Slide Show: Black Ties and Little Black Dresses

There’s just something about a party with an escalator

We spent half the night running into friends and fussing over how great they looked, and the other half people watching. The woman on the left is especially timeless. She’ll be wearing that dress until she’s 73.

We spent half the night running into friends and fussing over how great they looked, and the other half people watching. The woman on the left is especially timeless. She’ll be wearing that dress until she’s 73.

Yours truly with my stylish boss, Seattle Met/SagaCity publisher Nicole Vogel, and her pal, professional social butterfly JJ McKay

Yours truly with my stylish boss, Seattle Met/SagaCity publisher Nicole Vogel, and her pal, professional social butterfly JJ McKay

I do love the black-on-black on black thing. Add black glasses? Even better.

I do love the black-on-black on black thing. Add black glasses? Even better.

Equal parts gracious and gorgeous: Jenny and Yelena Klimenkoff from Far 4.

Equal parts gracious and gorgeous: Jenny and Yelena Klimenkoff from Far 4.

This is Ullie De Osu from the local line Neodandi and Shalonne Foster from the soon-to-launch Fashion TV. They’re both in Neodandi; Ullie’s dress was amazing – the zipper down the back is impossibly chic.

This is Ullie De Osu from the local line Neodandi and Shalonne Foster from the soon-to-launch Fashion TV. They’re both in Neodandi; Ullie’s dress was amazing – the zipper down the back is impossibly chic.

A jazz band played smack dab in the middle of the shoe department. This couple looked especially psyched to be showing off their moves amid the Louboutins and Jimmy Choos.

A jazz band played smack dab in the middle of the shoe department. This couple looked especially psyched to be showing off their moves amid the Louboutins and Jimmy Choos.

Part of the fun was having free time with all the merchandise.

Part of the fun was having free time with all the merchandise.

Here’s me fondling a leather jacket by Valentino

Here’s me fondling a leather jacket by Valentino

This is Sarah Rose Bernhardt, NM handbag expert and …

This is Sarah Rose Bernhardt, NM handbag expert and …

feather eyelash wearer. "I got them over there," she said, and batted one of them toward the cosmetics department.

feather eyelash wearer. "I got them over there," she said, and batted one of them toward the cosmetics department.

Local models hired to wear pieces from Michael Kors’ randomly florescent fall collection strolled around the party breaking up monochromatic packs of black tuxes and little black dresses.

Local models hired to wear pieces from Michael Kors’ randomly florescent fall collection strolled around the party breaking up monochromatic packs of black tuxes and little black dresses.

These models were tasked with sitting on a giant ottoman near the Cartier shop-in-shop while wearing Brioni suits and Zac Posen gowns.

These models were tasked with sitting on a giant ottoman near the Cartier shop-in-shop while wearing Brioni suits and Zac Posen gowns.

This is the supergreat Alison Brownrigg from NWSource.

This is the supergreat Alison Brownrigg from NWSource.

I was psyched to see Ken Downing at the party; he’s Neiman Marcus’ fashion director. What Simon Doonan is to Barney’s, what Jeffrey Kalinsky is to Nordstrom, Ken Downing is to NM. And he’s originally from Burien. Beat that.

I was psyched to see Ken Downing at the party; he’s Neiman Marcus’ fashion director. What Simon Doonan is to Barney’s, what Jeffrey Kalinsky is to Nordstrom, Ken Downing is to NM. And he’s originally from Burien. Beat that.

This is not a wardrobe malfunction. This is very real. This is probably Gaultier or something. This is, I can only assume, the elder Ms. Gaga.

This is not a wardrobe malfunction. This is very real. This is probably Gaultier or something. This is, I can only assume, the elder Ms. Gaga.

The never-not-amazing Rose Dennis, in Luly Yang.

The never-not-amazing Rose Dennis, in Luly Yang.

Bonus points were given for color

Bonus points were given for color

Me with Fashion First’s Joan Kelly and her friends Ryan Macleod and Wendy Wood

Me with Fashion First’s Joan Kelly and her friends Ryan Macleod and Wendy Wood

As we were leaving we ran into Ken Downing again. Given my enthusiasm for his hometown, it probably looks like we’re chatting about Three Tree Point and Burien Press, but it’s probably more like, "I can’t believe you left Fashion Week and skipped Fashion’s Night Out for Us!" … and then …

As we were leaving we ran into Ken Downing again. Given my enthusiasm for his hometown, it probably looks like we’re chatting about Three Tree Point and Burien Press, but it’s probably more like, "I can’t believe you left Fashion Week and skipped Fashion’s Night Out for Us!" … and then …

he must have lectured me about structured shoulder trends for fall or something. I can’t remember. It doesn’t matter. He’s a doll and the whole nght was one very good time.

he must have lectured me about structured shoulder trends for fall or something. I can’t remember. It doesn’t matter. He’s a doll and the whole nght was one very good time.