After the shows Friday, I (and about half the city, it seemed) hit the streets for Fashion's Night Out, an event put on by the CFDA, the City of New York and just about every department store and boutique in town. From 6-10 p.m., stores held special sales and events, many with celebrity guests, to celebrate fashion week.
My FNO odyssey began in SoHo, where I marveled at the sheer number of people willing to stand in line to get into stores. Just about every place, from Victoria's Secret to Ralph Lauren, had something going on. On the street, a double decker party bus with a woman who looked very much like Downtown Julie Brown, circled the block. And a truck fashioned to look like giant doll boxes contained several male models dressed to look like Ken dolls.
In Midtown, crowds gathered around the Herald Square Macy's to watch a sing-and-striptease number being performed in the store's windows, while at nearby Manhattan Mall, Samantha Ronson DJed a party for her sister Charlotte's JCPenny line, I ♥ Ronson.
Uptown, Barney's was packed with shoppers and gawkers looking to get tote bags designed and signed by teen fashion blogger, Tavi Gevinson. On another floor, Barney's creative director Simon Doonan signed books and then helped the Olsen Twins judge a karaoke contest.
On another floor, girls in sky-high heels and mini skirts tried not to fall as they scurried around playing musical chairs.
Down the street, Bergdorf Goodman was such a mob scene, we literally could not get inside. That's probably because celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham and designer Tom Ford were inside, actually mingling with the masses. Outside we spotted socialite and star of "High Society," Tinsley Mortimer, fleeing the scene. I honestly couldn't blame her!
We made our way down the street, passing Tommy Hilfiger as he scooted into his store, and went into Henri Bendel. I could've spent all night browsing the clutches and makeup in Bendel's gorgeous multi-level store, but with the FNO crowds, it was just impossible to truly shop.
Chaotic as it was, FNO certainly had a fun, party atmosphere. And it was really cool to know that the party was happening all over Manhattan, as well as the outer boroughs--on that night, it seemed everyone had the same fashion fever that runs rampant inside the tents.
