Fashion's Night Out - Shop Your Heart Out

It's that time of year again.  Get ready to shop for fall, holiday, your gifts and make all of your fashion fantasies come true.  It began as an initiative by Anna Wintour to help the struggling retail industry.  Now, every fashion conscious citizen knows it is a night for shopping, partying, gifts or discounts with purchase or fun mingling with celebrities...

The events take place in cities all over the world.  In NYC, some of the festivities include the QVC shop will host celebs like Heidi Klum, Isaac Mizrahi while plying you with makeup touch-ups, cocktails and nibbles.  Alexander Wang will host a talent show in his Soho boutique.  Stella McCartney will have a pretzel cart, open bar and DJing from the likes of Alexa Chung.  Saks Fifth Avenue will attract Tilda Swinton, Prabal Gurung and Ne-Yo for the cause.

Out in Queens, the Creators Co-op will offer up meet and greets with the designers of the goods.  You will also receive a tote with a personalized fashion illustrations of yourself drawn by a designer live, in-store.

In other cities, Nicole Richie will be among the hosts at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles.  In Chicago, Kelly Osbourne of E! Fashion Police and Kyle Richards of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" fame will be at Macy's to host events.

Are you ready to shop till you drop?  September 8, find all of your events here.

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Fashion's Night Out - The Show and Party

No doubt, you have heard about Fashion's Night Out around the city... 

It's the biggest fashion party on Earth, where anyone can mingle with the celebrities, sip cocktails with the designers, score some swag and shop till they drop. Retailers and designers are collectively hosting events offering freebies, entertainment, celebs, refreshments to entice you into shopping...  The event started with a bang, with Fashion's Night Out - The Show.  Gisele Bundchen modeled, founder Anna Wintour presided over the presentation with Gossip Girls, designers, SNL cast members and other NYC notables.

If you want to get in on the action for Friday, there is an event to cater to whatever style or activity you can think of (make multiple stops for the full treatment!)  

In NYC, hands-on activities could include styling ballerinas from the NYC Ballet at Chanel, taping you confessional at Diesel, creating your own jewelry at Oak, competing in a fashion-themed Pictionary with designers Chris Benz and Brian Reyes.  

If rubbing shoulders with celebs is your thing, you could sing karaoke and be judged by the Olsen Twins and Prouenza Schouler designers.Multiple boutiques will be serving up cocktails, cupcakes and other treats.

In Los Angeles, some of your options include mingling with Justin Timberlake who will represent William Rast at Santa Monica Place.  You can participate in burlesque and cupcakes at Coco de Mer, enjoying a set by the Dandy Warhols at Ron Herman's and runway shows from West Third Street boutiques. 

London's big fashion party starts tonight (Wednesday) and includes free manicures at Smythson's on Bond Street with champagne.  Gwyneth Paltrow with host an event at Stella McCartney, Christian Louboutin will have a 'Mad tea party' with a DJ.

Check out the Fashion's Night Out site for a full listing of parties in your country/city (you'll find something you like!)  Photos by Getty Images

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Stella McCartney "Pre-Spring" 2011

Just don't call it Resort... “How unsexy is that word? Does anyone even use the word resort?" the designer asked.

The uber-trendy designer presented her "pre-spring" collection in a busy garden-party setting. Models played, danced and looked like they had fun, as a party should be. Big, illustrative floral prints mingled with McCartney's signature tailored jackets. Some trapeze silhouettes were mixed with delicate lace pieces. Fans of the English rose included Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts who were in attendance.

Photos by George Chinsee

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