The Jen Kao show at Mac and Milk ended around 6:15pm last night, just as the drinks and revelry began to flow up and down Ninth Avenue in the Meatpacking District. We walked past a huge grill being set up outside Stella McCartney, though sadly, we didn’t stay for what we assume was a scrumptious barbecue. Instead, we made our way to Steven Alan’s store on Franklin Street for drinks before heading up to SoHo to join the crowds of people that were in line to get into Opening Ceremony (photo above).

Refreshment stands and an ice-cream truck kept people hydrated while they waited to browse the limited edition items inside the store and the designer-duds from Rodarte, Band of Outsiders and Alexander Wang being sold outside from the back of vintage pickup trucks. We picked up a couple ties from Band of Outsiders — a relative steal for $40 — then hung out inside where we caught up with our friend Hyden Yoo, and also watched as the crowds swarmed designers Philip Lim and Alex Wang (who arrived separately and stayed for less then ten minutes each).

The rest of the night was spent walking around SoHo, making careful note of the long lines at Bathing Ape (where Pharrell was working the cash register) and Intermix (which had a slew of celebs drop by, including Rihanna, Sienna Miller and Anna Wintour). We also stopped by Bloomingdale’s SoHo, though we later found out the big party was at the store’s flagship location on 59th Street, where Gwen Stefani held court amidst a host of other celebrities and designers. After a couple more stops — for more drinks and finger foods — we called it a night just before midnight. Still, the streets were buzzing and full of eager shoppers and fashion lovers alike even at that late hour. Whether the event helped to rejuvenate the city’s sagging retail economy remains to be seen, but at least it brought a level of fun and community back to fashion — and shopping in New York.