111 Shades of Extraordinary!

Bergdorf Goodman was founded in 1901. They celebrated their 50th birthday in 1951, but let their 75th pass quietly; and their 100th anniversary unfortunately coincided with 9/11, so they decided to forego a celebration. But on September 4th, they turned 111, and they are marking the milestone big time. As it turns out, the odd number is not only apropos, but quite symbolic as there is only ONE Bergdorf Goodman in the world. One store in one city, providing one singular luxury experience (“One store, one city, one experience” is how they put it). This free standing “pinnacle of style, service and inspiration” is, simply put, a singular sensation and truly 111 of a kind (just one 1 doesn’t seem to do it justice).

Joshua Schulman and Linda Fargo

It has been a season of celebration starting several months ago. An over sized lavender ribbon, with iconic vintage silhouette packaging is wrapping the entire building; the legendary Fifth Avenue windows were unveiled with the theme “111 years of Extraordinary”; there have been new shop-in shops; 111 designers designed 111 special limited edition products; and there was a party in honor of “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman” by Sara James Mnookin, (an anthology of personal recollections from notable designers, celebrities, writers and employees), with an attending 90 minute documentary.

FYI, on their website, Bergdorf Goodman asks if you have a “special recollection of Bergdorf Goodman” you’d like to share with them. If so, write and they will post the best on their blog. Their favorite will be included in the book published to celebrate their 111th anniversary next year. Well, I most certainly did. It was in September 2008, when they honored Bill Cunningham. The store, and their 5th Avenue windows, were filled with collages of his more memorable On the Street and Evening Hours columns. It was most thrilling and flattering, not to mention an out of body experience, to see myself in several of the collages, including a few in those fabulous windows, where there were also two blown up cardboard images of me.

Jenny Shimizu and Michelle Violy Harper

The festivities were capped off last evening when the iconic retailer hosted an anniversary party at The Plaza (equally iconic for that matter). And a jam packed one it was. While approximately 200 were reportedly invited, I would put that figure at quite a bit higher, and it often times felt like one major (fashion) traffic jam as invited guests, a who’s who of fashion, retail, media, publishing, the arts, and society, rubbed shoulders (and every other body part it seemed), as they made their way from the red carpet to cocktails, and then inside the Terrace Room for dinner and dancing.

Karolina Kurkova

The invitation had the directive: “Dress Extraordinary”, and within the realms of fashion, that means be creative where anything goes. And it did. There were short cocktail dresses, long gowns in every imaginable fabrication, pantsuits, decorated jackets, and a smattering of eccentric head wear – even on the guys (well, Patrick McDonald, anyway). Some were dressed “to the nines” (or should I say 111’s), and others were chicly dressed down.

I especially looked forward to seeing how Linda Fargo would interpret this, as she always outdoes herself and once admitted, “I love a good theme” (if this isn’t a good theme, I don’t know what is). She did not disappoint, selecting an Akris custom made gown printed with the image of Bergdorf Goodman’s facade, the same print lining the black coat. It was dramatic, glamorous, and of course, perfect for the occasion.

DJ Chelsea Leyland

The list is too long to name everyone, but among those who attended were Bergdorf Goodman’s Jim Gold, Linda Fargo, Josh Schulman, and Neiman Marcus’s Ira Neimark, Burton Tansky, Joan Kaner; Anna Wintour (clad in Raf Simons for Dior’s spring 2013 floral ballskirt and black fitted top, straight off the Paris runway), Glenda Bailey, Michael Kors, Zac Posen, Gilles Mendel, Peter Dundas, Prabal Gurung, Derek Lam, Ralph Rucci, Iris and Carl Apfel, Amy Fine Collins, Kim Hastreiter, Lynn Yaeger, John Demsey, Cecilia Dean, Jenny Shimizu, Michelle Violy Harper, and almost every major runway model in the business (many of whom arrived on the arms of a designer), and all of whom wore dresses that nobody else could possibly look good in, or get away with, as if to prove why they’re worth the big bucks.

– Marilyn Kirschner

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Part of Bergdorf’s holiday windows display.

That little slice of retail heaven right here in New York (I’m referring of course, to the corner of 57th and 5th Avenue), has oft been described as the “crossroads of the world”. And rightly so. This now famous intersection was immortalized by Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’; but while Tiffany & Company proudly remains in its proper location, the names and tenants of some of the other famed landmark buildings in the immediate vicinity have come and gone (having fallen victim to these dour economic times). Thankfully, the iconic Bergdorf Goodman, a name long synonymous with luxury retail, has remained gloriously ensconced on 5th Avenue between 57th and 58th streets since 1928.

One of the store’s most signature trademarks are its windows; specifically, those fantastical holiday windows. A collaboration of the imagination, wit, genius, and creativity of Linda Fargo, (Senior Vice President, Women’s Fashion Director, Store Presentation), and David Hoey, (Director of Visual Presentation), their combined efforts have truly set the standard and raised the bar for all the others. The dynamic duo were recently profiled in an informative and entertaining article that appeared in the ‘Thursday Styles’ section of The New York Times (“Window-Dressing Warriors”, by Douglas Quenqua, November 3, 2010) and I found myself tickled by a number of David’s observations: “This job is part architect and part cake designer”, and “We take our frivolity very seriously”. Most recently, their work (“Bergdorf’s best windows over the past two decades”, is how it was described), has been immortalized in a pricey ($550), weighty (17 pounds), and limited edition (there are only 1000 copies) handmade coffee table book, ‘Windows at Bergdorf Goodman’, published by Assouline which is only available at BG here in New York and at Assouline Boutiques worldwide.

Linda Fargo autographing copies of the book.

In fact, Assouline co sponsored last night’s fittingly jam packed and festive cocktail soiree held at the fabled store, in honor of the unveiling of its 2010 holiday windows (the overall theme seems to be fantastical journeys, travels and excursions), and naturally, the highly visual collectors items, were for sale. Artfully stacked in a corner of the main floor that normally serves as the Hermes boutique were on sale (what did they do with all those scarves?), a long line quickly formed as Linda Fargo, looking svelte and utterly glamorous in a vintage floor length black, white J. Mendel Fur coat, chic wide black enamel cuffs, and red lips, hurriedly began to autograph copies.

Fashion model Elettra Rosellini Wiedemann

Among those who attended were Joe Zee, Gilles Mendel, Elettra Rosellini Wiedemann, Marsha Mishaan, Judy Licht and Jerry Della Femina, Patrick McDonald, Michelle Harper, Bill Cunningham, Patrick McMullen, and Alber Elbaz (who had just come from his H&M/Lanvin fashion show extravaganza, held conveniently a few blocks away at the Taj Pierre Hotel). The animated crowd mingled throughout the main floor where champagne, wine, and exotic cocktails from an open bar, were being served, as well as hot cider, which was offered to guests both inside and outside as they waited to go into the store (how welcoming on a raw and damp evening), and there were accompanying nibbles to go along with the drinks. There was also a live performance later on in the evening, by Prince Poppycock. (To see photos of all important attendees go to Patrick McMullan.com)

What more can I say? It’s now official: the holiday season is off and running!

-Marilyn Kirschner

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