As Fashion's Night Out spread across the retail landscape— from Rice Village to The Woodlands — more than 700 dressed-to-kill fashionistas shopped, schmoozed and partied their way through West Ave at what had to be the best-dressed block party of the year.

Co-sponsored by CultureMap, the evening kicked off in Tootsies where the SlimRitas and SlimOnades (1.5 oz of vodka at 80 calories) flowed, where jewelry designer Shelly Kidney showed off her ethnic/organic trinkets for BuJu and where the fashion finds were tremendous.

Shopping was just as interesting at Ivannia Boutique where the costume jewelry and chic evening looks were particularly popular. And what gent could resist the marked-down finds at Q Custom Clothier and Rye 51? Even BRSH Dental (a West Ave tenant) got into the act, passing out chapstick, breath mints and mini-cupcakes during the cocktail hour at Tootsies. BRSH glam owner Dr. Melicia Tjoa was all smiles over the turnout.

Once the wattage dimmed in Tootsies, the throng moved outside to the central block of West Ave, where dramatic lighting gave the feeling of a Hollywood stage set. The stiletto-proud group gathered around the velvet ropes of the runway to get up-close views of the fashion show, for which each of the West Ave retailers contributed the best of their lot.

Heading up the party scene were West Ave marketing director Michelle Yeglic and CultureMap editor in chief Clifford Pugh, accompanied by his partner John Dascoulias. They welcomed the crowd that included Roseann Rogers, Lisa Liles, Bubba McNeely, Nancy Mathe, Cari Shoemate, Cid Espejel, Cherri Carbonara, Nadia Palacios Lauterbach, Schuyler Evans, Kelli Colbert, Carrie Colbert, Kathryn McNiel and Rula Khoury.