A New York Minute: Because Nothing Says ‘Holiday Spirit’ Like Velvet, Glitter, and a Taxi Cab Ornament

This tree was my love letter to New York City—if that love letter came in black velvet and gold glitter and was slightly loud and unapologetically fabulous. “A New York Minute” was all about NYC glamour, featuring handmade street signs in gold lettering

(Broadway, Madison Ave, 5th Ave—you know, the usual haunts), black velvet ribbon, and gold baubles that caught the light like they had something to prove. And I was proud. So soooo proud. There were hand-painted gold taxi ornaments weaving through the branches and glittery top hats perched like they had front-row seats to Wicked. (Still haven't seen it- not the play or the flick) It was drama in tree form. It was perfect.

This tree was created for a fundraising gala, and the winner didn’t just walk away with the tree—they scored a $500 gift card to Barneys New York. Yes, that year: when Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin took over the Barneys holiday campaign with the ultra-extra “Baz Dazzled” initiative. The windows? Wild. The launch party? At the Central Park Zoo, because of course. The gift bags? Stunning—and yes, I used them under the tree like a mini Madison Avenue moment. It was luxe, it was loud, and it raised money for a good cause. What more could you want? (Besides someone to carry all that glitter.)

Also...RIP Barneys