Anna Wintour certainly tapped into New York’s collective consciousness when she launched Fashion’s Night Out last September, with the aim of injecting the Big Apple’s retailers with some much-needed energy in the wake of the economic downturn. The citywide event, for which stores hosted designer appearances, drinks and special sales, saw Madison Avenue and the streets of SoHo crawl with shop-hungry hordes in need of a little retail therapy. For its second year, FNO has gone global, with events in 15 countries worldwide between September 8 and 16, but New York is once again the epicenter for the festivities, which also happen to launch NY Fashion Week. Many stores are wooing customers with cocktails and music or art shows: Rag & Bone and 3.1 Phillip Lim have partnered to host a block party on Mercer Street with ice creams from Van Leeuwen and burgers from the BLT Food Truck, as well as a performance from Chicago-based alt-rockers My Gold Mask; and around the corner at Jil Sander, Garance Doré is hosting an exhibition of her photographs, which encapsulate the spontaneous feeling of Raf Simons’s Fall 2010 collection for the minimalist fashion house. Alongside all these hi-jinks, many brands have attempted to galvanize consumers by creating products especially for the night. Here’s a selection of our favorites.
Alexander McQueen—417 W 14th Street, New York
Alexander McQueen will be shrugging off the woes of the past year with cocktails and a raffle for one of its signature Union Jack clutches, as well selling a unique double-wrap python skull bracelet for the event night only.
Opening Ceremony, Ace Hotel, 20 W 29th Street, New York
Opening Ceremony has a bag of tricks up its sleeve for FNO, with a gaggle of designers peddling exclusive garb the old-fashioned way at the super-boutique’s self-styled “French flea market” in the lobby of the Ace Hotel Manhattan. Preppy rebel Scott Sternberg will seduce customers with a limited edition Band of Outsiders T-shirt emblazoned with the brand’s unofficial mascot, the Cookie Monster, which comes replete with a cookie from Momofuku’s pastry genius Christina Tosi; Rodarte has returned to childhood, referencing 80s prom gear with floral sweatshirts and T-shirts; and legendary Parisian taxidermist Deyrolle, has designed a range of scarves emblazoned with wildlife, including foxes, butterflies and wildcats.
Marni—159 Mercer Street, New York
Consuelo Castiglioni���s quirky label expands into the home for FNO, featuring cushions in goatskin sewn to create geometric motifs, and blow-up pillows in PVC with a naive doll design by French artist Claude Caillol, who has previously collaborated with the brand on a series of recycled plastic bags.
Prada—575 Broadway, New York
Prada has been drawing on its archives of late: the house’s fall 2010 show featured a return to the ultra-feminine 50s silhouette, and it recently launched a hugely successful limited run of sun dresses featuring retro prints. This FNO, Prada has further explored this fixation, producing a limited-edition “BYO” tote featuring gothic shades of layered lipsticks—all proceeds go to charity New Yorkers for Children.
Burberry—131 Spring Street, New York
Looking forward to the spring 2011 collections, which are due to debut on the runway on September 21, the British fashion house has come up with a black leather bracelet with nickel stud detailing that channels the brand’s enduring rock and roll spirit (it will also be shown in the concerts they are hosting in stores around the world).