Barneys New York has long been
considered the clearing ground for edgy new designers who are given an
opportunity to thrive in the company of some of fashion's heaviest
hitters. The South Beach branch is a small satellite of the larger
organization which provides holiday travelers a glimpse of the unique
fashion and lifestyle accessories that stir the hearts of dedicated
fashionistas across the globe. A cut-rate men's suiting destination in
the early 1920s has morphed into a status brand juggernaut with huge
flagship shops in New York, Chicago and Beverly Hills.
Barneys started selling upscale women's clothing in
1976 and eventually expanded it's influence in the contemporary
sportswear arena with the advent of the COOP department within the NY
flagship store to showcase younger designers targeting a more youthful
audience. The notion of a curated designer showcase for wealthy teens
and twenty-somethings took flight and the brand expanded to nearly two
dozen freestanding regular-priced COOP shops and 14 discount outlets
(including one at Sawgrass Mills Mall) all across the United States. The
South Beach COOP brings popular name brands and a significant number of
up-and-coming labels to an area where there is little competition.
If your holiday budget can expand to include pricey
designer jeans, trendy footwear and fabulous accessories, take your
credit cards for a stroll through the men's and women's apparel
departments on Collins Avenue. Seasonal sales attract an army of
dedicated followers of fashion from all over South Florida who regard
Barneys sales notices as urgent calls to action! Dubbed "the wayward
offspring of Barneys New York," the COOP is a great place to survey up
and coming trends before the mainstream market fully embraces them.
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