Tips from Bergdorf Goodman’s ‘Outrageous’ New Café

New Orleans-based artist Ashley Longshore is known for her bold, colorful, and pop-culture influenced works of art that have not only transformed the windows of Bergdorf Goodman but have now inspired the design of the department store’s newest art-inspired café, aptly named Palette. Longshore worked together with Bergdorf’s fashion director, Linda Fargo, on the design of the café, which is an exercise in trippy maximalism. According to Fargo, the decision to collaborate with Longshore was based on a combination of her personality and artwork.

Palette cafe at Bergdorf Goodman. Photo: Courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

“People couldn’t get enough of her no-holds-barred, beautifully outrageous work,” Fargo told Business of Home in a recent interview. “I think what’s so appealing about Ashley’s voice and imagery is that it’s outspoken, humorous and glamorous all at the same time.”

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Featuring jeweled wallpaper, embellished candy-colored chairs, butterflies suspended from the ceiling, and Longshore’s works on the walls, it’s a space—as a quick glance at Instagram will reveal—that has beckoned selfie-takers in droves. Taking cues from its design, here are some artful tips to making your cafe more Instagrammable.

Longshore’s artwork lines the walls of Palette with famous figures from Frida Kahlo to Audrey Hepburn. Photo: Courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

1. Deck the walls with painted pictures of pop icons

One of the more eye-catching features of Longshore’s design is the series of painted portraits she did of actress and style icon Audrey Hepburn based on the famed image by Cecil Beaton. The elegant portrait of Hepburn is given a twist by Longshore with the addition of flowers and peacocks. She has also lent her touch to other fashion icons including Kate Moss and Coco Chanel.

Ashley Longshore, “Bottle Fed With Navy Glitter Background”. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

2. We are living in a material world so why not make fun of it?

Longshore’s work also gives a playful nod to conspicuous consumption. Her paintings feature bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne and Hermes Birkin bags along with playful witticisms like “Bottle Fed” and “#Sorry I Am Not Sorry.”

A booth in the cafe that features jeweled wallpaper and artwork by Ashley Longshore. Photo: Courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

3. Use punchy, over-the-top wallpaper to inject classic design with contemporary flair 

Designer wallpaper has seen a major resurgence in the past few years with companies like Schumacher and Cole & Son being featured in spreads from Vogue to Architectural Digest. While in the past, patterned wallpaper may have been considered old and dated, it’s now fresh and modern, when done right. Palette’s wallpaper design by Brooklyn’s Flavor Paper includes images of jewels and baubles, which gives the space a little extra glamour.

Plates, trays, and merchandise designed by Ashley Longshore. Photo: Courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

4. Plates, chairs, placemats: nothing is off limits

Every piece of decor in the cafe has a touch of Longshore’s creativity including plates and placemats with patterned works and quotes as well as the chairs, which are colorfully embellished. Along with these designs in the cafe, Bergdorf’s is also selling homeware based on items featured in the cafe.

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