As a practitioner of retail blitzkrieg (get in and out fast as possible), I’ve haven’t had much interest in Fashion’s Night Out of years past.
This year I received a few invitations to the festivities originated by fashion icon Anna Wintour. She created the annual event to give a boost to the recession battered retail industry and kick off New York Fashion Week. I thought I’d see what it was really about firsthand.
The usual tourist trap feel of Soho disappeared as the catwalk factor doubled. Fashionistas packed the streets, while camera crews prowled the crowds. It was a fashion zoo for the masses. 
I made my first stop at the Crocs store. My friend Kathryn, the Budget Fashionista, was hosting Croc’s 10th-year anniversary and fall/winter party. 
The second floor was cordoned off to make space for the soiree, where we were served yummy finger foods and pistachio cupcakes personalized with our names. 
I met Alissa, the mind behind StylishCurves.net, a fashion blog that shows you how to get celebrity looks and develop your own personal style. 
I chatted with CeCe from TheBigGirlBlog.com. She’s like a contemporary Carrie Bradshaw writing about dating and fashion from the big girl’s perspective. 
As a CrocStyle Insider, Kathryn gave us the scoop on their latest style developments. Crocs stepped up it’s fashion game enough that the Budget Fashionista herself is wearing them. Perhaps it’s time I gave Crocs a second look. 
Guests received personalized gift bags. Women got red sole “Bridle Wellie” rain boots. 
My bag was stuffed with pair of “Cobbler” hiker boots. They easily weigh less than most of my shoes! 
My friend Dennis, Benetton’s PR guy, invited me to the opening of Benetton’s pop-up gallery and shop. Entitled “The Art of Knit“, the pop-up space mashed up the fashion line’s latest knitwear with new artwork from their artists in residence based in Italy. 
Large knit letters were mounted on the walls among the artwork and clothes. 
White glazed eramic yarn ball jars dispersed around the space had the Benetton logo stamped into the bottom. 
Giorgia Zanellato wrapped heavy gauge yarn around wooden pegs to create an intersecting shelving unit. 
David Raffoul strung balls yarn together to make baskets. I think they could work as wreaths too. 
Ceramic vases by Sam Baron have holes in them so you can lace yarn through them to knit and crochet directly into vessels.
2 replies on “Fashion’s Night Out 2012”
It looked like lots of fun!
It was fun but LOTS OF HARD work! Thanks for watching, June. And thank you so much for writing! XO