words_megan mccrink.

In the world of fashion, Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) is the event to see and be seen at. You may not pick up a guy there, but you may pick up a fashion tip or two. The centerpiece for Miami’s Fashion’s Night Out was Merrick Park in Coral Gables.

For the night, I wore a little black dress, my best coral platforms and my black quilted chain crossover. I picked up my friend, Danielle, and we headed over to Merrick looking forward to the night ahead.

Expecting loud music, cameras everywhere and models galore, we only found a silent Merrick Park. Wasn’t this supposed to be the biggest night of the year? Sure, Nordstrom had some promotions, like entering a raffle to win a swag bag including shoes, accessories and beauty products, but I was craving more since they hyped the event up online.

I wandered aimlessly throughout Merrick for a good ten minutes filled with disappointed while admiring the eye candy they had in the shops when I heard a booming noise coming from the other side of the mall. Was this my fashion nirvana calling? I was bred to the bright lights of Neiman Marcus. When I opened the doors I think I might have heard angels singing. There were signs of life in the store with people perusing around the various beauty products, getting their hair braided by “Blo” blow dry bar, having their nails done with Deborah Lippmann nail polish, or drooling at the studded Laboutins on display like I was.

On the second floor, there were people wall to wall since Neiman Marcus was hosting a fashion show. I didn’t get to take a peek at the show, but I heard the styling wasn’t the best and was an event that could have been missed.

Since my wallet is currently heaving and I’m on the college girl’s budget, I couldn’t really afford anything Neiman Marcus or anything that Merrick Park had to offer. My expectations weren’t met for this year’s Fashion’s Night Out, but then again, Miami is no New York City. I spent most of my time, however, admiring, drooling, and – I must admit – the occasional tearing over products like Tom Ford’s line of lipsticks and Miu Miu’s jeweled loafers for fall 2012.

If you missed this year’s Fashion’s Night Out, you create an FNO of your own and get just as much of the experience. Merrick Park is just a taxicab away, after all. Get dressed up, dine at one of the many restaurants Merrick has to offer and admire for yourself the beautiful things Merrick has in many of its stores’ windows. You’ll be feeling like one of fashion’s elite in no time.