Welcome back to the real world. It’s the unofficial start of Fall and Thursday starts fashion week. You bet we will be there tracking the clothing and anything inspiring. Before we start deconstructing the fashion let’s first talk a bit about shopping.
Thursday, September 10th, will mark the first ever Fashion’s Night Out, a global innitiave to promote retail. Retail stores all over the world will stay open late and host special events to lure customers to shop and and spend money. On our home turf, Madison Avenue, many stores will be staying open until after 9pm, passing champaign and trying to attract customers with a range of cool to geeky gimicks.
Besides for drinks and food we think it will be fun to take advantage meeting many designers and asking, “How does this look?” Don’t necessarily expect to hear the truth, but it wouldn’t be the first time we heard about Donna Karan personally fitting a dress. That type of shopping experiance may be even better than a discount… just, maybe!
Overall, the festivities at off-Madison stores are a bit more exciting. Matthew Williamson is working with customers to make custom dresses. The Chanel flagship store on 57th street is opening a customized handbag studio where customers are invited to create their very own 2.55 handbag. Anna Wintour will be signing comemritive Fashion’s Night Out tee-shirts at Macy’s in Elmhurst, Queens. Norma Kamali is offering complimentary face and body massages, Facebook fans get 10% off, and there will be a sample sale selection all $100 and under.
Madison Avenue, however, is where we live and where we will be– despite the fact that the discounts won’t be flowing as freely as the cocktails. Click here to find all the participating retailers and designers. See below to track where we will be shopping Thursday evening:
Missoni
1009 Madison Avenue (@78th St.)
Main Attraction:
Margherita Maccapani Missoni will host a cocktail party at the boutique and invite customers to create their own personalized Missoni tote bags.
Vera Wang
991 Madison Avenue (@77th St.)
Main Attraction:
Brides-to-be will be greeted by Vera Wang and special guests like wedding cake specialist, Sylvia Weinstock, floral expert, Michael George, celebrity Nutritionist, Oz Garcia and beauty consultant, Yves Durif.
Carolina Herrera
954 Madison Avenue (@75th St.)
Main Attraction:
Carolina Herrara and the famous photographer, Larry Fink, will greet customers and invite them into a digital photo booth to “come be art.”
Cesare Paciotti
833 Madison Avenue (@ 69th St.)
Main Attraction:
Cesare Paciotti will unveil the brand’s collaboration with Parsons. Recent grad, Kwame Brako, won a competition allowing his design to be sold as part of the Cesare Paciotti fall collection. You can be sure we’ll be asking Mr. Paciotti how to avoid broken heels.
Donna Karan
819 Madison Avenue (@68th St.)
Main Attraction:
Donna Karen will be in the store for a live performance by famed rockjazz pianist Eric Lewis, aka, Elew.
Oscar De La Renta
772 Madison Avenue (@66th St.)
Main Attraction:
To celebrate the evening, Mr. De La Renta will host a cocktail party where he will sing and entertain his clients and friends.
Giorgio Armani
760 Madison Avenue (@ 66th St.)
Main Attraction:
Nora Ephron and Rosie O’donnell will be reading “Love, Loss and What I Wore.” This is in addition to cocktails, of course.
Paige Gamble
24 East 64th Street (@ Madison Avenue)
Main Attraction:
The Ateliar will be open to 11pm and customers will be treated to sparkling water and champagne.
Jimmy Choo
716 Madison Avenue (@63rd)
Main Attraction:
A Vogue editor and Jimmy Choo founder and CEO, Tamara Mellon, will be styling a fashion shoot live and also help accessorize and style customer’s fall wardrobes.
Roberto Cavalli
711 Madison Avenue (@ 63rd St.)
Main Attraction:
The boutique’s 10-year anniversary will be celebrated as Mr. Cavalli personally hosts the evening with archival gowns and signature cocktails.
Barneys
660 Madison (@60th St.)
Main Attraction:
The store is transforming itself into a street fair of designers and special appearances. Look out for Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen who will be bartending, Alexander Wang will be giving runway lessons, Juan Carlos Obando will be teaching salsa amd Wool and the Gang will be giving knitting lessons, Loomstate will be making tee-shirts and much more.