Fashion's Night Out

Now that Labor Day is behind us, we look forward to fall fashion and fall foods.

Giuseppe and I enjoyed our time at the beach, but we're also looking forward to not entertaining so much.

The other night to kick off Fashion Week, we went to Fashion's Night Out.  FNO was an idea conceived by Vogue Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, as a single night for stores in New York to stay open and stimulate the economy after the 2008 economic implosion.  It is now one of the most important nights to launch next year's collection and has spread to just about every major city around the globe.  It's a night where designers and celebrities all make personal appearances at Bergdorf's, Saks, Barney's and boutiques up the Avenue stay open well into the evening.  It's the night where everyone gets dressed up -- pulling out that outrageous outfit that would look only too normal on a night like FNO.  Think Carnival in Rio.  The streets were mobbed. It was so alive.

Giuseppe and I spent the evening at Bar Italia on Madison Avenue.  Nello's down the street was smart enough to have rental chairs and tables nearby to accommodate the influx of diners who wished to gawk from a table.  Thankfully, a sidewalk table fortuitously opened up when we arrived.  Who was that walking by?  Oscar de la Renta? He just left his eponymous boutique where he sang with a live mariachi band.  There was Dennis Basso in his fur boutique greeting his customers with bubbly and the new fall furs.

We sat there watching the world go by sipping Bellinis and martinis over grilled salmon and branzino.  It was marvelous.

We're back!


Links:
www.fashionsnightout.com
www.baritalianyc.com