The Actor's Boutique

Women’s Wear Daily reports on how and why the biggest event every September has decided to take a hiatus. 

As a fashion student, I always thought that FNO wasn’t really a time to shop, but more of a time to meet designers and celebrities. The purpose, which as stated in this article, was to get consumers to buy but instead, became one huge party. My classmates and I would always say, “Can’t we just have designers and industry people? What does someone like Nicki Minaj have to to with fashion?”

Personally, I’d rather be meeting people like Grace Coddington or CEOs like Mickey Drexler or designers like the Dannijo sisters. FNO was never meant to be “Hollywood’s Night Out”: Fashion is the first and key word here.

While you were fangirling in front of your television watching One Direction on the VMAs, I was out trudging through SoHo. My cousin and I tried to meet anyone and everyone we could on the one night the public is allowed to be a part of New York Fashion Week: Fashion’s Night Out. Surprisingly, this is Anna Wintour’s brainchild. Maybe she’s not so cold-hearted after all. It was my cousin’s first time ever attending FNO, so of course I wanted to make sure she had a great time. 

First stop was Bloomingdales to grab some FNO shirts for some people to sign. I have now made this a tradition that every year, I buy a shirt and have someone I meet during the night sign it. My first year, Michael Kors and Michelle ‘Milly’ Smith penned their signatures while last year Robert Verdi did the honors. 

Since SoHo started to get a little crazy as the night went on, we went a few blocks away from the chaos to Christian Siriano’s new store on Elizabeth Street and E. Houston. The line to get in wasn’t too bad and once we were in, we could actually talk to Christian as well as his boyfriend/DJ for the night, Brad Walsh. 

This wasn’t my first time meeting the “Project Runway” alum. Two years ago, I met him on the street as a freshman during my very first week of school. My cousin, however, was a little star struck, considering this was her first ever celebrity meeting. We took a picture and got Mr. Siriano to kindly sign our t-shirts before we left. His new store is small, but his talent and crisp designs are present everywhere you look. 

After meeting Christian, we took a quick cupcake break at Billy’s Bakery, one of NYC’s greatest places to get dessert. Then we went back to the chaotic scene of West Broadway. 

As we went up and down the street most of the night, we did see one celebrity that I couldn’t get a picture of. We had walked into Kate Spade to see if anything special was going on. As we walked through the store, I spotted a familiar man leaving before I could get a picture: Brad Goreski. 

I LOVE this man and what he does. I understand that some in the industry don’t like him because of the whole Rachel Zoe ‘did he use her to get his own fame or not’ argument, but I think he’s amazing. I saw the glasses and hair out of the corner of my eye and almost had a heart attack. Even though I didn’t get a picture, NYFW has just started, so he’ll be here all week. 

Our night really was successful. It couldn’t have been a better night for the two of us. I hope you all had a great Fashion’s Night Out, too. HAPPY FASHION WEEK!

Tonight was one of the biggest events in the fashion industry, Fashion’s Night Out! Every year, the day before Fashion Week, our favorite stars come out to meet, YOU, the consumer to help be a part of this wonderful time of the year.

This year, I headed to Saks Fifth Avenue to see Joe Jonas. It was a long wait but it was worth it. I’ll post photos below (BTW, I wasn’t front row. Thanks, camera with super zoom!). Disney actress Anna Marie Perez de Tangle from “Camp Rock” was there to watch her former co-star and fashion designer, Simon Spurr came on and introduced Joe. He’s a lovely guy who has a fantastic British accent. I saw him come in and thought it was adorable how his parents were with him! I hope he does well since he’s very young and should feel really honored to already be in Saks and have a whole event with his name on it.

After Saks, my friend and I headed to Bergdorfs to see Robert Verdi, who she interns for. We watched him play a game with some shoppers and then he kindly signed my FNO shirt. Before we headed upstairs to see Robert, we spotted stylist Phillip Bloch on the first floor.

I can’t wait for next year!!! So far, the last two years have been super fun.

Oh, and did I mention my friend and I spotted Anna Wintour? In the words of Rachel Zoe, “I die!”

Here are the pictures: