Simon Doonan's Eccentric Glamour at The Corcoran

The Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, DC, featured Simon Doonan, creative director for Barney's in New York, in a presentation of his recently published book, Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You. Mr. Doonan, a diminutive, middle-aged Englishman, was casually dressed for this event, not eccentrically nor glamorously.

His witty talk began with descriptions of celebrities and their obsession with perfection. He related poor choices made by famous people as sexually provocative, "porno-chic" outfits comparable to that worn in the 80's (fake hair, fake bosoms, fake lips) in an attempt at non-verbal communication. This effort was made to prevent unfavorable news reports, but actually resulted in a form of conformity that has gripped whole segments of society.

Doonan's book profiles four famous women. He suggests clothing be a personal expression of each person's innate eccentric glamour, without regard to self-consciousness.

Doonan regards this generation as self-critical and over-achieving. He admonishes them to get a job, even if it's not what they ultimately desire to be doing professionally. At Barney's, Simon Doonan began as a window dresser, but many times he was coerced into doing other jobs. He worked in Los Angeles, improving his varied skills organizing fashion events. Doonan dressed as celebrities for special occasions. Once he donned a costume as Queen Elizabeth so convincingly that he was not recognized by close associates.

In Washington, DC, professionals must maintain their credibility, so they cannot be too self-indulgent.

"This 50's conformity has to change", he said. Doonan agreed with a questioner who suggested that middle-aged ready to wear is scarce, since so much emphasis is on youth. He wondered about the mental state of today's designers. Doonan concluded that many fashions are available for customers though, and everything is "in" now.

Doonan quipped that "dressing down at work is a crime against humanity." He related how his apartment is abnormally decorated with over-the-top glamour.

"It is a happy example of anti-depressive living, like Zoloft," he joked. Caricatures of celebrities make his home comfortable. Simon Doonan may not convince all readers of his book to "lighten up" their ensemble choices, but he surely will entertain them.