For a four-year-old, Fashion's Night Out has become quite the monster. Beginning at happy hour on Thursday, September 6, this shopping fête runs all night and even has after parties. What this means for you: 1.) Runway shows everywhere. 2.) Lots of champagne. 3.) An intense shopping/bonding experience with your Lady Gang. Now, let's take a look at who's doing what.
Elements (4400 Lovers Lane, 4 to 7 p.m.) -- This early spot is a great happy hour launch. Urban Taco and Tart Bakery will provide the finger foods, there'll be a dj, champagne, complimentary gift bags and makeovers with each purchase. (There's great stuff in those gift bags, too. Coupons for a dozen roses, gift certificates for skin treatments, and more. Also, ten percent of proceeds go to One Heart Project, which aids at-risk and incarcerated youth.)
Stanley Korshak's The Shak (500 Crescent Ct., Suite 500, 4 to 7 p.m.) -- The Shak would like to ply you full of frozen libations and then see how well you can dress yourself. No, really. This mainstay's contemporary boutique invites you to piece together the absolute perfect outfit, from labels to jewelry and accessories. Then, a legion of make-up artists polish you up for a photo shoot. After your renegade foray into modeling has been digitally captured, the image is sized up against the rest by a league of fashion bloggers. At the end of the night, one photo is selected as the winner. It might be you. Forty Five Ten (4510 McKinney Ave., 7 to 9 p.m.) -- This designer label mash-up boutique has just what you need to last the duration: tequila. Go ahead and RSVP. You don't need any obstacles between you and Tex-Mex appetizers.
Christian Louboutin (27 Highland Park Village, 6 to 9 p.m.) -- Every shop in Park Cities will flaunt its finest this evening, so you can't go wrong popping in and out of them all. Louboutin has nudged ahead, adding an extra element of fun to its offerings: A tarot card reader. (Just don't ask about that credit card bill. Nobody wants to think about that during FNO.) This shop will also release some limited edition goodies, like men's slippers and an iPad case.
DVF (29 Highland Park Village, Suite 209, 6 to 10 p.m.) -- A little Diane von goes a long way, and this Park City location sticks you right next to Marquee Grill, where FD Luxe is throwing an after-party. DVF will dish out cocktails and desserts. Hey, does champagne go with a wrap dress? Of course it does.
Marquee Grill (33 Highland Park Village, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.) -- If you plan to find seating, you'll want to make a resie, otherwise just mingle under the Marquee, flute in hand. They'll be having a couple of fashion shows for you to check out. The 7 p.m. is all luxury designer labels: Akris, Carolina Herrera, Hadleigh's, Jimmy Choo, Lela Rose, Pockets Menswear, St. John and Stella McCartney. Come back at 9 for the contemporary edition, featuring looks by: Anne Fontaine, Billy Reid, Diane Von Furstenberg, Five & Ten, Scoop NYC, Trina Turk, Tory Burch, and Vince.
LAFCO (66 Highland Park Village, 9 to 11 p.m.) -- By now you've had champagne, tequila, adult snow-cones and have probably bought a giant hat. (I hope so anyway, it looks great on you!) It's time to cruise over to LAFCO New York and add vodka to the mix -- and yes, also shop through the scent and beauty shop's luxury collection. If you've ever wanted to pick out a signature scent, one to spray on love letters or leave clinging to your boyfriend's sweater, this is the time. Also, you'll be tipsy, so tough decisions won't seem so tough.
Galleria Mall (13350 Dallas Parkway) This shopping mecca's annual production goes the extra (quarter) mile. In addition to Galleria's stores doing their individual activities and events, the mall boasts a quarter-mile catwalk. Two runway shows will trample the marathon strip, each produced by glam diva Jan Strimple. You'll also find shopper lounges, Skinny Girl Cocktails, a photo booth and tunes by celebrity DJ Brandon Olds. NorthPark Center (8687 North Central Expressway) This party will be off, like, 13 chains. From Make Up For Ever's limited edition eye pallets to Pinto Ranch's hand crafted cowboy boot giveaway, NorthPark's stores will jockey for your affection. The Center itself comes alive with special guests; those clowns from Kooza, the new Cirque show, will flaunt their acrobatic expertise on level one. There's also a series of three runways shows scheduled for 6, 7 and 8 p.m., featuring the newest in designer and ready-to-wear labels the center has to offer. The Fashionistas and blogger Oh So Cynthia will also be onsite, holding court.
Truly Late Night After Parties: Queen at It'll Do Night Club (4322 Elm St., 9 p.m. until 2 a.m.) While we've come to love Queen -- It'll Do's new Thursday night installment -- for its outrageous drag queen talent booking, tonight the weekly party tips a hat to Fashion's Night Out. This bash has no cover and is being co-organized by Kim Dawson Agency (think: beautiful models). Shake a bony hip with gorgeous folks on It'll Do's light-up dance floor, and do it in your new fabulous shoes.
The Afterparty, by Fashion Fridays at The Foundation Room in House of Blues (2200 N. Lamar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.) Proof that you can't stop the frock, this party keeps the looks barreling on with three local designers presenting. You'll see the latest and best goodies by Emmanuel Tobias, Edgar Gomez and that Mad Max-conjuring Yasmina, who operates under the name inner.orbit.systems. This one will run you $35 in advance or $50 at the door, with cocktails, door prizes and giveaways included.
