Sure, Anna is hoping that Fashion’s Night Out incites a frenzied, citywide spending spree, reintroducing us to the long-forgotten joy of shopping. And while there are hundreds of tempting ways to blow your rent money on September 10 (one-of-a-kind Thakoon dresses! Limited-edition Helmut Lang leather jackets! Framed Jason Wu sketches!), the festivities also provide a tote bag full of opportunities (read: swag) for those recession-savvy shoppers among us. By our imprecise estimation, you can save at least $1,000 in beauty products, yoga memberships, clothes, manicures, updos, dinner, and more (not to mention the excessive amounts of Champagne and cocktails flowing among the racks). Check out our guide to the top twenty freebies and deals on fashion’s flashiest night.
Bumble and bumble.
146 E. 56th St., nr. Lexington Ave. (212-521-6500)
Kick off your night with a glass of Champagne and a free styling session at Bumble and bumble. Rising stylists will be re-creating styles from the fall runway by request, so anything from a glam Oscar de la Renta pompadour to Zac Posen’s teased French twist is fair game. But are they capable of pulling off Dior’s wild, couture-worthy frizz?
Savings: $150, the starting price of an updo at Bumble & bumble.
Gucci
725 Fifth Ave., at 56th St. (212-826-2600)
More than 100 retailers are selling the Fashion’s Night Out T-shirt tonight at Vogue’s “suggested retail price” of $35 — Gucci is the only one giving them away for free to all who attend. We’re betting supplies will run out quick, so stop off early (and sample a few Gucci chocolates while you’re there).
Savings: $35, the retail price of an official Fashion’s Night Out T-shirt .
Burberry
131 Spring St., nr. Greene St. (212-925-9300)
Enter Burberry’s drawing to win a classic trench. Brit model Lily Donaldson D.J.’s, and Champagne and canapés will be served. Sure, it’s a long shot, but a $1,300 jacket would definitely curb our pouting over the approaching chilly, rainy weather.
(Potential) Savings: $1,295, the price of a classic trench at Burberry.
Bergdorf Goodman
754 Fifth Ave., nr. 57th St. (212-753-7300)
On your way in, ogle Zac Posen painting one-of-a-kind creations in the front window alongside the exhibit “Extreme Beauty in Vogue,” a selection of provocative photographs curated by Phyllis Posnick (the exhibit was on display at Milan’s Palazzo della Ragione earlier this year). Inside, it only gets better. André Leon Talley hosts a Fashion Rules game show (teams led by Donna Karan, Linda Fargo, and Robert Verdi face off); Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen tend bar; and Isaac Mizrahi performs a cabaret act (likely after a strong cocktail mixed by MK).
Savings: $55, the price of Posnick’s Extreme Beauty in Vogue book, out in October.
Juicy Couture
650 Fifth Ave., at 52nd St. (212-796-3360)
Vogue editor-at-large Hamish Bowles — a man who has been known to let loose with some show tunes now and then — is singing Noel Howard classics at Juicy Couture. Afterwards, snap a few photos in the Juicy Couture gentleman’s salon, a spot reminiscent of Gela Nash-Taylor’s English manor featured in Vogue’s September issue (except, you know, shrunken down to New York size). Skateboarding, tuxedo-clad waiters dispel any English stuffiness.
Savings: Varying cocktail cash.
Saks Fifth Avenue
611 Fifth Ave., at 50th St. (212-753-4000)
Fulfill your latent celebrity fantasy and strut down the red carpet, which leads the way to the store’s Fifth Avenue entrance. Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Peter Som, and other design idols will be mingling with shoppers. But the real deals are found in the beauty section, where there will be more than 7,000 cosmetics giveaways from Estée Lauder, Frederic Fekkai, Laura Mercier, and Tom Ford. You can also take advantage of complimentary brow-shaping services, while guys receive free clean-ups at John Allan’s men’s salon.
Savings: $40, for brow shaping and beauty swag.
Giorgio Armani
760 Madison Ave., at 66th St. (212-988-9191)
Catch a reading by Nora Ephron and Rosie O’Donnell of Love, Loss, and What I Wore, an Off Broadway play written by Ephron sisters Nora and Delia. The show runs September 21 through December 13, and Rosie O’Donnell is part of the first leg of the rotating cast.
Savings: $82.50, the price of a ticket to Love, Loss, and What I Wore, opening at the Westside Theatre on September 21.
Barneys New York
660 Madison Ave., at 61st St. (212-826-8900)
You may already be a couple cocktails in, so it’s time to mingle with greatness while you’re still feeling sharp: Guests include Isabel Toledo, Narciso Rodriguez, Thom Browne, Alexander Wang, and more. Hone your signature walk with Wang, who will be hosting runway-strutting lessons, or take a knitting lesson with Wool and the Gang if you’re feeling crafty. And swing by the Sue Devitt beauty counter — the first 50 visitors get a free Eye Intensifier Pencil.
