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The shopping night 2
The façade of the Palau Robert
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The shopping night 4
The VIP area of the newly-opened Dirk Bikkembergs
On an autumn evening last week, the restaurants and shops lining Barcelona's Passeig de Gràcia - illuminated by glistening Christmas lights - stayed open past midnight as The Shopping Night BCN returned to the city.
With the complementary cava flowing freely, this season’s collections were out on show in stores ranging from Benetton to Blanco, and Carolina Herrera to Karen Millen. The hotly-anticipated discounts in shops such as H&M and Mango ensured plenty of shopping was done by the estimated 20,000 visitors on Passeig de Gràcia (figure from La Vanguardia), as its stores kept their doors open after hours, with the majority of the 90 participating shops staying open past midnight.
The night started out at Gratacós, decorated as a fairytale world with models dressed in the creations of talented designers such as Montse Liarte, Justicia Ruano and Jordi Espino, in the store renowned for their charming and unique creations. Glasses of champagne and brownies were offered to patrons due to a collaboration with Salta, a foundation dedicated to aiding the social regeneration of women, which truly helped to make the night memorable.
The newly opened Dirk Bikkembergs was undoubtedly the place to see and be seen, with scantily-clad men lining the windows, complementary gin and tonics, and a DJ spinning, guests mingled and air-kissed whilst perusing this season's clothing and accessories.
As the night progressed, the pavements became increasingly more chaotic as shoppers grabbed the last bargains of the evening and cued for free popcorn and candy floss on the streets in droves. Palau Robert was arguably the highlight of the night, as the front façade screened a light projection, encompassing the fairytale theme, whilst the beautiful gardens played host to opera performances on the balcony, which were enjoyed with yet more free flowing drinks and snacks.
The date of the next Shopping Night BCN hasn’t been announced yet, but as soon as they become available we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop with all the details so you can be a part of it!
Thanks to Judith Oriols of John Doe Communication, for generously contributing VIP passes to Barcelona Metropolitan's Emily Tarbuck, who participated in Barcelona Shopping Night and wrote this review.