Who Needs Bryant Park? Fashion Week Is Coming to Downtown Millburn

Earlier this year, the Downtown Millburn Development Alliance announced that it would mothball its Magical Breakfast with Santa event and would instead launch a new event focusing on Downtown Millburn's burgeoning fashion scene.

Move over, Santa. Jimmy Choo is coming to town.

Today, Helen Kyle, Assistant Director of the DMDA, announced that the Alliance would be producing Downtown Millburn's first-ever Fashion Showcase on Thursday, October 29, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Chanticler. The event will be open to all retailers in Downtown Millburn. Kyle wrote in an email: "Proceeds will go to three very important charities in town: The Education Foundation of Millburn-Short Hills, Millburn-Short Hills American Red Cross and the Millburn Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad."

In addition, the DMDA is planning a Fashion Week in the downtown. Details on both events—including the exact dates for Fashion Week—will be finalized and released in the next few weeks.

Why fashion? Why now?

The events are the brainchild of Deborah Gilbert Smith, whose eponymous shop just moved to 340 Millburn Avenue, across from Gito, another purveyor of luxury label clothing in the downtown.

Gilbert Smith said that the event is an exciting new way to highlight downtown businesses in a down economy. "There is great fashion right here," she said. But Gilbert Smith was quick to add that the event will include all downtown businesses, not just fashion boutiques. She says the theme of Fashion Week will be "On the Town in Downtown Millburn."

Kyled concurred saying that all businesses could participate. She noted that the fashion niche in Downtown Millburn extended beyond clothing to include shoes, accessories, salons, spas, eyeglasses, jewelers and more.

Both Kyle and Gilbert Smith were anxious to highlight another aspect of the new events. Said Gilbert Smith, "We want to solidify the community and the community spirit of cooperation. We want to bring the residential and the business community together." That is why the Fashion Showcase event will benefit the three in-town charities. "We want the community to know that we are here for them," said Gilbert Smith. "The goal of it all is to enhance and unify the community."

Added Kyle: "We are very excited to sponsor and coordinate this wonderful event which will showcase our diverse retailers. We believe this event will introduce more shoppers to our downtown and, at the same time, help three very important organizations."