A Broke-Ass Guide to Fashion’s Night Out

In most cases, designer fashion and bring broke don’t have a very strong correlation, unless you count something of the derelicte variety. But that doesn’t mean one cannot enjoy and appreciate nice things.  For those of you who don’t know, next week is Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) or “fah-no”, which is what I say when people ask me if I want to take the Fung-wah Chinatown bus.

You see back in 2008 when everyone was busy being all funemployed, Anna Wintour and the CFDA was all like, we need people to SHOP (cue finger snap).  And shop they did.  So how did they do that, you ask? They gave out free booze, hosted sales and had lots of famous people show up. Since its inception the event has grown worldwide and even, gasp… the outer boroughs.

What started out as an air-kissy fest has now grown into an all-out party that you get to attend on your terms. So even if you’re not of the stiletto-bootie wearing Meat-Packing set, you can still score freebies, support the local economy and look at pretty people. Sounds pretty superficial right? And Awesome! So here’s a cheat sheet of fun fashion-y events going down Thursday night that will having you doing THIS at the end of the night.

Fashion Night Out – Thursday, September 8th:

Manhattan

James Murphy, VPL block party
Missed the last LCD Show? Well it looks like Murphy is going the Stones route and will keep performing after all. See him live at an outdoor party hosted by VPL, 3×1, Agnès B, and Nike. 5 Mercer Street, 6pm.

Best Coast at Helmut Lang
Get your Rock Lobster on with thus music and food smash-up of free eats courtesy of Luke’s Lobster and a performance by low-fi Best Coast. Also get sauced on cocktails from the East Village’s Death & Company while you vogue-it out in the photobooth. Snapshots will be posted on the new helmutlang.com. No duck faces please. 93 Mercer Street, 5:00pm

Beth Ditto at M.A.C.
Fashion-types love them some Beth Ditto, but with good reason. She’s kind of a bad-ass. Catch her three-song set at the M.A.C Soho store and get free touch-ups from the pros. 109 Spring Street, 8:00pm

It’s El Mercado de Carnaval de Opening Ceremony at the Ace Hotel
[From the OC site] “OC is pleased to announce the theme for Fashion’s Night Out 2011: el mercado de carnaval de Opening Ceremony, a fun-filled carnival market inspired by the festive spirit of Argentina, this year’s country of focus! With everything that’s in store – including live performances outfitted in Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Suno and OC; an aura expert at Delfina Delettrez’s mystical booth; a PS1 raffle hosted by the Proenza designers themselves; a Tumblr photo booth with pictures uploaded online in real time (more on that later!); and an appearance by Miss Piggy to introduce a very special Muppets x OC collection in time for Walt Disney Pictures’ The Muppets (in theaters this November)” Ace Hotel 20 West 29th Street, 6:00pm

OAK Disco Dive Party
Purveyors of all things black and asymmetrical – Oak is embracing it’s colorful side by throwing a disco party. They hired architect Scott Bromley, who designed the original Studio 54, to create their boogie space. DJ’s will be spinning for the uptown and downtown crowd, plus promised psychedelic art projections. But of course! OAK, 28 Bond St, 7:00-10:00pm

Lomography FNO -From Start to Finish: The Analogue Process of Fashion
Hello Lomo! The toy camera company lent out their wares to local designers Rebecca Turbow, Samantha Pleet, Hayden-Harnett and Janet Kim of Graey to document their design process for their upcoming collections. The designers’ photo storyboards will be on display along with three to four of their own original pieces. DJ Jess will be providing the soundtrack, and food and drinks will be plentiful. Lomography Gallery Store, 106 E 23rd Street, 7:00pm

Patricia Field’s Fashion’s Night Out!…Art Night Out!
Dubbed “Pierogi and Vodka Night Out!“, Pat Field aka downtown pink lady, aka Sex & The City Stylist is hosting a simultaneous party and art installation for FNO. Hit up her boutique and stock up on street-walker chic apparel or swing by Veselka for a curated art show complete with vodka and pierogies straight from the motherland. Patricia Field Boutique, 302 Bowery | Veselka,  9 East 1st Street, 6:00pm- Midnight

Brooklyn

Fashion’s Night Out RETREAT Williamsburg
For the early birds, local spots Scosha, Antoinette, Nightwood and Aurora will overtake Grand Street to throw a FNO party complete with free mini-facials, holistic treatments, acupuncture, 10-minute therapy sessions and tattooing. Also live music, jewelry, cupcakes and free swag to the first 50 shoppers. Aurora will be serving specialty cocktails and over at Antoinette, DJ Chris Love will be spinning house disco, and Funk & Soul classics. Champagne will be served from 6-11pm and customers who spend $50 will receive a free Antoinette shopping tote. Grand St, South Williamsburg, 4:00-9:00pm then 6:00-11:00pm

For a complete list of events visit the Fashion’s Night Out website.

Photo courtesy of: Vintage Paris