If you’re somehow not yet familiar, Fashion’s Night Out is essentially an Anna Wintour pet project turned global phenomenon. Tomorrow night, stores all over country will stay open late and host major shopping parties (all in the name, of course, of “boosting the economy”). But take note, shopping fanatics: A trip to New York isn’t necessary, as the Washington area celebrates the retail holiday in a big way. To help streamline your party-hopping, we sorted through dozens of event listings and press releases and compiled this handy guide to the best of the best. Happy shopping, FNOers! We hope to see you out there.
Georgetown
The always-lovely Holly Thomas, DC editor of Refinery29, hosts the sale to end all sales at designer Mecca Hu’s Wear—think up to 80 percent off brands like the Row, Alexander McQueen, and Phillip Lim (preview some of the truly excellent finds on R29). Want to get to the goods before the masses? Gilt City DC is offering early passes to the sale from 5 to 7 PM. The $45 ticket includes Champagne, treats, $20 toward your purchase, and gift bags for folks who spend $250 or more.
Charm Georgetown offers bubbly, discounts of up to 50 percent off jewelry from brands such as Vanessa Mooney, Kenneth Jay Lane, and Kendra Scott, and the chance to win a gift bag. 6 to 11 PM.
Up Wisconsin Avenue, there’s a whole mess of attractions at Urban Chic. Becca and Cori Sue of Bitches Who Brunch host a Rebecca Minkoff trunk show offering bag monogramming. Another option: Spend $250 or more, and illustrator extraordinaire Inslee Haynes will sketch you in your new fall fashions. Seriously, it’s worth it—we love her stuff so much we featured a sketch in last year’s gift guide.
Get street-style-blog ready before you start shopping at Nectar Skin Bar & IPSA. There will be Oribe dry blowouts, a Kevyn Aucoin lipstick bar, and quick nail polish changes.
Hold on to your hats, BCBG fans—you could win $1,000 to spend in the store! Style a BCBG outfit, post it on Instagram with the tag #BCBGFNO, and the money could be yours.
The adorable Dominique Vu of DC Scout is partnering with Cusp and stylist Meredith Liberty to host a big, fat shopping soiree. There will be music, refreshments, and a chance to win a $500 Cusp gift card.
Consignment boutique Tari partners with Snobswap to let you shop the closets of the Real Housewives of DC (sales benefit Mary Amons’s charity Labels Not Love). Also on site: pop-up jewelry, beauty, and fashion shops from female business owners like Jenny Shretter of Kolton J.
The Alchimie Forever showroom (1010 Wisonsin Ave., NW, suite 201) will feature plenty of local style stars. In addition to Alchimie Forever beauty products, Butler & Claypool showcases vintage fashion, shoes and accessories come courtesy of Kassie Rempel of Simply Soles, and Erwin Gomez of Karma Beauty Lounge has eyebrows taken care of. 6 to 10 PM.
Bluemercury celebrates Fashion’s Night Out with complimentary M-61 facials and makeup touch-ups. Need to stock up on beauty products? Now’s the time—Bluemercury is offering a swag bag for purchases of $150 or more, and we hear the contents are pretty epic.
Del Ray, Alexandria
At the Intersection of East Oxford & Mount Vernon Avenue you’ll find Del Ray’s “fashion block party.” From 6 to 9 PM, catch a runway show, live music, and more. Also: Though we couldn’t confirm anything, we’ve heard whispers that Vogue itself will be focusing on Del Ray as part of its small-town FNO coverage. Periwinkle will also be hosting local designer Rochelle Behrens (whom you may remember from Women of Fashion) for a trunk show with her line of stylish button-down shirts.
Old Town Alexandria
The Old Town Boutique District steps up in a big way to rival Georgetown’s Fashion’s Night Out festivities. We’re hitting up Bellacara for complimentary makeovers, Hooray for Books! for fashion-focused kids’ crafts, Olio tasting room for a Stella & Dot jewelry trunk show (a bit unexpected for an olive oil store, but hey, we’ll take it), Zoe boutique for prosecco and major raffles, and the Shoe Hive for a trunk show with Alexandria-based jewelry line Toka + Chris. Starting at 8 PM, there will also be a fashion show at the Torpedo Factory emceed by Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta host Monte Durham.
Tysons Galleria
Anne Fontaine, Ann Taylor, Basler, J.Crew, Juicy Couture, and Nicole Miller are all offering gifts with purchase, and even more luxury retailers are offering one-night-only discounts and special contests. From 6 to 8 PM, Saks Fifth Avenue has Dior beauty experts teaching you how to layer mascara and select the right lipstick; there will also be mini hair-volumizing makeovers. See this flyer for more details.
Fairfax
Undeniable Boutique (a Best New Boutique Winner in our 2012 Best of Washington Package) hosts an outdoor fashion on Grand Commons Avenue in Fairfax Corner, complete with a live band. It’s the first and only independent retailer in Fairfax County to participate in Fashion’s Night Out.
Where are you headed this Fashion’s Night Out? Any good sales or events we missed? Let us know in the comments!
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
