Simon doonan, asylum book, best fashion books, new books, books to read, cartoon of yourself, thing 1, author quotes, deep sea fishing. Simon doonan offers etiquette asylum the dinner party. The fashion legend is now the creative ambassador at large of barneys and his latest book is called the asylum. Window display provided me with a therapeutic outlet for all. After spending much of his life working with reedthin models and quicktempered designers, raconteur doonans gay men dont get fat, 2012 skewering of the couture world comes from a place both of witnessing the industrys stylistic evolution and playing a key part within it. Life lessons from fearlessly inappropriate and fabulously eccentric women, and more on.
Originally from england, he worked on savile row before becoming the creative director for barneys new york, where he designed legendary window displays for more than 20 years. His first retail job was a summer position at heelas, a department store in reading, now owned by the john lewis partnership. Simon doonan may be known for his crisply tailored suits and vibrant prints, but dont let the menswear fool you. I met him at barneys in chicago beforehand, and had a chance to catch up and ask him a few questions about his latest book. A collage of couture reminiscencesand hysteria or the asylum. After more than twenty years in the industry, author and fashion insider simon doonan is ready to let you in on a little secret. His ability to paint a vivid picture translates well from fashion to music, as he share some of his favorite songs. Simon doonan talks about why fashion belongs in the asylum.
Simon doonan made a name for himself with his outrageous window displays for barneys. Creating an insanely more fabulous you, and wacky chicks. Marc jacobs simon doonan is the bon qui qui of fashionstirring things up and reminding us to keep a sense of humor. Ambassador doonan himself gave the window a sneak peek at what to expect from his new tome.
He first rose to fame designing the famous display windows at the barneys clothing boutique in new york, and has gone on to be their creative ambassador at large. Simon doonan, the illustrious, boldly outfitted, witty, legendary window dresser, and the brains behind the creative direction of department store barneys new york, talked to design editor meg busacca. Doonan, renowned in his own right but also the other half of happy chic designer jonathon adler, is the creative director for barneys. True tales of madness from a life in fashion simon doonan on. Doonan lives in new york with his husband, jonathan adler. True tales of madness from a life in fashion by simon doonan. A collage of couture reminiscences and hysteria in 1982 i took my boyfriend to the doctor. The series is composed of four novels, asylum, sanctum, catacomb, and escape from asylum and three novellas. Discover book depositorys huge selection of simon doonan books online. From making displays for barneys new york store windows to being their creativeambassadoratlarge not to mention an author, television personality, global gadfly, and half of the reigning power couple in american retail simon doonan has flown up the ranks of the fashion world and loved every kooky minute of it in his newest book, the asylum. In the asylum, simon doonans comedic genius explodes out of highbrow shoe.
A collage of couture reminiscencesand hysteria for his chicago fans. Writer, bonvivant, window dresser, fashion commentator simon doonan has worked in fashion for over 35 years. Doonan is the author of gay men dont get fat, wacky chicks, and nasty. His latest book, the asylum, out next week, is a collection of memoiristic essays. With his new book, the asylum, simon doonan dishes on gore vidal, tom ford, diana vreeland, and the problem with toe fungus. Simon doonan, appropriately described as a writer, bonvivant, window dresser, and fashion commentator, has nearly thirtyfive years of work tucked neatly under his belt. True tales of madness from a life in fashion doonan, simon on. Window dresser for barneys new york simon doonan caught our attention in a recent interview in stir by sherwin williams. After nearly a lifetime spent in the industry, author and fashion insider simon doonan is ready to let you in on a little secret.
Simon doonan begins the book with an essay on trading vocational notes with a friend in the mental health care business. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the asylum. Simon doonan is the one man who sees it and tells it like it absurdly is. After returning to work at the same store after university, he first got involved in the art of window dressing. Fashion guru simon doonan gets quizzed on microsoft windows doonan got his start designing the famous display windows at the barneys clothing boutique in new york. I never understood why anybody would want to be an artist when they could be a window dresser, says simon doonan, the man whos been a window dresser and a lot more for some 30 years. Highfashion hijinks from the outspoken creative ambassador for barneys new york. Simon doonan talks fashion, selflove and the future. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Alexander wang in the asylum, simon doonans comedic genius explodes out of. Asylum is a new york times bestselling young adult horror novel series by madeleine roux. Author and fashion insider simon doonan tells instyle about his new book and the time tom ford gave him a wedgy. The following piece is an excerpt from simon doonans new book the asylum. Simon doonan comes to town with asylum sf unzipped.
