Anna Wintour put the kibosh on the official nationwide Fashion’s Night Out this year, but thankfully, downtown retailers weren’t going to let it go quietly.

 “Fall into Fashion is a new tradition based on Fashion’s Night Out, which Downtown Portland hosted for the past three years and is not occurring in the U.S. this year,” says Emily Flint, manager of the downtown Macy’s store and chair of the Downtown Retail Council. “We wanted to build on the tremendous popularity of Fashion’s Night Out in a way that continues to showcase downtown as the region’s destination for shopping and fashion.”   

Director Park will be the epicenter of style with fashion shows running on an outdoor catwalk every 30 minutes from 5:30-7:30 p.m (emceed by yours truly!). On-site photo booths will create special flip-books, while pedi-cabs will be waiting to whisk shoppers off to their next stop. Shoppers who spend $150 or more at participating stores (while supplies last) will receive gift certificates to downtown restaurants, and all are invited to enter a fundraising raffle to win a $1,500 Downtown shopping spree with proceeds benefitting Dress for Success Oregon. Dress for Success will also be accepting donations of gently used professional women’s clothing. 

And if that wasn’t enough, SmartPark garages will offer Fall into Fashion attendees free parking after 4 p.m. with validation vouchers available at Director Park and Pioneer Place from 4-9 p.m.

Some Fall into Fashion event highlights include:

• Fashion shows at Director Park – Get a front row seat to see the newest trends as Portland’s most fashionable models walk the runway every half-hour from 5:30-7:30pm with emcee Eden Dawn, Style Editor for Portland Monthly. ?
• In-store events with more than 25 Downtown retailers – Downtown’s best stores and boutiques will show off their wares with trunk shows, informal modeling, limited edition releases and more while offering food, beverages giveaways and musical guests. ?
• Restaurant gift certificates – Shoppers with purchases totaling $150 or more will receive gift certificates for some of Downtown’s best restaurants from participating stores while supplies last. 

IN-STORE EVENTS: