Fashion’s Night Out in Los Angeles

In case all the ads splashed across store windows, magazine pages and websites didn’t explain it enough, Fashion’s Night Out is a global event aimed to promote shopping and help spur business … with a stylish twist, of course. For one night only on Thursday, September 8, stores in cities from Manhattan to Milan and London to Los Angeles stay open late and host special open-to-the-public events to get people spending while having a good time. Although there are too many to list in full, here are some noteworthy events for Fashion’s Night Out Los Angeles going on from 6pm to 10pm, unless otherwise noted.

Fashion’s Night Out on Rodeo Drive
Forget buyer’s remorse. You’ll get a shopper’s high on the 60-foot Ferris wheel on Rodeo Drive during Fashion’s Night Out. The festivities promise to be an all-out carnival of fun with countless cocktail parties, celebrity appearances, flamethrowers and stilt walkers, 17 food trucks, 68 retailers hosting in-store events and a special Cirque du Soleil Flipbook Experience where you can insert yourself into the show (and enter to win a show package including dinner & stay for two at The Beverly Hilton). The three-block party also includes free trolley service throughout the evening.

Beverly Center
There will be tons of stuff going on at this popular mall starting at 5pm with a Fashion’s Night Out opening ceremony led by mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. At 5:30pm, Nicole Richie and Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas will host a runway fashion show, Rachel Bilson will be at Sunglass Hut and more than 100 stores will offer discounts and prizes such as free eyebrow threading and hair touch-ups at Aveda. Parking is free 3pm-11pm.

Fred Segal Santa Monica
Did somebody say FREE burgers and tattoos? This trendy shopping mecca is holding what is probably the best party on the Westside. Going on 7pm-10pm in the tented parking lot, visitors can expect complimentary burgers from Stout, complimentary spirits & sweets, a pop-up tattoo shop by Black Banditz, lots of red carpet action, makeup applications by Stila and tunes by DJ Chris Kennedy. And of course, plenty of shopping.

Westfield Century City
This outdoor shopping center is celebrating Fashion’s Night Out with LL Cool J hosting a fashion show in the Center Court at 7:30pm along with Mayor Villaraigosa. There will be a Microsoft Blogger Bar, Mini Manis & Drying Lounge (hand massages, quick polish changes and Hello Kitty “Sweet Pink” Champagne), pop-up Dry Bar for blowouts, Vanilla Bake Shop pop-up featuring FNO cupcakes and plenty of shopping events throughout the night.

AnQi @ South Coast Plaza
For a night of couture and cuisine, head over to AnQi for the Fashion, Food & Fire fete featuring Costa Mesa’s own firefighters walking down the catwalk in some of Bloomingdale’s hottest fashions. General admission tickets ($55) include the cocktail party, passed tapas and the fashion show, which begins at 7:30pm. The best part? Proceeds benefit the Costa Mesa Firefighters Widows & Orphans Fund. And if you’re running fashionably late, stop by South Coast Plaza’s official FNO after-party on Friday night at AnQi from 9pm to 2am.

The Grove
The Park at this al fresco retail hangout will be fashion fun central 6pm-9:30pm with models displaying the latest styles from Nordstrom, Johnny Was, Gap and Banana Republic. You can also get styling tips from Gap’s own Denim Designers, join the MAC Me Over cosmetics makeover party hosted by MAC, enjoy complimentary wine and fashion-inspired menus at participating restaurants, live music and special deals at select stores.

West Hollywood’s Fashion Night Out
From 6pm to 11pm, retailers all over WeHo from Santa Monica Blvd to the Sunset Strip and Melrose Triangle will be staying open late, hosting little shindigs, offering discounts and doing whatever they can to get you in the shopping mood. 3.1 Phillip Lim is throwing a huge bash with a live performance from Cults, Beckley will have a food truck, photo booth and pedicabs to whisk you off to your next destination and Skybar is hosting the official after-party starting at 10pm. (Just tell the doorman you’re with the FNO revelers.) The city is also providing free shuttle service during the fashionable festivities.

Malibu Country Mart
If you’re in the ‘Bu, consider heading to the Mart from 6pm to 10pm. A fashion show hosted by Taylor Jacobson (“The Rachel Zoe Project”) starts at 7:30pm followed by a Q&A session. There will be music all night, complimentary Italian appetizers from Tra di Noi, desserts from Coolhaus, wine & spirit bars throughout the property and some 25 retailers offering special discounts and fun like the complimentary photo booth at John Varvatos.

Trina Turk & Clever Vintage
Trina Turk’s flagship store on West 3rd Street is celebrating Fashion’s Night Out by teaming with Clever Vintage Clothing and other dealers to create a “Vintage Bazaar” featuring fun retro styles spanning ready-to-wear clothing, jewelry, handbags, sunglasses and home goods. There will be free valet parking, Champagne, hors d’oeuvres, a guest raffle prize and gift with purchase for all customers (both vintage and Trina Turk purchases).

Magnolia Bakery
Just down the street from Beverly Center, this adorable little bakery is offering chocolate or vanilla cupcakes with a choice of six vintage fashion designs. For every Fashion’s Night Out cupcake sold ($3.75 each), Magnolia is donating fifty cents to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. (FYI, Magnolia will also have an Icing Bar set up in the men’s section of Bloomingdale’s at Beverly Center.)

Westfield Topanga
Beginning at 6:30pm in the center’s Canyon and Nordstrom courts, shoppers will be treated to performances from Paris Loves LA (love them!) and the Beckys, a live fashion show, makeovers, guest appearance by Tori Spelling and fashion tips from celebrity stylists. There’s even a “How To Put Style Back Into Your Cooking” demo at 7:30pm. Following the kick-off event, shoppers can visit more than 40 participating stores for deals and incentives.

Glendale Galleria
Style gurus, sips and savories, fashion vehicles filled with accessories, VIP valet parking, a “lipstick reader” and designer discounts? Oh yes. From 6pm to 11pm, Glendale Galleria is celebrating Fashion’s Night Out with all that and more. Throughout the night, the Kiss & Tell lipstick reader will read customer lip prints to reveal what a person’s pout really says about personality and even relationships.

Unique Vintage Clothing Boutique Burbank
This Valley spot is offering complimentary Champagne and appetizers from 6pm to 10pm to help get shoppers in the spending mood. Browse dozens of racks of vintage-inspired clothing and accessories and enter the evening’s raffle to win a Unique Vintage dress and shopping spree.

RH @ Andaz West Hollywood
This swanky space inside the Andaz hotel is hosting a red carpet fashion exhibition and pop-up shop on Thursday night from 6pm to midnight. Listen to music while checking out red carpet fashions from Little Shilpa, Marco Marco and The Blonds and scoring items from designers like Doppelganger, Gabby Applegate, Onch Movement, Orthodox and others.

More info: www.fnola.com

Mar Yvette

Lifestyle writer Mar Yvette is on a mission to bring you the best people, places and products to make your life pop!