Fashion's Night Out, NYC

[nycgirl]

Fashion's Night Out is a citywide (and global) extravaganza created by Anna Wintour of Vogue to bust the recession blues and give the fashion industry a boost. At the beginning of Fashion Week, hundreds of stores host parties with music, celebrity appearances, free drinks and snacks, beauty services, and other enticements designed to lure shoppers into indulging in retail therapy.

It's free to enjoy the festivities, so I dragged the hubby along with me to check out the Alexander McQueen store. Enroute, I saw some girls getting primped with for the night with free curbside hairstyling.



Events like this are always great for people-watching, and I saw a quite an array of interesting fashion trends. One of them I noticed popping up a lot are long, sheer, veil-like skirts. My husband, who is not a trendster but considers himself an authority on what looks good on women, gave them a thumbs down. What do you think: hot or not?



This night, McQueen unveiled a new accessory, a scarf bracelet with the skull motif the house is famous for.



Displayed in the storefront was a sumptuous, blossom-like gown made of tiers upon tiers of delicate chiffon. Paired with enormous visor-like sunglasses, this ensemble isn't exactly wearable, but it is a vision to behold.



Inside the store, there was a wonderful ready-to-wear collection. Photos of the items aren't allowed, so instead I snapped photos of the fashionistas congregating in the store. It was very crowded but it was a fun vibe.

















Not everyone made an effort to look chic.



I spotted another veil skirt.



The tasty complimentary drinks were flowing, and inevitably caused a bit of a mess.



I browsed to my heart's content (as if I could afford anything). I wanted to visit other stores, but the odds of getting in so late weren't good, so we called it a night. Until next time.

[Deleted]

Interesting and rather hideous, but that's part of the fun of the fashion world! I saw two young women wearing veil skirts yesterday -- the first time I have seen that here, so I was perplexed. In the middle of the day, it looked like they had misplaced their costume party.

I think that the Vogue Fashion Night in Paris is in a week or two, but obviously I have never attended, although I have always found it interesting to watch the preparations in the 'Golden Triangle' of Champs Elysées-George V-Montaigne in which my office was located.

[bjd]

I must agree with nycboy and Kerouac -- those veil skirts look crappy. Looks like something added at the last minute to cover too-tight pants or ugly legs.

I was just thumbing through the T-magazine -- a fashionista-type magazine that occasionally comes with the IHT. All the models had those incredibly high stiletto heels, even some on platform soles. All designed by men -- of course, men who dislike women and hope they will sprain their ankles when they try to walk.

[bixaorellana]

Gad, you take good pictures! This was really fun, NYCGirl. It feels like going there with you. Just on a photographic level, my two favorite pics are the one with the big-butted woman in red providing a focal point for the picture, and the one with the Elvis Costello look-alike guy leaning in to talk to his companion. But your group shots are always great, always with something to give them a heart.

Totally love the woman with the very close-cropped blonde hair -- truly beautiful & obviously having fun with the whole fashion thing.

Totally hate the self-consciously stylish & silly see-through skirts.

[htmb]

Looks like a lot of fun, nycgirl, but "ouch" my feet hurt just looking at the shoes. Funny, I didn't notice the broken glasses the first time I looked through your pics. Hope no one was cut.

[nycgirl]

Thanks so much, Bixa. I had a hard time taking photos of the crowd in such close quarters. Also, the photos turned out glare-y because the store was lit up like a space pod and I only had my iphone. Oh well, guess I better remember to charge my camera next time.

I also loved the short-haired girl's look. Wish I captured her backless dress, it was really cool.

Sept 9, 2012 19:42:49 GMT htmb said:

Funny, I didn't notice the broken glasses the first time I looked through your pics. Hope no one was cut.

No, only drunk.

[lugg]

Fabulous nycgirl . Not so keen on the veil skirt, but will have to show my daughter to see what she thinks. MUCH less keen on the blue chiffon ruffle top although I love the photo itself.

Was the girl in the yellow skirt who is posing for you wearing differently coloured shoes or was it a trick of the light ?

[sojoh]

Thanks for taking us to Fashion Night Out, nycgirl! When we were at the one in Paris last week, Mlle Ella Coquine kept comparing it with the ones in NYC so I'm happy to have had the opportunity to experience it via your photos. There weren't many places serving cocktails in Paris and the lines were really long at the places that were.

Even though my daughter keeps trying to convince me that the gauzy skirts look good, I'm in the thumbs down camp with nycboy.

Like Bixa, I really like your photo of the dapper gentleman in his bright red shirt and bow tie. I wonder what he was whispering in the woman's ear?!

[nycgirl]

Lugg, that ruffle top wasn't my style either, but the guy wearing it was quite a character. He had a lot of confidence, which helps when wearing such a quirky ensemble.

I think the shoe color was just a trick of the light.

Sojoh, the cocktails we had were mixed with grapefruit juice, which I wasn't sure I would like, but they were quite tasty. Strong, too! But I would have been just as happy with champagne, like you had. It is undeniably festive, and somehow holding a flute makes me feel more classy and sophisticated- even if I'm not.

I've decided the shear skirts a miss, too. They have a "trying too hard" air about them. My husband and I argue about fashion a lot (he has good taste but resists anything too whimsical or adventurous), but I'm going to have to agree with him on this one. However, another popular fall trend is lots and lots of color, which I love but he scoffs at.

[nycgirl]

For a look at FNO Paris-style, here is Sojoh's coverage of the event:

outandaboutinparis.blogspot.com/2012/09/vogue-fashion-night-out-2012-in-paris.html

[Deleted]

The whole point of fruit juice cocktails is to hide the alcohol and get people in trouble.

[lugg]

the guy wearing it was quite a character. He had a lot of confidence,

I think that is why i love that photo - those characteristics shine through

Lots of colour - yes me too

[lola]

Fun. I love the guy AND his blue ruffly top.

I like the way your photo subjects respond to you.