Daily Front Row

July 29, 2010

Iggy Pop at Barneys Coop

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Iggy Pop, Simon Doonan
JIMI CELESTE/patrickmcmullan.com View Gallery

(NEW YORK) The tables were spinning Wednesday night, as guests gathered to celebrate the launch of Archive 1887 Iggy Pop, a new collection of t-shirts emblazoned with archival photos of the punk icon on onstage. Guests crowded Barneys Coop downtown, drinks in hand, waiting patiently to get their merch signed by the guest of honor. Barneys Creative Director Simon Doonan said his signing was especially momentous. “I’m a huge Iggy fan,” he gushed. “'China Girl' will always be my go-to classic. He’s a genius. I mean, think about it: He was around before the punk revolution even started! He's really the beginning, the father.” (If he were a pop star, Doonan added, his stage name would be “$imon, with a money sign like Ke$ha.”)

At the front of the line, Iggy Pop lounged regally in a white blazer—legs crossed, sans shirt—scanning the assembled throng. “If I were a buyer at Barneys, I would fill the store with Quiksilver and Billabong," he said. "Chill brands like that. I’m very into cool clothing. Wearing it, I mean.” And when he’s not wearing it? “I live in my bathrobes. There’s nothing better. But my favorite thing in my wardrobe are my Gucci sandals. All I need are my sandals and a bathrobe. I also love my Versace pillow.”

He pointed to one of the t-shirts. “See that picture of me? That’s when I was an 8 out of 10 on the crazy scale. Man, I was crazy! I’m different now.” Leaning in low, he winked, and whispered, “but you can still call me crazy.”
REBECCA NATHAN