Fairy-Tale Collab: Barneys x Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, & The Gang

How can Barneys possibly out-Gaga its last year's collaboration with the Mother Monster? Creative director Dennis Freedman discussed the conundrum with WWD: "[Gaga’s Workshop] was a little bit of a hard act to follow, but one of the names that came up was Disney.” Well, of course — nothing is more iconic and recognizable than The Mouse, so NYC's hallowed institution is tapping Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and company for an "Electric Holiday" — literally.

The retailer released images of its interpretation of what happens when high fashion meets high fantasy, putting the gals in Lanvin and Dolce & Gabbana and a dangerously, weirdly suave-looking Goofy in Balmain (we've always imagined him to be more of a Comme Des Garçon, hobo-chic guy, to be honest). For collectors, the collaboration will also yield plastic toys in the shape of Mickey...decorated by Paul Smith and DVF. Lastly, to promote the project, Disney and Barneys are putting out a film inspired by Minnie's dream to go to the Paris shows (Minnie! She's just like us!). But what is particularly interesting is how Barneys really needed to give Disney a lesson in fashion.

For instance, this is not a normal Minnie Mouse. Freedman explains, “The standard Minnie Mouse will not look so good in a Lanvin dress. There was a real moment of silence, because these characters don’t change." Though Alber Elbaz may disagree with the judgment that his clothes aren't made for a mouse-shaped gal, Barneys wanted the attention to detail to be so perfect that it actually flew down a model to walk for animators. "When you see Goofy, Minnie and Mickey, they are runway models," Freedman says.

Aside from the mice and ducks, other familiar faces include Mickey in Balenciaga, Cruella by Rick Owens, Princess Tiana by Proenza Schouler, and Snow White by Nina Ricci. To that we say: Cruella in Rick Owens? Perfect. (WWD)