Barneys and Julie Gilhart Part Ways

Woah! In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, women's fashion director at venerable retail giant Barneys is jumping ship! Just three months after Mark Lee took over as CEO, Julie Gilhart is parting ways with the company (along with Judy Collinson, who served as EVP of womenswear and Barneys.com) where she built her career. Other than Simon Doonan creative director of the company, Gilhart is the most visible corporate name at the shop. She is known by many as an incredibly savvy and talented industry force. To hear that she is leaving is a shock to say the least, and hints to behind-the-scenes problems that must have taken place during the change of ownership. Gilhart, who said that she is leaving to "pursue other opportunities", is known for fashionable power-moves like placing Alber Elbaz at Lanvin and picking up Proenza Schouler's first collection -- as in the fledgingly designer's senior thesis at Parsons. Examples like these are many and just go to show that she has a killer sense of intuition and would be an asset wherever she lands and will probably be snatched up quickly. We have a feeling this is just the first chapter in what will be an interesting episode.