From supermodels packed like sardines at Calvin Klein to the bevy of chic Russian hosts at the private Ferragamo event, this year's Fashion's Night Out may have been bigger and better than ever before. Champagne was flowing, sidewalks were swarming, flashbulbs were popping — it certainly was one crazy night. But just in case you missed the fabulous madness that was, never fear: all the highlights from New York City's big night are right here, as snapped by the insiders on the fashionable front lines.

With a front row that included the likes of Tennessee Thomas, Sarah Sophie Flicker, and Michelle Harper, one might have worried that Giovanna Randall's Honor label had suddenly switched horses and become very, very downtown. However, as the first looks — frothy, uber-full skirts in georgette, lace, and lace-like prints — came floating down the runway, it became very apparent that there was no chance of that. And thank goodness. The world needs more pretty for pretty's sake, and that was precisely what Randall delivered.

Dresses and skirts were the mainstay here, and most came in the label's signature girlie silhouette: high necklines and skirts that flared from the waist in a cupcake cloud of organza and pouf. Ruff collars, flutter sleeves, and oversize chiffon bows also made appearances, as did neon jacquard and intricate lattice-work, the latter of which was draped web-like over open backs and on the hems of belled sleeves. And for those downtown girls in the front row? High-waisted shorts and wide-legged, V-neck jumpsuits trimmed in high-tech glitter vinyl.

A series of colorful garments tinged with surf culture formed the bulk of Jenni Kayne's Spring 2013 collection. Kayne staged an intimate presentation and talked with editors and other guests while a team of three models posed in a selection of impeccably tailored suit separates and dresses whose colors (sunny yellow and saturated pink) echoed vivid seaside sunsets. A colorblocked dress and jacket combined deep shades of red, blue, and orange in an unexpectedly pleasant mix, while stripes of varying widths covered black and white trousers, shirts, and skirts. The designer's surfing inspiration touched other garments a little more literally: a sporty gray jacket with a drawstring waist and a midriff-baring sleeveless top, in what Kayne's show notes called an "ethnic inspired print," were perfectly primed for the beach.

Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra certainly know their way around a slinky dress. They've made them the hallmark of their line, and for Spring 2013, they once again offered them up in spades. Draped, wrapped, and tied — one by one they came down the runway; some fell off the shoulder in asymmetrical folds, while others — appealingly — closed kimono-style at the waist. The real winners, however, were the styles that came in acid-hued splash prints; those felt powerful and wearable all at once.

"It's a little bit Americana," Thakoon Panichgul said when describing the Spring 2013 offering for his secondary line, Thakoon Addition. American motifs buzz here and there in the collection: red-and-white stripes are used liberally, and on one t-shirt, a blue floral print takes cover under a big white star. There is also no shortage of denim items — or at least ones that look like denim. Panichgul took Tencel and combined it with silk to create garments that look like chambray but actually aren't. And what could be more American than innovation in design?

Photos courtesy of Thakoon Addition

Chris Peters and Shane Gabier placed a special emphasis on shape and technique when designing their Spring 2013 collection for Creatures of the Wind. "We wanted to push the feminine silhouettes toward these almost hard and aggressive volumes and proportions, but keeping them light and airy," Peters said. To that end, he and Gabier offered generous skirts, dresses, and coats that tended to swing away from the body, but kept them girlie with bright colors and plenty of eye-catching geometric prints. Sharp tailoring created the edge the designers were after, while detailing like the snakeskin arms on a crisp white blazer and the Swarovski crystals decorating the bottom of one cream-colored skirt kept up the visual interest.

Richard Chai Love's latest designs were a breath of fresh air: flirty florals, crop tops, cutout dresses, loose-fitting shorts, and statement jackets. Sporty silhouettes also dominated — colorblocked anoraks took the trend to a whole new level, while knee-length spandex shorts further fed into the sporty vibe ( and the men's looks coordinated flawlessly). A-line skirts lent feminine flair, while cutouts hinted at sexy. But that's not all Chai had to offer for Spring 2013; toward the end of the show, there were plenty of evening-appropriate looks — a lamé dress, sequined sweaters, and sheer tops in darker shades — proving that from day to night, Richard Chai Love has you covered.

The intricate leather harnesses in BCBGMAXAZRIA's Spring 2013 collection toughened up the line's workwear and gave otherwise sweet dresses serious sex appeal. Inspired by the women in Helmut Newton's iconic black-and-white photography, many of the looks were monochromatic, but their construction was anything but simple. In addition to being adorned with straps of leather, dresses combined printed silk, lace, and — in some cases — chambray all in the same garments. Luckily, the fabrics were light enough that they didn't compete with one another, and instead formed soft, fluid silhouettes.