Lincoln Center hosts 'Fashion's Night Out: The Show'

Don't call it just another fashion show. "Fashion's Night Out: The Show," held outdoors Tuesday night at Lincoln Center, was billed as the largest public fashion show in New York City history.

The idea: promote Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (starting Thursday) and Fashion's Night Out (a shopping gala to be held in area stores on Friday).

It was big all right - with 150 models wearing outfits from various fall lines, and 1,500 guests, including industry vets (Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors), celebs and athletes (Leighton Meester, Lauren Hutton, Henrik Lundqvist and Serena Williams), plus members of the public who'd purchased tickets.

"This is everybody's show, which is great," said Rag & Bone's Marcus Wainwright.

VIPs seemed relaxed, low-key. Parson's student Lauren Ascher (decked out in Alexander Wang) snagged photos with both Meester and Vogue's Anna Wintour, the evening's host.

"Would you mind . . .?" Ascher asked, nervously.

"Sure, but the show's going to start in a minute," Wintour replied, smiling.

Then the center fountain erupted with water, and models arrived by double-decker bus, wearing everything from '50s suits and dresses to outrageous tribal getups. Topping off the evening: musical group N.E.R.D, getting people's hands in the air.

"Say ho-ohhh!"

Uh . . . that would be "haute," wouldn't it?