Like the changing of the seasons, Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out has come around once more to remind you that not only are you one year older, but you’re also no closer to being able to afford most of the merchandise that will surround you in a few hours as you sink ~gratis prosecco~ while making idle chit chat with a model who is invariably out of your league.
Happy Fashion’s Night Out!
What follows is a Basic’s GIF Guide To Making The Most Out of VFNO including where to find the best champagne, the best bargains, the best hors d’oeuvres and the best trillest, swag, whatever that means.
WHERE TO GET TURNT
Everywhere. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from attending previous Night’s Out – fashion and otherwise – it’s that there’s complimentary drinks on arrival (and long after) every which way you turn. If the city’s lock out laws, your aberrant social life and the high price of French champagne are wreaking havoc on you in an aggressively personal manner, take solace in the fact that you’ll be able to w[h]et your appetite in almost every participating retailer.
You’ll score sparking wine and 20% off at Alice McCall, plus a Gift With Purchase (hereafter GWP) provided you make one in the same store. Miu Miu and Prada will also have you drunk in love after they be serving Louis Roederer sherbets all night. There’s also a fully-fledged Mumm pop up bar turning up in Martin Place that’ll be ripe for the ravaging once you’ve had your fill of standing up.
- tl;dr: open your heart, hands and mouths and someone will put champagne in it. You’re welcome.
WHERE TO GET A FREE DINNER
Again, everywhere. Nary a venue will be bereft of cater waiters armed to the hilt with serving platters, snacks and quality banter alike. Make friends early on in the evening, make your preferences known, your eye contact game strong and the edible rewards will reap themselves.
Level 7 of David Jones’ Elizabeth Street store sounds like it has all your bases covered in terms of a well-rounded meal. All your dietary requirements are there: there’s a Raw Bar, ‘posh chips’ from chic butter churners Pepe Saya, dumplings and assorted rice paper wares from sass-mouthed catering magnate Miss Chu, NY Deli-style sandwiches and ice cream from Serendipity.
Also, Crystal Head Vodka.
WHERE TO GET HELLA SWAG TRILL WHAT?
Fast fashion giants Uniqlo and H&M continue to make their imminent large scale retail arrivals keenly felt with two pop up stores in Pitt Street Mall. You’ll (finally) be able to shop like the bargain-starved maniac you are for one night only at the latter. The former has been there for a while. God speed.
You can also save 10% off at Dion Lee’s exquisite Strand Arcade flagship; there’s also 20% off to be had at TOPSHOP/TOPMAN and at all General Pants stores, and there’s, like, 46 of those. Sportsgirl are getting très generous with 20% discounts, giveaways and GWPs and G-STAR are giving away copies of The September Issue with every pair of jeans you buy, which means you’re making all kinds of profits on the back of that purchase.
Ginger & Smart are also offering 20% off your champagne-hazed induced purchase, or free shipping when you shop online should the prospect of thirsty punters plundering catering trays instil within you a black and terrifying sense of dread.
Luxe British leather-goods manufacturer Mulberry will trade you a handbag and a complimentary Cara Delevingne tote should you be willing to part with your hard-earned legal tender. sass & bide are also offering all kinds of discounts and styling sessions – up to 30% if you’re willing to play by their rules – if that sounds like a chill situation to you, your savings account and your wardrobe.
WHERE TO GET CHIC AS BALLS
REAL TALK: There’s a 99% chance you’re never going to appear on the cover of Vogue. That’s just the way it is. Life is unfair.
Fortunately for you, that 1% chance has a 100% chance of occurring tonight at the OLYMPUS Pop Up in Pitt Street Mall, where you can literally step onto the cover as an integral part of a live photo shoot. I mean, can you even? There’s also a pretty good chance you’ll also end up in the pages of the magazine, provided your werq is up to scratch.
David Jones should be another one of your one stop shop for what looks like the majority of the evening’s #major activations. Both stores have runways on the reg; Halfway Crooks, Elizabeth Rose and Lanie Lane will all be ‘on the decks’ in varying degrees on the various levels, and GQ will shave your face and take your measurements at the same time while shining your shoes and plying you with ample Chivas Regal all night in the Market Street store.*
High-fashion emporium The Corner Shop are also spruiking a the-more-you-spend, the-more-you-save offer, plus free bubbles, limited gifts from Shu Uemura and the chance to win a $1000 spend in store should you be so lucky.
*Subject to RSS guidelines.
There you have it. Get amongst it, shop/drink responsibly/with wild abandon (circle the appropriate answer) and don’t hesitate should you feel the urge to treat yo’ self.
Only one further thing remains to be said, really:
Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images; Moi
