rise from a 1923 suit shop to a global fashion force--and its eventual unraveling"--

Book Synopsis

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"Delicious. . . you should really, really give the book a read." --Vogue

During the greatest, most exciting years in the world's greatest, most exciting city, Barneys New York was a place where fashion made culture and made history.

In They All Came to Barneys, Gene Pressman tells his story for the first time, capturing the unprecedented rise and unimaginable fall of his family's multimillion-dollar fashion retail empire as only he can: from the inside

From its humble beginnings as a discount shop on Seventh Avenue, Barneys grew into an international phenomenon, setting the tone for fashion not only in New York, but across the country and worldwide. Told with razor-sharp wit and inimitable style, They All Came to Barneys takes us on an insider's journey as rakish, would-be rocker Gene Pressman and the global fashion industry grew up and came into their own, side by side.

Through back-room handshake deals with designers, days at the haberdasheries on Savile Row and nights out at New York clubs and Paris bistros, three generations of Pressmans--grandfather Barney, son Fred, and grandson Gene--built Barney's little shop into an empire and a byword for cool around the world. They All Came to Barneys is a front-row seat to the rise of some of the biggest names in fashion (Armani, Alaïa, Wintour, Meisel) and the store that came to dress an entire generation of celebrities, models, artists, and magnates. Set against the biggest movements in fashion and in culture, from the birth of ready-to-wear in the '60s and disco delirium in the '70s to the devastation of AIDS in the '80s and the explosion of globalization in the '90s, Gene Pressman had a backstage pass to history--until hubris, ambition, and risky business threatened to tear it all apart. . .

Review Quotes

"Delicious. . . you should really, really give the book a read." --Vogue

"Pressman describes the world of Barneys in delicious detail. . . steeped in the dishy argot of gossip columns, with plentiful puns, tart epithets, and shameless name-dropping. . . . The experience of reading "They All Came to Barneys" is much like that of flipping through a scrapbook with Pressman by your side, mouthing along to his favorite stories." --The New Yorker

"They All Came to Barneys is at its best conjuring the glory of the Madison Avenue Barneys, from the custom mosaic crowning in the cosmetics department to the fish tanks among the jewelry displays." --The Wall Street Journal

"Fashion lovers need no introduction when it comes to Barneys, but perhaps a deep dive into the beloved luxury department store's history will do. Who better to tell it than Gene Pressman--the former co-CEO and creative director of Barneys New York, as well as the grandson of founder Barney Pressman? Gene offers a sweeping account of the rise and fall of the brand, taking readers inside its labyrinthine empire like never before." --Harper's Bazaar

"Barneys is about to be trending once again." --The New York Times

"So fun to read. . . Name-droppy? Sure. But oh, what names! . . . Pressman's recollections are a breath of fresh air." --The Washington Post

"I believe the best "I Once Ruled New York As A Man" memoir to come out this year is Gene Pressman's They All Came To Barneys." --Rachel Seville Tashjian Wise, Opulent Tips Newsletter

"The most glamorous store in NYC. . . Reading They All Came to Barneys, it's hard not to long for the days when shopping was an event, an adventure." --The New York Post

"Those who know Gene will recognize his voice in these pages, the swagger and charm, as he tells an extraordinary story that weaves together Giorgio Armani, the New York Knicks, Azzedine Alaia, Studio 54, Andy Warhol, Linda Evangelista and a famous chimp, and, of course, the inimitable Pressman family." --Cathy Horyn, critic-at-large, New York Magazine

"I always loved Barneys, and reading They All Came to Barneys made me miss it more than ever." --Linda Evangelista

"Barneys was a truly unique experience--sophisticated, creative, and one of endless discovery. The same can be said of Gene's book, which vividly captures this legendary time and place." --Calvin Klein

"Barneys was a one-of-a-kind and this wonderful book captures its spirit brilliantly." --Paul Smith

"When I met Barneys, I fell in love. It was family, friends, food, fashion. To this day, I miss Barneys more than any other store." --Donna Karan

"Gene Pressman's fashion memoir has all the swagger and charisma of the man himself. To this day Barneys remains legendary in the public imagination. To find out why, read this book. It's fabulous." --Simon Doonan, author and former creative director of Barneys

"Through the pages of this book, one can revisit the magic of Barneys." --Ermenegildo Zegna

"Gene's alluring outline of his family's story is a remarkable account of one of New York City's most treasured institutions. The significance of Barneys' contribution to the cultural landscape of NYC celebrated and helped define so much of what made it a magnet for people interested in fashion, music, and art. It was the original influencer. It is an absolute must read for anyone interested in a special slice of New York City's history." --Marc Jacobs

About the Author

Gene Pressman was co-CEO, creative director, and head of merchandising and marketing for Barneys New York, and a veteran of the store for more than twenty-five years. Under his leadership, Barneys New York emerged as the defining force in retailing for upscale men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories, and home furnishings. He is the author, with Noah Kerner, of Chasing Cool, a distillation of his marketing philosophy. A graduate of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, he lives with his family in Palm Beach.