THEY ALL CAME TO BARNEYS
By Gene Pressman
Publisher: Viking
How three generations of the Pressman family developed the business of the luxury department store Barneys.
Review by By The Books Reviewer
Gene Pressman's memoir, "They All Came to Barneys," is a self-indulgent and often grating account of the rise and fall of his family's retail empire. While the book offers some intriguing glimpses into the New York fashion scene, it is marred by Pressman's relentless self-aggrandizement and dismissive tone.
Pressman traces the history of Barneys from its humble beginnings in 1923, when his grandfather pawned his wife's engagement ring to open a menswear store, to its transformation into a high-end fashion destination under his father's leadership in the late 1960s. The narrative then shifts to Pressman's own tenure, during which he and his brother expanded the store's offerings and opened new locations both domestically and internationally. However, the brothers' overambitious expansion plans and internal conflicts ultimately led to the company's bankruptcy in 1996.
While the book provides some vivid anecdotes about the fashion industry and the personalities that shaped it, these moments are overshadowed by Pressman's defensive and often condescending tone. He dismisses criticisms of the store's elitism by stating, "We weren't elitist. We were elite. That's a big difference." Such remarks reveal a lack of self-awareness and alienate the reader.
Furthermore, Pressman's attempts to set the record straight come across as self-serving, detracting from the potential for an engaging and insightful narrative. As noted in a review by Publishers Weekly, "Despite some vivid glimpses inside the New York City fashion world, the narrative loses its luster as the author's defensiveness takes over." ([publishersweekly.com](https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-593-65479-8?utm_source=openai))
In conclusion, while "They All Came to Barneys" offers some interesting insights into the fashion industry and the history of a once-iconic store, it is ultimately undermined by Pressman's self-congratulatory and dismissive tone. Readers seeking a more balanced and engaging account of Barneys' legacy may find this memoir lacking.
Recommendation: Not recommended.
written on: 9/11/2025