Fashion's Night Out 2011: What's happening in Brooklyn

NY Fashion Week is just around the corner, which means the city’s third annual Fashion’s Night Out will take over an evening of the runway-to-retail-buzz-fest on Thursday (Sept. 8). Brooklyn has stepped it up a notch with lots more stores participating this year, and lots more wine, cupcakes, and discounts a go-go. You could fight the crowds to see big name celebs at Bloomingdales or Saks… or you could kick back in the home-borough and preview new collections from indie designers, enjoy special FNO-only deals. Here’s a selection of Brooklyn events; there are dozens more on the FNO website. All festivities begin at 6pm and end at 10pm unless otherwise noted.

Scosha, 64 Grand St., Williamsburg
Grand Street is a block party of FNO happenings, starting with Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Scosha Woolridge’s FNO Retreat at her workspace / store. Dr. Alkaitis Organic Skincare, Pretty Monsters, Heaven Scent Baking, Pretty Padded Room, The Copper Beehive Tattoo Company and Five Element Acupuncture will be offering complimentary mini-facials, holistic treatments, 10-minute therapy sessions, acupuncture, actual tattoos, sweets, cocktails and live music from 4 to 9 p.m. The first 40 shoppers at Scosha will receive a free gift bag, and your favorite budget living site of all time will be debuting their snazzy new t-shirts, designed by Bob Bland of Brooklyn Royalty. Find out why we’re calling them Brokelyn Free-Shirts! Also, SCOSHA is having a sample sale in store and online through Sunday, with exclusive designs from 30 to 50 percent off.

Le Grand Strip, 197 Grand St.
Get your FNO fix with a francophone spin (literally, French vinyl) at this champagne party with special promotions on fashion until 11pm. Dance party!

Nightwood, 111 Grand St.
Brooklyn-made furniture and home goods retailer Nightwood will be hosting FNO in the store from 6 pm to 9 pm. Refreshments will be served. Come see what locally made, one-of-a-kind pieces you can find at a discounted price. www.nightwoodny.com

Bird, 203 Grand St., Williamsburg; 220 Smith St., Cobble Hill; 316 Fifth Ave., Park Slope
T-shirts, dresses and totebags from designers Robert Geller and Rachel Comey. Cocktails by Tito’s vodka, and bites by Morris Grilled Cheese. Until 11.

Artists and Fleas, 70 N. 7th St., Williamsburg
Participating designers and vendors include: Astali, Cynthia Rybakoff/New York, FancySexyMe, High Horse Hats, QP & Monty, Alexander Campaz Designs, Nanako Design, Dusty Rose Vintage, BiBi Doan Designs, Gypsy Nation’s Moth to the Flame, Georgia Varidakis Jewelry, Evolving Habitat, The Perfect Perfect, Metal Taboo, Snash Jewelry by Shanna Nash and many others. Dusty Rose Vintage will be collaborating with Mel from Une Vie Geniale, selling reworked vintage t-shirts, and a part of the proceeds from this FNO fundraising effort will go to the feminist collective Permanent Wave. See the Williamsburg FNO Facebook page for more info.

Beri Outlet, Blueberi, and Redberi, various locations
Offering an additional 20% off all sale items, 10% off new fall merchandise, and refreshments. Blueberi is located at 143 Front St, redberi at 319 Flatbush Ave., and the beri outlet at 500 Prospect Pl.

CRUMBS, 109 Montague St., Brooklyn Heights
Celebrate FNO with a CRUMBS Bake Shop special FNO Cupcake, a white chocolate brownie cupcake with vanilla cream cheese frosting, white chocolate chips and white and chocolate drizzle on top. Buy five cupcakes and get the sxith free. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the CFDA’s charities: NY AIDS Foundation and the NY Community Trust.

Julia James Boutique, 200 Franklin St., Greenpoint
This one-year-old boutique specializing in wearable chic, celebrates Fashion’s Night Out with drinks and dessert. A free gift with every purchase and anyone who stops by will be able to enter a raffle for a gift bag from the store full of goodies.

Lane Bryant, 380 Fulton St., Downtown
Designer showcases with in-house fit models. Plus Model magazine in attendance. $500 gift card giveaway, DJ, drinks 6pm-9-pm. Re/Dress had to cancel their FNO event due to in-store technical difficulties, so the shopgrrrls and cast members of Big Sexy will be making an appearance here as well.

Shen Beauty, 315 Court S., Cobble Hill
Gett gorgeous with makeovers and skincare tips at this day spa. Drinks, snacks, and free gifts with every purchase.

Dekalb Market, 138 Willoughby St., Fort Greene [update: due to weather, this has been moved to Sunday, aka Fashion’s Afternoon Out!]
The Dekalb Market celebrates Fashion’s Night Out with an artisanal foodie twist, with open bar ~~6 to 7 p.m.~~starting at 3pm followed by fashion show and entertainment at 4:15pm. Peruse the shops and designers while sampling food from the market chefs, and have your most fashionable photo taken by the event photographer. At 7 p.m. the show starts, featuring men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories from all local designers, then stay from 8-11 to party with live DJ’s.

Thistle & Clover, 221 DeKalb Ave., Fort Greene
A hub of new design talent, Thistle & Clover is using the occasion to launch issue #5 of the Thistle & Clover Diaries, a showcase for the designers featured in the boutique. Have a nosh and meet up-and-comers Susan Domelsmith of DLC Brooklyn, Caroline Ventura of BRVTVS Jewelry and Lynne Hiriak of Cardigan.

Dumbelle, 145 Front St., Dumbo
Dumbelle is a quirky, anti-American Girl shop for those who love fashion and paper dolls. Color your own cut-out on Thursday night while enjoying cupcakes, cocktails, mock-tails and more.

Halcyon, 68 Pearl St., Dumbo
This store’s spin on FNO is a bit different. A BYOB! Browse North America’s best selection of underground electronic music on vinyl, CD and mp3 while DJs spin future bass music all night on Halcyon’s world-renowned sound system. Event is webcast live via uStream. Also featured will be women’s fashions by Brooklyn designer Jennifer Stewart. Check out the full DUMBO FNO listing.

For more Brooklyn events, check the FNO website and search by neighborhood and borough.

Follow Caroline: @Shadood.