Once upon a time, many, many, many years ago—back when I subscribed to Interview Magazine and wow that was back when Andy Warhol was the editor and I thought I was going to move to New York and marry my first love and work in an art gallery and I hadn’t even started therapy or moved from highlights into all over hair colour and didn’t use eye cream or sunblock—I fell in love with someone and I didn’t even know his name.
It was his work that got me. I saw his paintings with humorous prose and witty one-liners written to describe the doings of distinctively painted models with elongated forms and minimalist faces. I had never before seen anything like it when flipping through my five pounds of Vogue ads. The perfume scented ads usually featured beautiful airbrushed and anorexic models in preposterous poses and ludicrous locations.
The very first one I saw I immediately tore from the magazine and tacked onto my bedroom wall with a push pin that had once held up a Parker Stevenson poster. At the time I had no idea who did these unusual ads but I didn’t care and as I didn’t have the internet to Google to find out who was responsible for this wonderful work I enjoyed the authorless illustrations. Yes, I did have an Apple IIe computer a dot matrix printer and a slot for 5 1/2 inch floppy disks—but I did not have the fancy internet that everyone was talking about. It would be years before I dared to subscribe to AOL and hear those three magic words,”You’ve got mail.”
I started to collect these ads for their wicked wit and enormous whimsy—each one had a punch line as powerful as the picture. I imagined that one day I would have a penthouse on Park Avenue and some overpriced decorator would indulge my desire to have a wall filled with Barneys New York ads matted with linen from Milan and gold frames made for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The art found in $5 magazines with thousand dollar frames would hang on the hallway that led to my enormous walk in closet. This, please remember, was the era of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and thanks to Robin Leach I knew a little about Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.
After a few moves into a series of non-Park Avenue and non-penthousey apartments I somehow lost the folder full of ads. I was sadder than if I had lost the Robert Doisneau framed prints of puckering paramours in Paris that I had bought at Z Gallery. I was so desperate to replace my beloved ads that I called Barneys New York and asked them if they could tell me who did the illustrations and whether or not there was a book of all these ads or a way for me to get copies of them. A cliche’ of a New York sales associate took my message with as much disdain as she could muster. Barneys did not call me back. I called again and left another message and suffered yet another sales associate and yet again there was no call. Exacerbated, I wrote to Barney’s and I waited for them to write me back and they never did.
When I first saw Badaude’s and Editorialist’s Up and Down Town blogs which both feature beautiful illustrations paired with witty text I immediately thought of my love affair with Barneys New York ads and the nameless illustrator who made them. But, it was yesterday when I was reading one of my favorite blogs The Storialist, who uses the Sartorialist’s images as a source of inspiration for her poetry, and I left a comment in which I told her that her words gave me a whole new appreciation for the Sartorialist’s fashion photographs.
It was that very comment to the Storialist that got me to Googling for the Barneys New York ads that I have long loved. In just moments I found the ads and the name of their creator, Jean-Phillipe Delhomme. It was not a big surprise to learn that Delhomme was French and born in Paris. Mais, bien sûr!
Thanks to Google I discovered Jean-Phillipe Delhomme’s gorgeous web page that has illustrations from many of his projects including Barneys New York, The Mark Hopkins, Le Bon Marche—as well as a video cartoon created by Delhomme. He now illustrates for French Architectural Digest and GQ’s “Style Guy” column.
His paintings and illustrations are sold in New York at the James Danziger Gallery and at Colette in Paris. Phillipe’s work is also available from FIG: Fashion Illustration Gallery in London. I want one of his paintings. I want one bad. Jean-Phillipe, m’entendez-vous ? 
I might have to buy two copies of each of Delhomme’s books;
I will get one for the coffee table and one to take the pictures from his book, frame with pine frames bought at Ikea and hang them on my one- bedroom condo’s white and empty walls. But, I will not get two copies of Delhomme’s novel, “Memoirs of a Pit Bull” even though one reviewer said of the book: “un roman drôle, qui laisse réfélchir sur la vie dans les banlieux, ainsi que tous ces “faux méchants.” Ecrit avec beaucoup d’humour.” I do enjoy un roman drôle.
Oh, and there is also a Delhomme candle available at Collette and developed by Les Nez de Givaudan so my home can smell chic, witty, whimsical and French.
I am not sure if any of Delhomme’s books contain the ads from the Barneys New York ad campaign—but I really hope so. As much as I love Jean-Phillipes’ images on their own, the ones I really love are the images with the text. And, it turns out that it was Glenn O’Brien, then one of the creative directors at Barney’s New York and now the author of GQ’s “Style Guy” column, and not Delhomme, that was responsible for the witty words on the illustrations. According to Delhomme’s website, O’Brien’s humorous words were intended to describe the goings on of Barneys’ self-conscious customer. Oh, and the title from todays post comes from one of my favorite Barneys ads, “She had multiple identities and each one of them had a credit card.” I think I like it so much as one of my identities has an American Express Centurion Card and the other one is more of a Costco card kind of gal.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut-8NHdWLSg]
I just need to know that there’s no rouge à lèvres on Delhomme’s pitbull before I read it. Looking forward to your review!
Karen
The internet is a wonderful thing when it reunites long lost loves.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to run a gallery and feature all your favourite artists?
Now, wait…I haven’t moved from highlights to all over hair coloring…What are you saying? LOL!
Very clever stuff! Too bad actually shopping at Barney’s isn’t as much fun. (The sales associates tend to take themselves WAY too seriously.)
Karen: I think I am going to need you to read it for me and tell me what you think. Unhappily, his novel is not available in English. And, my French is just about as good as Caribou Barbie’s understanding of constitutional law.;-)
Indigo:I am thrilled that the Internet reunited me with my lost love. And, I would LOVE to have a gallery filled with my favorite work. I also wish there was more unexpected art in ads, commercials and other expected places.
Tatting Chic: Lo the many years ago there was a time when highlights were enough. That time is as far gone as my dot matrix printer.
This is a great post — I love the way you build context– that whole 80s-90s scene– before telling us about Delhomme. And I’ve learned about a new writer-illustrator, put a few new books on my Want list, and added a few blogs to my must-check-out roll. I always have an eye out for light-ish, entertaining French novels or memoirs — I like to keep my reading French in shape, but I don’t want to work it out tooooo hard — and Delhomme’s Pitbull book looks perfect.
Great writing happening in Valencia!
Deja: Both Delhomme and I thank you!;-) It would be lovely if Barneys NYC sales staff had the same warmth, wit and spirit of self-deprecation that these ads have. Alas, they do not.
Nice piece: mystery solved.
Mater:I can remember sitting on my Laura Ahley print bed and reading through Interview magazine like a bible that offfered clues on how to get me the NYC life I dreamed of—and then I found Delhomme and his work that delighted and inspired. In looking at Delhomme’s works and rereading O’Brien’s words (almost 20 years later)I do hope that one day my writing will have the kind of colour and humour.
I am so delighted you got so much out of this post. I know you will love the blogs I mentioned. The Storialist is a fantastic poet. If I had any PR power I would work to make her blog as well known as the blog that inspires her. If you read the Memoirs of a Pitbull I hope you do a review. I would love to know what you think.
Merci!:-D
Tessa: Thank you!:-)
ahhhh. Barney’s. Although I confess I’ve always been more of a Bloomingdale’s gal … especially when I was taking my petite bites of the big apple.
Delhomme looks intriguing. going to check him out. BTW, for once I am getting in before there are something like 60 or 80 intimidating comments within which to feel lost in the shuffle.
Pretty soon Dooce will have nothing on you.
NJNRR: Lately Bloomingdales has lost its sparkle for me—it is feeling more like Macy’s. Barneys always makes me feel sorely inadequate. The ads don’t do that.
J’adore Delhomme! I so wish I could pop over to Colette in Paris and see the work they sell. Will you go for me?
And, hey, you are NEVER lost in the crowd. I am always delighted to see you and your comments. I love your optimistic prediction.
Wow, must have been quite an image to displace your beloved Hardy Boy.
I’ve never seen an issue of Interview, being a midwestern farm boy (okay, the farm part is a lie) but I definitely dig these works.
I still don’t know how you manage to work up such groovy posts on such a seemingly ephemeral thing. Just goes to show how much impact anything can have upon ourselves.
As for predictions, I say 100. You’re becoming famous.
Randal:Parker started to seem a little passé. Once he left the Hardy Boys his star began to fade for me. Sorry, Parker.
I am pretty sure that “Interview” would have mailed their magazine to the Midwest.
Love that it seems groovy to you. Merci! And, Mr. Randal, you are the King of spinning the straw of sports, politics, and famous birthdays into blogging gold. Ooh, perhaps I shouldn’t have said that out loud as Rumpelstiltskin might find his way to your blog.;-)
I am amazed how these ads have stuck with me all through the years and how on seeing them again that the love has not faded.
100 whats?
la belette, lovely!
i once was sitting on a park bench with a friend who needed to talk and cry. and she told me all about what was and has made her sad as well as all her regrets and what she has been missing.
i explained that what she has been missing she will get it back… and even better. she looked at me through the tears in her eyes and confused. i explained to her that the things that we really love, and are good for us come back…
your words and reunion with such beautiful illustrations reminds me of this.
enjoy!
I remember these wonderfully witty illustrations. I do love when shops choose drawings over the real item, sometimes. For me the J Peterman watercolors had much more magic than the garments themselves . . .
Yeah!!!! Worray for internet and misteries solved!!!!
