Fashion's Night Out: Top 6 Places to Meet Celebrities

Sept. 5, 2012 — -- Thursday's Fashion's Night Out, Anna Wintour's fourth annual effort to get people to buy clothes by tempting them with discounts and drinks, is poised to be more fabulous than ever. More than 500 cities in 19 countries will participate, with many stores staying open late and doling out freebies to make would-be shoppers linger longer (manicures, massages, cupcakes, karaoke contests -- come and get 'em).

But maybe you're not interested in going into credit card debt for a mink stole that will be marginally less expensive tomorrow than it is today. Maybe you want to meet celebrities and sip free champagne, which, in our book, is a perfectly acceptable way to enjoy FNO.

Below, our picks for the best star-studded FNO events in New York City. (Sorry, rest of the country, blame MTV's Video Music Awards for cordoning off all the other celebrities in L.A.'s Staples Center.)

Kate Upton. Michael Kors, 667 Madison Avenue. Designer Michael Kors has corralled model-of-the-moment Kate Upton into judging a karaoke contest that'll go down at his Upper East Side store. If you can't Dougie, maybe she can teach you. 6 p.m. -- 11 p.m.

Kim Kardashian. Lord & Taylor, 424 5th Avenue. The grand dame of reality TV will descend on the third floor of Lord & Taylor to hawk her new fragrance, True Reflection. Too chaotic? Take the escalator up one level to mingle with alums from "Project Runway," who'll be toasting the reality series' 10th year. 6 p.m. -- 11 p.m.

Alessandra Ambrosio. Victoria's Secret, 591 Broadway. The VS Angel will pose with fans, who can also receive "signature Angel mini-makeovers." 6 p.m. -- 11 p.m.

Diane von Furstenberg, Solange Knowles and Allison Williams. DVF Meatpacking, 874 Washington Street. Meet the legendary dress maker, Beyonce's DJ sister, and the "Girls" co-star at von Furstenberg's store. If that's not enough, MAC will be providing complimentary makeovers.

Oscar de la Renta, Darren Kris, Vanessa Carlton and more. Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 5th Avenue. As with its selection of jeans, when it comes to quantity of bold-faced names, Saks has pretty much every other store beat. Meet "Glee" star Darren Kris, fete the launch of Oscar de la Renta's new fragrance with the designer himself, and listen to Vanessa Carlton croon. Even Rihanna's tattoo artist will be on hand, though no, you can't get inked at Saks. 6 p.m. -- 10 p.m.

Cyndi Lauper. Manolo Blahnik, 31 West 54th Street. Girls just wanna have ... $600 heels? Apparently, yes. The iconic '80s singer, who has a memoir out this fall, will perform at the favorite shoe retailer of the "Sex and the City" set. 7:30 -- 11 p.m.