Savings: $171, the price of a scarf-knitting kit by Wool and the Gang ($149) and a Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil ($22).
Unis
226 Elizabeth St., at Prince St. (212-431-5533)
Nolita is a prime neighborhood to indulge a free dinner on Fashion’s Night Out (or several, depending on how you feel about gorging while surrounded by models). Swing by Unis for Thai food from former Nolita favorite Lovely Day (which was shuttered by a fire last October). D.J. Johnny Mischeff from the Jane Hotel spins.
Savings: $15, cost of a typical meal at Lovely Day.
Tory Burch
257 Elizabeth St., nr. Prince St.; (212-334-3000)
Across the street, La Esquina is barbecuing (paired with Champagne — because it’s Fashion Week, and Champagne goes with everything).
Savings: $10, cost of two steak tacos at La Esquina.
Le Labo
233 Elizabeth St., nr. Prince St. (212-219-2230)
Browse the sweet-smelling wares at this Nolita perfumerie and receive a five-milliliter bottle of one of the scents from Le Labo’s collection, ranging from rose to the so-hot-right-now patchouli.
Savings: $17, the price of a five-milliliter “discovery-size” bottle.
Korres
110 Wooster St., nr. Prince St. (212-219-0683)
“Detox bar” sounds like kind of an oxymoron to us, but Korres is serving up cocktails based on the beauty brand’s natural ingredients: wild rose, thyme, honey, and pomegranate. Makeup artists will offer complimentary touch-ups, and all visitors receive a gift bag full of Korres cosmetic, bath, and skin-care best-sellers.
Savings: $12, the price of a Korres mini gift set.
Space.NK
99 Greene St., nr. Spring St. (212-941-4200)
Pick up a gift bag full of samples from Eve Lom, Nuxe, and Space.NK Laughter fragrance. Plus, complimentary face masks and mini-facials, if you’re ready to call it a night at this point.
Savings: $20 in beauty swag.
Chanel
139 Spring St., at Wooster St. (212-334-0055)
Belly up to the nail bar for a free manicure in Jade, Chanel’s new limited-edition polish (the same pale, pistachio-green hue that we lusted after on the runway). If you run into buzz-killing lines, head over to Tracy Reese (641 Hudson St., nr. Gansevoort; 212-807-0505), where Sally Hansen manicurists will be offering complimentary nail services. (They’re also serving drinks like the “Frocktail” and the “Plentini,” which we’re betting are pink.)
Savings: $25, the price of a Chanel polish manicure at Wei Lang Spa nearby.
Opening Ceremony
35 Howard St., nr. Broadway (212-219-2688)
Join the Opening Ceremony block party, where Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Delfina Delettrez Fendi, Alexander Wang, and Scott Sternberg will be selling custom-made wares out of the back of befitting custom cars, like a VW Minibus (Proenza Schouler) and black van (Wang). Check out the Thai Tie truck nearby from Band of Outsiders, which will be selling clip-on bow ties and neckties and dishing out Thai-inspired desserts from Momofuku pastry chef Christina Tosi.
Savings: $10, the price of a Thai Iced Tea Parfait at Momofuku Ssäm Bar.
C.O. Bigelow
414 Sixth Ave., nr. 9th St.; (212-473-7324)
Stop by C.O. Bigelow for a free tube of Mentha Lip Shine, a glossy balm scented with peppermint oil. The spot is also serving free sodas from a vintage soda fountain.
Savings: $7.50, the price of Mentha Lip Shine.
Bird
203 Grand St., nr. Driggs Ave. (718-388-1655)
Bird is teaming up with Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava to host a block party at the Williamsburg shop. The festivities include specialty cocktails, pizza, disco D.J.’s, and carnival games. (As an added bonus, Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos of Shipley & Halmos will finish the last leg of their beer-fueled Fashion’s Night Out bike trek here.) Mayock and Buhai will be creating limited-edition T-shirt-style dresses from archival fabrics salvaged from their past ten seasons, priced at $100 a pop.
Savings: $80, off the regular price of a Vena Cava T-shirt dress ($180).
Anna Sui for Target Pop-up
54 Crosby St., nr. Spring St. (no phone)
Get first dibs on the Gossip Girl–inspired Anna Sui for Target collection in this three-day pop-up shop. Consider it your chance to scoop up the affordable Blair and Serena dresses (prices range from $19.99 to $149) before they inevitably sell out.
Savings: $400 or more, off the price of an Anna Sui collection dress.
Pure Yoga
203 E. 86th St., nr. Third Ave. (212-360-1888)
Scope out trunk shows for various athletic brands and pick up a free unlimited, weeklong yoga pass. Take a break from the gym to practice at any (or all) of Pure’s twenty different yoga classes.
Savings: $170, the price of a weeklong trial pass.
