"I m going to Miami tomorrow!" said Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe (and his eponymous J.W.Anderson line)—he’s on a not-quite-world-tour with New York and Barneys as his first stop. Loewe, formerly the “Official Supplier to the Spanish Royal Crown," has changed somewhat since it’s founding in 1846, and Anderson is spearheading this transition into the new wave of chic separates and must-have accessories. And perhaps most importantly for us, he’s bringing Loewe solidly into America. "I ve always wanted to partner with Barneys," he said leaning in conspiratorially—and with a guilty grin. "I buy a lot of stuff here." The store has dedicated quite a large corner to Loewe and stacked it with buttery leather coats, pared-down knits, and oh-so-many Puzzle bags; it was tempting for just about everyone there to “buy a lot of stuff” as well. Simon Doonan walked amongst the sea of beautiful menswear folk and dedicated J.W. fans and raved, "I ve been following what he s been doing at Loewe. It s so creative and exciting." He also hit on what every partygoer at Barneys is thinking: “I just adore him. He’s very charming.”
Dinner followed at nearby Betony, where the Traina sisters and two models showed off Loewe s minimalist androgynous silhouettes, while the chairman and CEO of the brand s parent group (LVMH Fashion Group, of course) Pierre-Yves Roussel and girlfriend Tory Burch found their seats among the J.W. loyalists. The atmosphere was intimate and it s no wonder the cozy private room was packed with editors and It girl friends: "He s totally revitalized the brand," said Burch. Welcome to New York, Loewe!