So officially, New York fashion week starts next Thursday, Feb. 11. But for those in the know, the ramp up to the Tents began this week with H&M's party for Sonia Rykiel's capsule collection at Bobo.

The party had all the trappings and buzz of a runway season event: off-duty runway models (check), CW actors (Leighton Meester, Kelly Rutherford, check), hours of open bar (check) and a DJ who has graced Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Victoria's Secret (Chanel Iman, check).

H&M's Jimmy Choo VIP preview sale on Friday night was a mad scene. Lines at the 5th Avenue flagship snaked around the block to get in (even if you were on the list) and once inside, there was a mini-line to get into the shoe section. In the thick of it all, shoes tumbled out of boxes, tissue paper was tossed and sequins were hoarded. The H&M staff did what they could to restock the sapphire blue boxes ("More size eights are coming up!") and keep the peace among a very determined crowd. Ladies, and a smattering of patient men, were decorous and polite but everyone had an agenda: getting their mitts on some shoes, by any means necessary. Speakeasy scored by strategically prowling for discarded size sevens in the middle of the room.

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Given the gloomy economic outlook, fashion retailers are hoping shoppers will indulge in one or two key pieces this holiday season, even if they aren't splurging on entire outfits.

Here are some of the items getting second looks.

One month before Black Friday, on October 29, Swedish fast-fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz said its Penn Station store in New York and its Powell Street store in San Francisco will each open at 6 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, and remain open through 11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. Two other H&M stores — one on the Third Street Promenade in Los Angeles and the other on Chicago’s State Street — will stay open until midnight on Friday.