Fashion’s Night Out? Same time next year

The stats from September’s wacky and wonderful Fashion’s Night Out are in and the word is: success.

So say the powers that created the five-borough multi-faceted, major fashion gig to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence and boost the industry’s economy. The event was held the first night of Fashion Week in September.

“Thousands of New Yorkers attended events in all five boroughs supporting the City’s retail and fashion industries,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement.

And the organizations that conceived of and backed the promotion – American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Company – the city’s tourism and marketing arm, and the City of New York – are planning on doing it again on Sept. 9, 2010.

The first time around, some 800 stores participated in the event with celebrity appearances, gifts with purchases, musical performances, lessons and all around nutty happenings. For example, shoe man Stuart Weitzman, left, played pingpong with visitors, Oscar de la Renta sang, the Olsen twins bartended in more than one location and there was salsa dancing in the streets.

Lots of fun, but how good for business was it? Some of the evidence is anecdotal. “It was only 15 minutes after the event began and we were getting reports about lines around the block at stores throughout the city,” said Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour.

But there’s factual data too. An independent study conducted by ShopperTrak estimated a 50 percent increase in retail foot traffic and NYC & Company’s post-event survey of 1,300 consumers reported 75 percent purchased merchandise during Fashion's Night Out.

“It’s sure to an even bigger event in 2010,” Bloomberg said.

Keep it in mind and if you want to sign up for updates for next year’s very big night out check out fashionsnightout.com.

(Shoe and handbag retailer Stuart Weitzman gets ready for a returns during Fashion's Night Out in September. Photo by Bruce Gilbert.)