That was a great find, ma belle.
And I can see that made you happy.
Enjoy your discovery, my dear!!!!
xoxo
Yeah love his work too!
Gee I didn’t know he’d written about S.P. before she hit the campaign trails…interesting
Say how did you get this cute comment box here?
WOW
L’air du temps:
I am trying to tell myself that maybe out of all the ashes I will have my own redemption song. Finding Delhomme after all these years does feel like it may be true.:-)
So glad you liked.
And, I like your story of redemption. Merci for sharing your petite histoire avec moi.
Miss Cavendish: I think that illustrations create a sense of fantasy and fun that highly edited images of models just cannot. In my mind, there is just not enough humour in fashion.
Seeker:The internet is endlessly amazing. How did we ever live without it?
Merci!
And, I hope you are back on your feet very soon!:-)
xoxo
CarolG:I thought you might know his work. You are clever like that.;-)
Love that title. I wish my French was good enough to read his novel.
I have answered your question about the cute comment box in an email.
He is divine. I had no idea who this artist was, but I’ve seen and admired his work for years. Off the top of my head, I believe there are several of his paintings featured in Veronique Vienne’s book, “French Style,” the one sold at Express stores back in the mid-’90s. Fun post!
xoxo –
Marsi
Marsi: So happy to see you! When you are not here I miss you!:-) I will ad “French Style” to my find on Ebay list. Merci!!
xoxo
La BR: Miss J almost fell off her fake Aeron chair with this sentence: "I immediately tore from the magazine and tacked onto my bedroom wall with a push pin that had once held up a Parker Stevenson poster"…
Parker Stevenson! Brilliant. LBR needs to gather her essays into book form & seek a publisher.
i think i’ve seen those illustrations before, too. from my mom’s magazines. o_O
but anyway, those are good stuff you wrote and pics you pics here.
and lol @ your first paragraph. very witty. =]
great lead on the delhomme page, THANKS! minimalist and dynamic- good combo.
]
[why couldn't blogspot have a template available like his?
Wonderful pictures! I’m so glad you found out who the artist was. It is an amazing thing when that happens. As always, beautifully written!
Great post and very nice illustrations ! Bravo !
i like those illustrations.
Ah what fabulous insight and information. I soooo hope your barney’s ads are in there and how mean were they to not respond to your letter – yuk!
Am pressed for time so sorry not commented on other posts x
I’ve always loved his stuff! Thanks for ID-ing the artist. I’m going to go order his new book now.
Hurrah for the power of the Interwebs! So glad you’ve been reunited with this long-lost artistic love.
Miss Janey: You are too kind to this weasel. The meeting of the mutual admiration society meets this weekend.;-)
I am gathering essays together and desperately seeking a publisher.xo
Autumn: Delhomme has been in a lot of magazines but is not a house hold name. I will do what I can to change that!!
Thank you! I was a baby back then. So young and hopeful and naive about the importance of a good sunblock.;-)
SUR: Blogger could really use some innovative templates. Please, Google!! I am starting to really shop for someone to redo my blog and turn it into a web page. I wish Delhomme was available.;-)
Kristen:Delhomme is a brilliant illustrator. Can you imagine what kind of weasel he might draw? Le sigh!!!
And, merci for your kind compliment!:-)
Crescendo:Merci por vous gentile mots!! Merci! Please visit again.:-)
Savvy: They are savvy illustrations, aren’t they?
Make do: Not to fret, pet!;-) You are a busy grad student—I am just thrilled you have time to visit and leave a single comment.
Glad you liked!:-) xo
I heart: I knew you’d like. I can see his work in your lovely home. I just love the minimalism of his work and how it is paired with colour and wit. Love!!
Sal:I wonder how many reunions the interwebs are responsible for. I never imagined it would happen to me.;-)
such a great story, loving your writing.
Belette: Une histoire fantastique! I love it when this kind of kismet occurs. I had a similar experience with my beloved Bluebelle (Penhaligons) perfume, which I couldn’t find for so many years after the only store in Canada that sold it, closed. I happened to read that it was Kate Moss’ fave scent (I love it notwithstanding) and a web address was provided and voila (after numerous challenges involving sending it to my parents in the States) I have another bottle of it. And it smells every bit as good as it did when I was a teenager. The dream lives on!
Geri: I am tickled that you like it!:-) Please come again!!
K.line: You have made me dream of a computer that has the capacity to send scent, food, and boxes filled of things that I ordered to come immediately through some kind of shoot thingy. Hey, don’t laugh, in ten years we will all have them. I mean, after the magic of TiVo I am a believer in technology providing magical things.
I say all that to say that I wish I could smell your scent of synchronicity. I love that you found it!:-)
Parker Stevenson AND the old Interview? This really brings me back!
