Those who think that the world of Vogue doesn’t stretch beyond the pages of the glossy magazine need only to look at the phenomenon of Fashion’s Night Out as proof of editor Anna Wintour’s wide-ranging influence. In 2008, to juice the fashion business while it was slogging through a recession, Wintour and others in New York created a one-night event of shows, designer appearances and special events to celebrate fashion.
FNO — which is Thursday this year — has spread to more than 100 cities. And Colorado is fully on board, with events from Aspen to Boulder, Denver to the suburbs.
“The timing is perfect, with the fall season and back-to-school shopping,” says Brittin Karaffa, marketing manager at Park Meadows in Lone Tree. “We felt it makes sense to do an event for our customers to come out for.”
More than 60 stores and restaurants at Park Meadows are participating, and the center is creating “closets” for shoppers to visit to experiment with various style personas. Stylists from Fashion Group International of Denver will be doing makeovers. The shopping center is also setting up perfume bars in conjunction with Dillard’s and Sephora; there will be live music performances and a runway where visitors can “strut on the runway and be judged on their own style to win awards,” Karaffa says.
At Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Neiman Marcus will for the third year be staging a trend show at 6:45 p.m. for Fashion’s Night Out. In addition, the store is hosting a ping pong match to benefit The Diplomats Ball for The Institute for International Education, and guests can challenge celebrities to play. Refreshments, beauty makeovers and entertainment are also part of the event, which runs from 6-9 p.m.
A dozen stores throughout the center will be offering discounts, promotions and personal shoppers.
Southlands Shopping Center in Aurora is hosting a shopping spree, a fashion scavenger hunt, ambush makeovers and goodie bags. Retailers and restaurants are also offering sales and discounts.
Downtown Boulder merchants are hosting a fashion show at 6 p.m. with more than 40 in the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall. After the show, two dozen retailers are hosting in-store special events.
For listings of additional events all over the state, visit
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