The title is a play on the double meaning of the word asylum. Doonans experience working in the fashion industry. And what makes his book so entertaining for the rest of us. Simon doonan is the creative ambassador for barneys new york and the author of. Simon doonan interview on the asylum and fashion the new. See all books authored by simon doonan, including eccentric glamour. Simon has just published his latest book, the asylum, which takes a hilarious look back at some of the high and low points of his four decades in. True tales of madness from a life in fashion is an essay collection loosely bound, as the title suggests, by the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Simon doonan books list of books by author simon doonan. True tales of madness from a life in fashion online for rs. Confessions of a window dresser, wacky chicks, a memoir entitled beautiful people and tongueincheek style guides entitled eccentric glamour and gay men dont get fat. The author and style icon knows a thing or two about drag as well.
See more ideas about simon doonan, visual merchandising and store window displays. Simon doonan talks the asylum book, floral buttondown. The colette book club is an online book club that explores the meaning and making of clothing. In the asylum, an unabashedly hilarious memoirinessays, doonan, the creative ambassador for barneys new york, tells the reallife stories of glamorous madness. The asylum is an autobiography of sorts of simon doonan, fashion consultant and analyst, where he gathers all of his ridiculous experiences in the fashion industry and compiles all of them into a book with anachronistic chapters. Alexander wang in the asylum, simon doonans comedic genius explodes out of highbrow. Barneys creative ambassador simon doonan on fashion and. The complete story takes an indepth look at the art form throughout history.
On may 12, well discuss our next book, the asylum by simon doonan. Doonan, who designed window displays for barneys new york before. Simon doonan was at barneys new york on oak street on thursday signing copies of his book the asylum. In the asylum, simon doonans comedic genius explodes out of highbrow shoe boxes. True tales of madness from a life in fashion is an essay collection loosely bound, as the title suggests, by the premise that the fashion world closely. How long have you been gathering material for the asylum. True tales of madness from a life in fashion by simon doonan, 9780399173714, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Unsurprisingly, there are parallels between his work in the fashion industry and hers in psychiatric wards. A collage of couture reminiscences and hysteria his new book from blue rider press. Confessions of a window dresser 0670882828 book cover. Despite his decadeslong career during which he moved from sales associate at an english department store, to. So what better time than now to consider the world of style with simon doonan, creative ambassador for barneys new york, and author of many autobiographical books, starting with confessions of a window dresser simon has just published his latest book, the asylum, which takes a hilarious look back at some of the high and low points of his. Ladies and a few gents lined up to chat, get their book signed as as well photo opportunity that surely went on instagramfacebook right away.
Doonan has witnessed models unable to work for fear of ghosts, gone deepsea fishing with a couturier pal and his jailbird companion, and. In the asylum, an unabashedly hilarious collection of autobiographical essays, doonan, the creative ambassador for barneys new york, tells the reallife stories of glamorous madness and stylish insanity. Refineyr29 chats with simon doonan about his new book, the asylum, that discusses all the crazy things in the fashion industry. If you are in the bis simons latest book is a le must mr doonans self deprecating sense of humor is the stuff of legend for all underpayed, overworked mannequin schleppers,from working class towns like me. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, event planners and companies across the country have worked closely with our booking agents to hire simon doonan for a speaking engagements, guest appearances, product endorsements and corporate events. Fashion guru simon doonan gets quizzed on microsoft windows. In his new book the asylum, a collection of fashionrelated autobiographical essays.
From cavingin ceilings to sex change operations, read onand then order that book for even more dish. Depending on which edition you buy and what country youre in, this book might be called the asylum. Barneys creative ambassadoratlarge simon doonan has made a name for himself in what he describes as his jarring and punky and intentionally shocking window displays. Last thursday 926 author, bonvivant and barneys new york creative ambassadoratlarge, simon doonan was back in chicago to talk all things the asylum. Alexander wang in the asylum, simon doonans comedic genius explodes out of highbrow shoe boxes. Near the window was a long table with sixteen graysuited look.