Old school Barneys, Jean-Phillipe Delhomme + copy from Glenn O' Brien

Barneys has long been recognized as a champion of up-and-coming designers, but we’ve also had the opportunity to work with fast-rising (and firmly established) photographers, models, artists, and stylists, who have lent their talent to various Barneys ad campaigns over the years. In this series, Simon Doonan goes behind the scenes of our most artful and audacious ads of all time.

In the early ‘90s, under the creative leadership of Ronnie Newhouse, Barneys shook up the industry by launching a quirky national campaign illustrated by Jean-Philippe Delhomme, with brilliant copy by Glenn O’Brien. The images, running on billboards, magazine ads and TV commercials depicted the lives of imaginary Barneys customers. This first illustration shows a swanky party at the Hollywood glamour pad of a couple who are having lots of fun, despite their financial inequities. Raoul is clearly the dude in the black Nehru, but which one is Eleanor? I am voting for the gal in the black swimsuit.

- Simon Doonan

An illustrated version of the infamous "Spike" mannequin designed by Simon Doonan.

Can we get back to a sense of humor, and intellect?

All images and text from The Window, Barneys New York.