Mayor Villaraigosa Stages Fashion Economic Intervention for Los Angeles Fashion’s Night Out

Mayor Tony  broke it down to for the fashion faithful tonight in downtown LA. He held a little press conference to promote the festival of fashion coming to LA on Sept. 10th.  The Mayor gets it.  He may not be a fashionista, or even a recessionista, but he’s deep into economic stimulus and if fashion can help, then why not get behind it and stay behind it ?  It’s a good strategy.  Has Arnold thought of this?  Gubernator, fashion could be your best new friend. The Mayor knows it.  He told it all.   “The event will showcase the creative talent — behind the 5,000 fashion lines located here — who are constantly inventing fresh, new ways to express the diversity and culture of our great city through their designs”, said Mayor Villaraigosa.
 
My dear readers, did you realize Los Angeles has over 5,000 fashion lines here? And it’s not a secret that California is suffering in this economy.  So on Sept. 10 from Venice’s Fashionable Abbott Kinney shops, to the Beverly Center, to Melrose Ave let Fashion Ring with Fashion’s Night Out Los Angeles! 🙂 I’m jiggy with it. Let’s get the global fashion celebration party started. I don’t know about you, but I just might pull an all nighter because there is going to be so much ground to cover this year.  Last year, I toughed it out at Nieman Marcus Beverly Hills. There I was with Kiefer Sutherland, looking at the “Traffik” book and sipping champagne.  Really dreadful way to pass the time.   This year,  I might have to change the whole program! Los Angeles will have fashion block parties complete with celebrity and designer appearances all over the city. Look for celebrations in these  Los Angeles’ diverse “hoods” of fashion: Melrose Ave., South Robertson Blvd., West Third Street, Abbot Kinney, Los Feliz, Downtown Los Angeles, Westfield Century City, Westfield Topanga, The Grove, or West LA’s central hub, Beverly Center!

Today the Mayor told us, that Fashion’s Night Out is going Hollywood.  He announced that Grammy Award-winning singer of the Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am will be co-hosting the official Opening Ceremony at the Beverly Center at 5pm alongside Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Vogue’s Lisa Love.  Will.i.am is totally cool, and very hip on social media.  I heard him speak at TwitterCon earlier this year, and he’s a big Twitter user with a huge following. Born here in LA, will.i.am attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles. In 2001, he began designing his own signature clothing line, i.am, which made its official debut in 2005 at the Magic Apparel Trade Show in Las Vegas.  In addition to Will.i.am co-hosting, many celebrities and designers will be present including designer Randolph Duke. Love his Oscar gowns and coverage.

Beverly Center (BVC) will serve as central hub for the City’s official Fashion’s Night Out celebration, hosting the opening ceremony as well as multiple fashion shows  and parties throughout the mall’s retail stores. Fashion’s Night Out at the Beverly Center is open to the public with free self parking from 4-10pm. Their major events that evening include star-studded large-scale fashion shows on the 6th floor Center Court, Bloomingdale’s Men Suiting Event, and Macy’s “Denim Rocks” fashion show hosted by Vogue’s Senior West Coast Editor, Lisa Love.

FashionTwoPointOh!  will be holding a Blogger’s Cafe at The Grove : September 10th will see Los Angeles’ newly formed coaliton of style Bloggers celebrate their first ever official Fashion’s Night Out from 7pm-9pm at a central hub at The Grove. The new group, formed by Los Angeles blogger Kelsi Smith, Director of Special Programs Social Marketing at Fashion LA Inc. ,supports Los Angeles bloggers on a local level. Can you even imagine how many Tweets will emanate from The Grove of Sept.10 will FashionTwoPointOh! unites? To follow all the happens, check out FashionTwoPointOh on Twitter.

To get all the details on Fashion’s Night Out Los Angeles go to http://www.fno.lacity.org  and click on each registered retailer’s name to be directed  their websites. Updates are also available at the Twitter @fnolosangeles. Now, here’s the important bit about the savings and the deals.  There is shopping incentive for everyone September 10 to shop. There will be  limited edition sales, incentive sales, gift with purchase, celebrity appearances, DJs, gallery installations, custom fashion design opportunities, free manicures and spa services autograph sessions, giveaways, gift bags, photo booths, celebrity hosts and much more. And of course, you know there has to be a Tee shirt! FIDM helped make a cool one. I have to get it.

To get the lowdown on Fashion’s Night Out in New York, London and more cities, click here. Anna Wintour are you all smiles that your little idea for a  fashion festival is igniting coast to coast? 🙂  Click here to read my earlier post on the festivities.