WendyB: These pictures took me time traveling.:-)
That is a lovely story LBR – and the illustrations are gorgeous. I will have to check out his web page. And the title quote is brilliant! I was laughing before I even started reading. Don’t know Barneys but it sounds very snobbish. If I ever get to visit America I will boycott it on principle.
CA: Always delighted to hear that you enjoyed. I love so many of the Glen O’Brien quotes in the Barneys ads.
I think Barneys is the most posh and attitude filled department store in the U.S. Best to avoid unless you are a celebrity. I wonder if they are even nice to them. I am not sure.
what a wonderful story – it’s a wonderful thing to be reunited with a young art love.
Don’t you love it when you find something unexpectedly that you have been looking for?
I have been trying to search for a child prodigy pianist that I was in awe of when I was little. I wanted to be her. Her name was Jenny Tu. She was so talented. I have searched high and low on the net, and can’t find anything. Does anyone remember her?
Fashion Herald: Now that I have found him I want one of his paintings. I am afraid to find out how much they cost.
Julianne:What amazes me is that I loved his work even before I knew he was French.
I hope you find your Jennifer Tu. I did a little googling too and I couldn’t find anything. I tried.:-)
I love all the alliteration in this post.
And the artist.
Enc: I love an alliteration the way you love a jumpsuit.;-)
I agree, bloomie’s is a mere shadow of its former self. I only ever visited the original in Manhattan … but now you are right … they have pimped themselves out to the mass market. sigh.
…I always love, love LOVE the illustrations… Barney’s too! New York, La, S.F, Tokyo all of the above…hehe*
I do love editor’s up and down town. She is super talented, isn’t she?
Magnificent art! I know if I showed Delhomme’s work to teenagers of today I’d be an instant hit! Such an ispiration, I’ll tell ya.
NJNRR: Macy’s and Bloomys both used to be nice stores. Now, they are just a bunch of blech. Nothing like the lovey department stores in France. Le sigh!
Lenore: I love your illustration that is your trademark. Did you draw it?
Songy: She is indeed.
Lynn:It is really fun work and it is uplifting, energetic and, well, fun. I am so happy I found him. And, I am glad you like it.:-)
i don’t know which to thank you more for, the generous mention, or showing those wonderful illustrations. i loved the barneys ads too (had totally forgotten them), and then the animated ones, that’s just heaven. my blog is animated in my head.
Editor:You don’t have to decide. You are welcome for both. In my mind you and your blog are very animated.:-)
I was 22 when I counted 22 ‘light black’ hairs in a small section of the fringe (translation: bangs) of my jet black hair, and decided that all over colour was the only way to go for me.
I love this work – never seen it before, not living in the US – but will seek his work out – I especially love the witty quips accompanying the Barney’s ads – this is exactly the sort of thing I like.
Merci beaucoup for your introduction La Belette. I too have not the French to read the bio – as all my French is useful for is ordering food and asking what your name is. I also know the sentence for “There is no plug in my basin” which one day I hope will come in handy on my travels.
I once spent an interesting night in a bar in Lille (France) being chatted up by a Algerian man who I’m sure worked on the “marche noir” though what he actually did I’m unsure of, as my French is smattering and his English was worse, and I spent my time drinking cocktails with bizarre names such as “halloween” (I remember because I did ask “Qu’est que c’est le Halloween?” and being given a cocktail by a friendly bar man.)
Thanks Ms. LBR for your comments. I know, I still owe you something. Wasn’t able to visit/talk to my mom again. Anyway, take care always. Thanks for always being nice. =]
Imogen: By the time I was 22 I had reached that point too—only I had much more grey than you.
I love art with text—and text with art.Maybe it brings back feelings of the lovely books we all read as children.
“There is no plug in my basin” is much more helpful than my often used phrase(an Eddie Izzard quoutes) “Le Sange est sur la Branche”
(the monkey is in the tree. Well, I suppose we could go to the zoo in Paris and I might be able to say this.;-)
J’adore your Halloween cocktail story. Hey, was the cocktail orange and did it lead to scary events?;-)
Autumn:No worry; no hurry. My pleasure and thank you!:-)
I have to admit I don’t remember the colour of the halloween cockail, but I’d guess it was orange – much liquor was consumed that night.
Nothing scary happened, I had a good night and a good laugh.
Interestingly when I was trying out my “There is no plug in my basin” line on a Canadian (french speaking) friend of mine, after the consumption of said ‘halloween’ cocktails – she said “you have no pig in your basin?” , just a mispronounciation of one word, and the whole meaning changes.
Oh, I adored the Barney’s ads, and now have to look for the book. Sorry I haven’t been able to catch up with you. It seems that I am always running behind
Imogen: ROFLOL @”No pig in the basin”!!!!
Mardel: They are gorgeous aren’t they?
No worries. But, always good to see you.:-)
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