Hundreds of thousands flock for retail therapy as Vogue Fashion’s Night Out ushers in Spring
HUNDREDS of thousands converge on Sydney CBD to to prove retail is still strong as Vogue Fashion’s Night Out ushered in Spring.
AROUND 200,000 people converged in the Sydney CBD as 600 retailers banded together for the seventh annual Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out.
The event took over Sydney, starting with official proceedings with Vogue editor-in-chief Edwina McCann, Lord Mayor Sydney Clover Moore and guest performance by Jess Kent in Hyde Park.
“I am am quite happy for you to take over the city ... just for a night,” Ms Moore said after she was introduced under a mega perspex marquee stage in Hyde Park.
“Anything that brings people into the city is a great thing, so happy shopping!”
An estimated 190,000 shoppers flocked to the city on the first day of Spring, with the weather staying dry, to take advantage of the one-night-only live entertainment, special offers, celebrities, fashion industry VIPs and exclusive runway shows.
The champagne was flowing as Vogue celebrated the return of the Australian Olympic team from Rio with a sporty-luxe dress code. Luckily that meant designer trainers and runners for lots of the crowd, including Ms McCann, who swapped her usual heels for Louis Vuitton sneakers.
Olympian diver Melissa Wu and her sister were spotted at the event.
Shoppers posed for photos in the Vogue gymnast rings and even atop the Vogue sports podium, and yep, there were even Vogue basketballs.
Presenting partner American Express hosted their Amex card members in a pop-up lounge in Pitt Street Mall as card members lined up for a chance to recharge with a glass of champagne while others ventured in the beauty hub to get “made-over”.
David Jones hosted an ongoing party on its seventh floor, as DJs ambassador Jesinta Campbell hosted runway shows in the store.
There were pop-up beauty bars, style workshops, guest DJs, and an exclusive Neil Perry dining experience in the food court in the store.
The ‘Vogue Bar On Seven’ powered by FitBit was the place to be seen during the night with celebrities and fashion VIPs dropping in for respite throughout the night.
Shoppers had their new looks professionally photographed in the Samsung Studio in Pitt Street Mall and nearby Vogue Living’s Neale Whitaker hosted the Brickworks VIP Cinema Bar.
There were packed lines to get into the Dyson hairstyle bar in Pitt Street Mall while flash mobs of dancers from Sunglass Hut kept everyone surprised and entertained as they “mobbed” throughout the city.
Next Thursday, Vogue moves up to the Gold Coast, with their first ever Vogue Fair — Vogue’s first major shopping event in Queensland at the newly revamped Pacific Fair.
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Originally published as Hundreds of thousands flock for retail therapy as Vogue Fashion’s Night Out ushers in Spring