Fashion Night Out : Bright Lights Big City

Friday was Fashion Night Out and it truly was a big night out in NYC. Retail stores were open late and showing off more than just the clothes on the rack. Saks Fifth Avenue served champagne while entertaining shoppers with live bands, designer dance-offs and friendship bracelet making.I saw old friends and made a few new ones but really was less interested in the shopping than the scene. I wonder if this night proves to be profitable for retailers.
Then we headed downtown to the meat packing district to meet up for dinner with friends. Bumped into a fashion faux pas when two women walked in wearing identical DVF leopard wrap dresses- gasp! I have to admit, I'm over this fall trend and it's not even Fall yet. Leopard always makes a comeback every couple of years, but thinking you look fashion-forward because you are wearing a wrap dress circa 1990 is not. Can this trend go away and never come back please!

Other retailers that got the party started included Jeffries, Stella McCartney and Theory. The streets were flooded with strange marketing tactics including this random parade of astronauts along Fifth Avenue :
or Muscle Milk trying to get photo ops with fashionistas - I don't think that rail-thin models drink any dairy let alone one to build muscle mass! And Lancome's new spokesperson- youtuber, Michelle Phan - who created a crowd-frenzy at the Sephora window, vlogging live on fashion night out. This is the same company that hired on Julia Roberts as a spokesperson just a few months ago! When video bloggers and Hollywood A-listers are on the same marketing playing field you know the power of social media!

I did love the Fragrance Foundation Campaign - One Mighty Drop - passing out roses to promote shoppers visiting the fragrance counter.
Flowers can always put a smile on one's face. I later passed my joy onto someone sitting on a nearby bench - she smiled back!