This year, September 8th, Fashion’s Night Out will be celebrated by over 1,000 stores in New York City alone, along with a crazy amount of stores in over 250 cities across the U.S., joining in with the 18 total countries celebrating around the world! Whoa. When you think about it, that’s actually pretty amazing and seems kind of exciting from an economic standpoint. As the actual night approaches, more and more fantastic sounding events keep popping up here in NYC and in cities across the U.S. Living in New York, I must admit, I’m a little overwhelmed…ok, I’m a lot overwhelmed, just by the sheer amount of choices right now. I have no idea what I’m doing that night, but so far, watching Best Coast at Helmet Lang, dancing to Alexa Chung DJ at Stella McCartney, or meeting style icon Vogue Japan editor Anna Dello Russo at Macy’s all sound pretty good to me. It’s safe to say basically every store in Manhattan and department stores around the world will be serving free drinks, but many places are going above and beyond that. I’ve created a list of the best and randomest events out there (look out for a former Backstreet Boy!) because really, it’s unfortunate, but I can only be in so many places at once that night so you must go, have as much fun possible, and fill me in on all the fabulous details!
The Awesome in NYC: (in no particular order)
Bloomingdales 1000 Third Avenue
(6:00-8:00pm): Meet Eddie Cibrian. Who? You know..he’s that hot guy in But I’m a Cheerleader who I guess is dating LeAnn Rimes? Oh yeah, and he’s also going to be in a show that Gloria Steinem wants us to protest,The Playboy Club).
(6:00-8:00pm): GQ Magazine’s Dockers Launch with Community’s Donald Glover and Alexander Wang.
(6:30pm-7:30pm): Meet Rachel Zoe. I warn you though..she’s like Bieber to Fashionistas, expect crowds!
(7:00-8:00pm): Meet model Erin Wasson and shop her new capsule collection, Erin Meets Zadig & Voltaire.
(7:00-7:30): Watch Beach Fossils! The performance will be on 60th Street.
(Unspecified time): There will be a cooking demo with Iron Chef Morimoto on the 6th Floor, a Spin Ping Pong Tournament of Designers vs. VIPs on Metro Level, HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” live windows on Third Avenue, a casino night area and tango lessons with models at the Lancome counter.
Saks Fifth Avenue 611 5th Avenue
(6:00-6:30pm): Meet Tilda Swinton on the 2nd Floor!
(6:00-8:00pm): Get your hair done with handbag designer, Rebecca Minkoff and blogger, The Man Repeller, on the 5th Floor.
(7:30-8:00pm): Meet Prabal Gurung.
(8:00-9:00pm): Meet Ne-Yo.
(9:00-10:00pm): Andrew W.K. performs and brings the rest of Santos Party House with him.
There will be also be a live DJ, mini-makeovers, and portrait sessions available.
Bergdorf Goodman 745 Fifth Avenue
(3:00-6:00pm): There will be complimentary beauty services to get ready for the night.
(5:30-6:30pm): Grab a copy of Oscar de la Renta’s “Face of Fashion” for him to sign. (6:45-7:00pm): Kick off the night with Linda Fargo and Michael Kors on the ground floor and get your tarot cards read on the 5th Floor.
(7:00): Performances by The Blue Vipers and (9:00pm) Audrianna Cole
(7:00-8:00pm): There will be a crazy cat/dog show on the 3rd Floor with pets from designer’s Badgley Mischka, Cushnie & Ochs, John Barrett, Joseph Altuzarra, Lela Rose, and Reem Acra with guest judges Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig of Marchesa.
(8:00pm): Meet Jason Wu.
(6:45-9:30pm): My favorite girl groups lady, Ms. Ronnie Spector will be performing sometime between this time..too bad it’s not more specific though!
(Unspecified time): Appearances by Narciso Rodriguez and Thakoon.
Macy’s Herald Square 151 West 34th Street
(5:30-6:30pm): Meet Tommy Hilfiger and Joss Stone on the 2nd Floor.
(5:00-6:00pm) Sandra Lee book signing on the 8th Floor.
(6:00-7:00pm): Party with Samantha Ronson.
(6:00-7:00pm): Meet Coco Rocha. She’s probably my favorite model so I might try and stop by here!
(6:30-7:30): Meet Bobbi Brown and ask her for makeup tips.
(7:00-8:00pm): Vogue Japan Editor Anna Dello Russo and model, Karolina Kurkova will be doing some “informal modeling
(7:00-8:00pm): Joss Stone and Kelly Rowland will perform
(Unspecified time): Appearances by Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Miss J from ANTM, and Rachel Roy. A shopper could even win a chance to play pool with Diddy.
Miu Miu 11 East 57th Street
Meet bloggers Tavi Gavinson of Style Rookie and Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes. Guests are encouraged to dress 1940’s inspired using Miu Miu F/W 2011 as inspiration. The most creative costume will win a special prize! Should I break out my original Jazz Age Lawn Party Look?
