Fashion's Night Out: Los Angeles style

The Beverly Center was home to a full-fledged runway show Friday night -- a little slice of the global shopping extravaganza called Fashion's Night Out in our own backyard. Lights, loud music and celebrities in the front row added excitement. Tweens crowded the banisters on all floors overlooking the hoopla.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, introduced by Ellen K of Kiis FM, kicked the evening off and wasted no time telling the crowd what the event was all about: "Today we celebrate retail, and we're saying to all of you that we want you to shop until you drop."

The tweens cheered the loudest for will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, who thanked them all for coming and reminded them that when he was 15, he used to "sit up there on the top floor." 

Lisa Love, West Coast editor of FNO co-sponsor Vogue, thanked the crowd and reinforced the mayor's sentiment. "I just want to say I am so proud of everybody in L.A. Fashion is fun, spend money tonight and help everybody in this economy and this business."

The fashion show commenced to the blaring sounds of Mike Posner. There were also appearances by The Hills star Stephanie Pratt, blogger Perez Hilton and actress Mena Suvari.

--Raha Lewis

Photo: L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attends the American Idol Grand Finale 2010 at the Nokia Theatre on May 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Gregg DeGuire / FOX / PictureGroup.