Last week saw the Vogue Fashion's Night Out take over Manchester's most stylish spots for one celebrity studded night of fashion, freebies and fizz. We went along to join in the fun.
Walking around Manchester last Thursday on the Vogue Fashion Night Out felt as though we were soaking up the essence of London, with all of the glitz, glamour and celebrity air circulating around the streets. With black tie bouncers guarding the likes of Hugo Boss and Ted Baker alongside London-style black cabs and red velvet carpets, stores felt more like deluxe nightclubs filled to the brim with fashion icons and their friends than simply retail venues.
Burberry exclusively opens its doors on VFNO 2013.
Harvey Nichols stole the show with their 10th birthday party shebang, giving out complimentary rum punch cocktails on the door, as well as Champagne and wine. Huge games of Twister, Snakes and Ladders and a prize draw gamble gave attendees the chance to win innumerable freebies such as a make-up touch-up or Elemis hand and arm massage. Umberto Giannini gave us star-style hairdos and made us look like timeless 1920s vintage fashionistas, before handing us a stylish metallic goody bag (which prompted many a cry of “OMG, WHERE did you get that bag?!”). This was a celebrity studded event; walking past Alexandra Shulman herself, getting a snap with Manchester City F.C. legends Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards, and waiting in line to get our VFNO T-shirt customised by Roksanda Ilincic made us fully aware of it.
The Umberto Giannini toolkit.
The high street had similarly impressive offerings such as complimentary woollen-wear at Warehouse, and an official VFNO 10% discount off purchases at Mango. Market Street was host to parades of shoppers, some of whom were spotted by GAP and invited into the store to try on new products and get photographed after sipping on their complimentary fresh fruit smoothie.
Selfridges Vogue Fashion Night Out 2013 DJ party van.
After all the shopping frivolities had ended, we headed over to Australasia’s Grand Pacific Bar and Garden for their Vogue After Party where we sipped on Apple Crush cocktails and Rose and Lychee Martinis. Just behind the renowned Emporio Armani on Deansgate, Grand Pacific was the perfect place to celebrate fashion, and Manchester, for that matter. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones to feel the appeal of post-partying here as Kelly Brook’s ex, Danny Cipriani, and Alexa Chung’s buddy Henry Holland were among the numerous famous faces to drink alongside us.
Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott pose for a photo
To say the very least, Vogue's Fashion Night out was an evening to remember - and our freshly manicured nails, Vogue FNO 2013 official T-shirt, memorabilia and oodles of freebies mean we won't be forgetting it in a hurry. British Vogue’s decision to host this huge annual event in Manchester for the first time was a marvellous success and proved Manchester to be at the centre of fashion. We look forward to Vogue’s Fashion Night Out visiting our streets again in the years to come.
