Strike A Pose: Fashion's Night Out

Last Thursday, Sept. 6, the city of Boston participated in its second annual Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) event. Originally launched in New York City in 2009, the event has since grown exponentially, as seen in FNO’s slogan: “From Manhattan to Milan, Atlanta to Australia, the after-hours shopping extravaganza … is back!” The event began as a collaboration between Vogue magazine, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), New York and Company, and the city of New York, in order to promote Fashion Week in New York City. FNO now features over 500 participating stores nationwide, making this year’s event the biggest and most successful FNO yet.

Newbury Street in its entirety was closed to oncoming traffic for the evening, which kicked off with a welcome speech by Boston’s Mayor Thomas M. Menino. All of Newbury, Copley Square, and the Prudential Center participated in FNO with giveaways, store discounts, and fashion shows. Special events included a screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s in the Prudential South Garden, the “BEFORE I DIE” wall located at the Rose Kennedy Greenway—where FNO shoppers were invited to write out their hopes and dreams—and the POP EVERYTHING exhibit by POP, Inc. to create a pop-up shopping event. The main fashion show featured at Boston’s FNO took place in the Center Court of Copley Square, showcasing looks from retailer Neiman Marcus and designers Jimmy Choo, Wolford, and Elie Tahari.

The biggest draw for Bostonians during FNO involved all the discounts and free demos that shops offered. Storefronts up and down newbury set up special events to entice new customers on this busy night. Madewell (the sister store of J. Crew) lured shoppers in with a “braid bar,” with professional braiders styling girls’ hair as they began their evening. Georgetown Cupcake, one of the newest shops to join Newbury, featured “runway red velvet” FNO-themed cupcakes, while Sweet, the famous cupcake shop of Boston, doled out frosting shots for a sugary pick-me-up. Makeup and hair salons alike featured chair massages, 10 minute makeovers, and free blowouts at temporary “salons” inside and outside the stores.

FNO drew a diverse crowd: models, students, designers, rising stars in the industry, advertisers, musicians, and shoppers alike flooded the streets of Boston. Herb Chambers lined six blocks with over 80 car showcases from their exotic collection. “Life Is Good” hosted backyard games, raffles, and various artists throughout the evening. The spas of Newbury offered free massages, hand treatments, facials, and anti-aging eye treatments. Student creations from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design were displayed in storefronts. Charities also found a role to play in the event. Fashion startups, such as the Fashion Truck, offered discounts in exchange for gently used clothing. The Massachusetts ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) put their own spin on FNO, calling rescued animals “the ultimate fashion accessory.”

While many Boston College students attended the event as shop-goers, one in particular played a bigger role in the night—Jessie Kenworthy (A&S ’16) strutted down the impromptu runway set up in the middle of Newbury Street. Designers Britt Ryan and Vikram shoes were featured on the Center Stage runway outside Joe’s American Bar and Grill, while major designers shined on the Copley Square stage. In true Boston fashion, the afterparties were perhaps more important than the event itself. Nightclubs, bars, and hotels hosted parties throughout the city for the designers, models, and general participants of FNO. The real invite of all invites Thursday night, however, was to the Revere Hotel’s afterparty at the Emerald Lounge.

If you missed out on this night of glamour and design, don’t fret! BC has been selected to host the first ever College Fashion Week. As one of four locations nationwide, BC will join Boston University, Northeastern, and the Her Campus executive team. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Estate Boston. To register for the opening evening, visit CollegeFashionWeek.com to secure a spot on the guest list. With the overwhelming success of FNO in Boston, it comes as no surprise that the collegiate environment will join in the fun. The producers of FNO have expanded the event nationwide, promoting trendsetting designers and offering one-night-only benefits for their loyal customers. Overall, Boston’s second FNO was a raging success, filled with glamour, style, and the newest trends in this great city. nThe biggest draw for Bostonians during FNO involved all the discounts and free demos that shops offered. Storefronts up and down Newbury set up