The Super Weird, Wonderful World of Barneys New York’s Store Windows

If all goes according to plan, all seven outposts of Barneys New York will have shuttered by February (if not earlier). And while there’s barely even a sale at the moment, there’s already one tell tale sign that the department store isn’t what it used to be: The store windows are filled with identical, standard-issue store-closing signs, sans any of the signature cheekiness that stuck around even after the bankruptcy announcement, when they showcased slogans like “Barneys til I die” and “not closed.” Of course, that’s just one tiny example of how Barneys has long been a singular participant in the pageantry of themed store windows, whether holiday-centric—like a 1994 nativity scene made out of duct tape—or otherwise, like a 2005 setup starring Prince Harry sitting on a toilet and a shirtless Prince Charles taking a bath. Take a look back at some of their finest creations, dreamed up by its window dresser-in-chief, Simon Doonan, here.

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Barneys New York window display in Midtown Manhattan, August 2014. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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A view of “Lady Gaga’s boudoir” shopping window, as part of the Lady Gaga’s workshop, a holiday retail experience representing Lady Gagas reinterpretation of Santa’s workshop at Barneys New York in Midtown Manhattan, November 2011. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys New York window display 2014 as Part of the World Fashion Window Displays, December in Midtown Manhattan, 2014. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Overview of the window display during the Kate Moss launch of TopShop at Barneys New York on May 2007 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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The 2014 holiday shopping windows at Barneys New York in Midtown Manhattan, November 2014. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys window display 2015 as Part of the World Fashion Window Displays in Midtown Manhattan, February 2015. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Mannequins satirizing the British royals lie on display at a Barneys window in Midtown Manhattan, October 2005. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Cynthia Nixon, Miranda on “Sex and the City,” is at Barneys New York where the clothing store decorated its windows with mannequins based on characters from the TV series. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys New York store window with holiday style from the 60’s during November 2000 on Madison Avenue in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys New York Holiday Window Sidewalk Bash Celebrates “Peace & Love” during November 2008 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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General view of the store window decorated for the Diego Della Valle’s Brand Visionary Award celebrated by Barneys at Barneys New York on October 2010 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys New York 2009 Holiday Window Celebrating 35 Years of SNL at Barneys New York during November 2009 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Djamilla Rosa Cochran

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Barneys window display featuring TRH The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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A Barneys Christmas Window is seen as part of the World Fashion Window Displays during December 2015 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys New York decorates a store window with holiday style from the 80’s during November 2000 on Madison Avenue in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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A Barneys Christmas Window is seen as part of the World Fashion Window Displays during December 2015 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys Window Display in honor of Carine Roitfeld’s collaborative sweater design at Barneys during February 2006 in New York. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys New York decorates a store window with holiday style from the 70’s during November 2000 on Madison Avenue in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Actor Tom Cruise’s costume from the film The Last Samurai is shown during October 2003 in the store front window of Barneys New York in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys Christmas Window is seen as part of the World Fashion Window Displays during December 2015 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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Barneys in New York City Windows Display 2015 as Part of the World Fashion Window Displays during July 2015 in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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A look at Barneys New York presents Haas For the Holidays in collaboration with artists Simon and Nikolai Haas of The Haas Brothers. Photo courtesy of Barneys New York.

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