Stella McCartney 429 West 14th Street
(7:00-11:00pm): Celebrate with special guest DJs Alexa Chung, Elettra Weidemann, Dree Hemingway, Jen Brill, and Lily Cole. Specialty drinks also provided!
Manolo Blahnik 31 West 54th Street
Sarah Jessica Parker, Manolo Blahnik and milkshakes will be there…need I say more?!
Calvin Klein 654 Madison Avenue
A “We love Lara Stone” party will be thrown at the Madison Avenue flagship store with model, Lara Stone as the guest of honor along with Knicks star Amare Stoudemire.
Alexander Wang 103 Grand Street
Alexander Wang will host a talent show and will reward the “freakiest talents” with prizes like fall bags and T-products. Look out for some surprise judges!
Marc Jacobs 163 Mercer Street
There will be a carnival-themed celebration at the 403 Bleecker Street MJ store with free totes, but the real celebration will be at the Mercer location where Marc Jacobs himself along with Dakota Fanning will be there to promote their collaboration on his new fragrance, Oh, Lola!
Phillip Lim 115 Mercer Street
Phillip Lim will be there serving cocktails and the boutique itself will be transformed into a “Girls on Bikes” stop for stylish bike riders. Yay bikes!
Stuart Weitzman 625 Madison Avenue
Appearances by Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere with designer Stuart Weitzman to unveil their Young Hollywood Cares Shoe Collection to benefit ovarian cancer research. I still secretly/not so secretly want to meet someone from Buffy so this might be my chance!
Helmet Lang 93 Mercer Street
Watch Best Coast, drink some drinks, and chow on some fancy food from Luke’s Lobster Truck (not complimentary, but still delicious!).
Alice + Olivia 755 Madison Avenue and 80 West 40th Street
The store will be carnival themed with snow-cones, cotton candy, carnival games and raffles.
Armani 717 5th Avenue
Model Bar Refaeli will be taking “model-esque photos” with guests and there will be complimentary makeovers and cocktails.
Dolce & Gabbana 1825 Madison Avenue
Meet Naomi Campbell and celebrate her 25th year of being in the business. She’ll be there to sign limited edition t-shirts sold to support Fashion For Relief, a charity founded by Naomi.
Teen Vogue Block Party 4 Times Square
Complimentary smoothies, popsicles, and manicures will be available. At 6:00pm there will be a performance by Sky Ferreira. Vans will also be selling limited edition sneakers designed by Teen Vogue editors.
Magnolia Bakery: They’ll be serving a special FNO cupcake at all locations from 6:00-11:00pm.
Tiffany & Co. 5th Avenue and 57th Street
Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester will perform at 8:00pm.
Diane Von Furstenburg 874 Washington Street
There will be complimentary hor d’oeuvres and cocktails, an interactive flip book photo booth, a fragrance sampling station, and a performance by Estelle.
DKNY 655 Madison Avenue
Free complimentary haircuts and shaves for dudes in this store turned speak-easy barber shop, plus free beer, popcorn, and a chance to win tickets to the upcoming DKNY Resort 2012 show. Free dvd of the awesome Bill Cunningham New York documentary and limited edition tote with purchase of $250 or more.
Victoria’s Secret 591-593 Broadway
The store will be filled with models such as Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Erin Heatherton, and Lily Aldridge.
Artists & Fleas 70 North 7th Street Brooklyn, NY
This was the coolest sounding event in Brooklyn. They’re bring together over 50 vendors to showcase new items from their Fall/Winter collections.
(6:00-7:00pm): Fashion Blogger Preview & Styling Tips
(7:30-8:30pm): New Line, New Designs and Fashion Show DJ sets throughout.
Band of Outsiders/Rodarte/Opening Ceremony/The Ace Hotel 1190-1192 Broadway
Illustrator, Jessica Repetto, will be sketching live portraits onto Band of Outsiders tote bags. You can buy a limited edition Rodarte t-shirts and with purchase, you get a free Momofuku Milk Bar cookie!
The Random/Weirdly Awesome in NYC:
Kiehl’s 109 3rd Avenue
(6:30-11:00pm) The store is doing a Karoke Karnival with former Backstreet Boy AJ McLean as MC with the possibility of a live performance. Just by singing, you win lip balm and a slot in an hourly raffle. There will also be free hot dogs, cotton candy, and soft pretzels. Yay free food!
Lord & Taylor 424 5th Avenue
Dance to DJ Solange Knowles, meet Ivanka Trump, and party with models, designers, NYFD firefighters, and NY Jets Flight Crew cheerleaders while having your picture taken by Nigel Barker.
Sephora 5 Times Square 200 West 42nd Street
Get made up and hang with True Blood’s Kristen Bauer (PAM!!!). There will also be performances by Kat Von D and Linda Perry. Can I successfully avoid Kat Von D while stalking Kristen Bauer?
Coach 595 Madison Avenue
They had this whole thing about classic Coaches, (which I love by the way), bloggers taking pictures of themselves with the bags, and then oh yeah….mentioned that there will be a random appearance by Seth Meyers.
