Oh, What a Night: FNO 2011

On September 8^th, my friends and I headed into the city for Fashion’s Night Out. Created by legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour back in 2009, Fashion’s Night Out was pursued to restore consumer confidence in the fashion industry amidst the economic recession and kick-off New York Fashion Week. For one evening, retailers extended their hours and lured customers inside with celebrity appearances and giveaways. Three years later, it has quickly evolved into an international phenomenon with events taking place as far away as Australia and China. However, as the fashion capital of the world and original site of FNO, there is no question that NYC hosts the largest bash of them all.

This year’s event was the biggest yet with retailers all over the city sponsoring events and giving out tons of free swag. While I worked my way up 5^th Avenue, other popular shopping districts near Columbus Circle (right by Fordham's LC campus!), SoHo, and Williamsburg, were swarmed by fashionistas. On 5^th Avenue, I was in sensory overload from the vibrant atmosphere. With colorful displays abounding storefronts, music blasting, and people dressed to the nines, I could hardly recognize this familiar street. Inside almost every store, DJs spun, live models showed off new styles, and employees doled out free refreshments. In the Tiffany & Co. store, there was even an airbrush tattoo station and an assortment of chocolate treats. Meanwhile, the highlight of my night was Guess, which featured free manicures, cupcakes, and a photo booth. Not to mention, I got to meet model Kate Upton. She was just one of the countless celebrities about; we saw photographer Nigel Barker at Nine West too! There were also several musical artists, including Joe Jonas, who performed in the area.

Overall, I would highly recommend going and taking advantage of this unique NYC experience. If you like to shop and are interested in fashion, it’s definitely a great way to step inside some of the more upscale stores and discover new trends. I know that I share a love of fashion with numerous students on-campus and was fortunate to have heard about FNO during a Fashion for Philanthropy club meeting last year.

Considering going next year? Here are a few tips from my experience:

1. Go early- Although the night doesn’t officially start until 6pm, most of the major department stores begin offering free salon services around 3 or 4pm. Many stores have long lines or run out of freebies later in the night, so don’t be fashionably late!

2. Plan ahead- If you go to the official website, there is a free tool to help you arrange your itinerary and map out your top picks. Be sure to check out retailers’ websites and research offerings as stores often feature exclusive coupons online.

3. Shop smart- Don’t let the contagious energy go to your head and spend half your semester’s allowance on the new “it” pair of shoes. If you’re looking to make purchases, your best bet is to stay clear of major stores and head to smaller boutiques with better sales.

To learn more and get updates about next year’s event, check out http://www.fashionsnightout.com .