As many of you already know, September 10th from 6pm to 11pm has been decreed Fashion’s Night Out: the world’s largest shopping event. Over 700 retailers and designers in the United States and 11 other countries (including Russia, India, Brazil, Japan, China, the United Kingdom and Greece) will participate, linked by not only the international Vogue editors who sponsor the event but also NYC & Company, the City of New York and the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Fashion’s Night Out aims to mutually boost the economy—with late store hours at both small boutiques and giant department stores, champagne and hors d’oeuvres, celebrity and designer appearances, special one-night-only items, makeovers and more—and serve as a philanthropic event. There is special edition Fashion’s Night Out t-shirt, and all proceeds from it will be donated to the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. Also coinciding with the event is an official Borough Clothing Drive; the donated items will be distributed to 17+ AIDS-related charities throughout New York’s five boroughs. Drop-off locations can be found at the following link.

While the night is a global initiative, it is especially relevant to New York, one of the world’s foremost fashion capitals. As stated on the event’s website, “Next to finance, fashion is the second-largest sector of industry in New York City—the headquarters of more than 800 fashion companies employing 175,000 people and generating $10 billion in total wages.” Consumer confidence is vital for the economy to rebound, and Fashion’s Night Out is the industry’s stab at trying to make things better. Even if it’s for just one night, it’s sure to be a fabulous one.

Images courtesy of Fashion’s Night Out.