Giorgio Armani 760 Madison Avenue
A special evening conversation with Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett with Vogue theatre critic, Adam Green regarding thier new Broadway play, “The Mountaintop,” by Katori Hall. RSVP: 212-209-4102
The Awesome in Other Locations Around the U.S.:
Los Angeles, CA:
-Phillip Lim/Refinery 29 are teaming up for a party full of DJs, drinks, celebs, and a performance by The Cults at the 631 North Robertson Boulevard store in West Hollywood.
-Ride a ferris wheel and snack on treats from 15 awesome gourmet food trucks along Rodeo Drive!
-Attend a fashion show in Beverly Center hosted by Nicole Richie and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
–LL Cool J will host a style celebration at Westfield Topanga.
-Meet Tori Spelling at Westfield Topanga.
–Lauren Conrad is showing off her latest collection for Paper Crown at Nordstrom on The Grove.
-Meet Kimora Lee Simmons at Fred Segal in West Hollywood.
San Francisco, CA:
– Look out for a toaster-over cooking demo from Sonja Morgan of The Real Housewives of New York at Macy’s Union Square. Cirque du Soleil characters in full costume will running around and be sure and snag a styling session with blogger, Blair Eadie, of Atlantic Pacific. I’m weirdly disappointed this isn’t in New York actually. Who doesn’t have a love/hate relationship with crazy Sonja?
-The Marc Jacobs on 125 Maiden Lane shop will be giving away tote bags and fragrance samples all evening.
Miami, FL:
–Nektar De Stagni Shop and Danny Santiago present “Vintage MARKET”, a pop up bazaar with some of the best private Vintage (mostly designer) Collections in Miami curated by celebrity stylist Danny Santiago. The show will also feature jewelry designed by Nektar de Stagni.
-Celebrity stylist Danny Santiago will host ‘Decades of Passion for Fashion’ at Aventura Mall. The runway show and exhibit will feature styles from the past that influence today’s hottest fashions.
-Oscar de La Renta and Debra Scholl, along with Miami Modern Luxury and Canyon Ranch are providing their customers with an evening of Flamenco dancing! There will be flamenco lessons from professionals and lots of music. 10 % of the sales benefit the Locust Projects, an alternative nonprofit exhibition space.
Charleston, WV:
-Head over to Charleston Town Center for a live Style-Off hosted by Project Runway’s Nick Verreos.
Boston, MA:
-The Prudential Center will light up in pink in honor of Fashion Night Out.
-There will be a kickoff party at Quixote Studios with the Ames Hotel and Rue La La set up on different stages. The Ames Hotel will have a pop-up hotel bar and Rue La La will create a lounge set up with photo booth, models, cocktails, sushi, and a fashion show!
Dallas, TX:
–Erykah Badu will perform as DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown at Gregory’s.
-Forty Five Ten is hosting Hollywood-based Decades’ first Dallas pop-up shop with owners Cameron Silver and Christos Garkinos.
-Highland Park Village is hosting two fashion shows
-NorthPark Center Neiman Marcus hosting different events throughout their store including a runway show styled by Dallas bloggers, Scotch and hand-rolled cigars in The Man Store, a birthday party for Hanky Panky panties, hair feathering, a photo booth, and beauty demonstrations for the fall.
Chicago, IL:
–Brad Goreski, Rachel Zoe’s super adorable former assistant, will make an appearance at a party at the 900 North Michigan Shops. There will be a fashion show, a beauty bazaar, specialty cocktails, in-store promotions and giveaways. Brad is the best! No one wears a bow tie better.
–Brian Atwood will make an appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue at the 900 N. Michigan Shops.
–Teresa Giudicecq of The Real Housewives of New Jersey will be doing a cookbook signing from 6:00-8:00p.m. at the In Fashon Lounge at Water Tower Place’s 3rd level.
Kansas City, MO:
-Win a shopping spree, drink some cocktails, take a free carriage ride around the Country Club Plaza, or get a mini chair massage.
Boulder, CO:
-Downtown Boulder is putting on a fashion show with more than 40 models on the Pearl Street Mall (1300 block). Join Ms. Colorado USA for a preview of some of the newest fall fashion, accessories and looks by Downtown’s finest retailers, galleries, and salons.
Portland, OR:
-Fashion’s Night Out Headquarters will be at Director Park at South West Yamhill and Park See. There will be fashion shows in the park and you can enter a raffle for a Downtown Fashionista Package worth over $2000 or take a free pedicab ride to your favorite stores.
For more information or details about a specific event or to see what’s going on in your area, head over to FashionNightOut.com.
So..are you excited yet?? Now that you’ve read the options, which events are “musts” on your list?
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fRRUTHAVSI 425×344]
[Photo credit: Karlie Kloss/Arizona Muse Photos by Craig McDean]
[Credits: Fashionista, Refinery 29, Refinery 29, StyleCaster, PopSugar, About.com, Fashion Night Out]
