From the opulence of the late 1980s to the present day, Bartsch possesses an innate ability to capture the spirit of the moment. Her legendary parties and diverse events continue to serve as the stage for an extraordinary convergence of people from around the world. From visionary artists to sex workers, fashion designers, cabaret stars, queer performers, Harlem ball dancers, go-go girls and boys, drag queens, burlesque amateurs, bodybuilders, twinks, and lipstick lesbians—to name just a few—all are welcome in Bartschland. In this book, alongside a long list of friends—from RuPaul to Aquaria to Amanda Lepore to Joey Arias—Bartsch illuminates the countless moments that have shaped her indelible legacy as New York City’s “patron saint of transformation and inclusion.”

Susanne Bartsch stands peerless in her reign over New York City nightlife.

Available from Abrams Books

Susanne Bartsch emerged from Switzerland to captivate London’s avant-garde scene, before becoming the queen of New York City nightlife for over 30 years, from the early 1980s to today, and counting. The self-proclaimed “patron saint of transformation and inclusion” moved to New York and opened an eponymous SoHo store curated with avant-garde British fashion. Her iconic NYC boutique, the first to feature designers like Vivienne Westwood, ignited a transformative fashion-cultural movement. Soon, she became known throughout the city not just for her eclectic, trend-setting style, but for the extravagant weekly parties she threw. Among the beautiful, strange, outlandish, and iconic artists and personalities who attended her world-renowned soirees, Bartsch discovered names like RuPaul, Amanda Lepore, and Aquaria.

Devastated by AIDS in the early ’90s, she conceived the Love Ball, raising millions for those affected and inspiring Madonna’s song “Vogue.” Hailed as the “nightlife equivalent of a couture label” by the New York Times, Bartsch’s legendary parties persist in the cultural zeitgeist. Dismantling traditional norms that fostered inclusivity in a vibrant subculture, these events have maintained their influence and significance four decades later.

The Bartschland brand continues to shine through a popular Netflix documentary Susanne Bartsch: On Top, a recent Fashion Institute of Technology exhibition on the most notable looks of her three-decade career, a new weekly cabaret extravaganza, and a multitude of incredible events and happenings that continue to be hosted by Bartsch in New York City and around the globe. She has firmly cemented her impact and enduring legacy in fashion and popular culture, and now dishes it all out in her new memoir.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.