Imagine this: An auditorium full of women, clothing, jewelry, giveaways, and cocktails. For some, that may sound worse than a root canal, losing your entire 401K, or missing the American Idol season finale, but for anyone who’s crazy about shopping, it’s pure bliss!

Last Thursday and Friday, SHOP.COM had the pleasure of exhibiting at Shecky’s Girls Night Out in Los Angeles. If you don’t know what Shecky’s is, you are MISSING OUT. It’s a fun biannual shopping event that occurs in many cities across the US and offers clothing, jewelry, accessories, and services from hundreds of vendors — plus free cocktails and amazing treat-filled goodie bags too. The best part is that this year, admission was free (unless you wanted a goodie bag, then it was $15 advance/$25 regular.) You may remember my post about it last year, when I went as an attendee.

The SHOP.COM Shecky's Team L t R: April, Yana, Me, Sheila

As an exhibitor at Shecky’s, we sponsored a raffle and partnered with Benefit Cosmetics to give free makeovers. (They gave the makeovers, we didn’t!) Our team held a raffle every half hour and gave away prizes that ranged from a Zune to an iPod Shuffle to glass vases to a wine chiller — and we were A HIT!!

SHOP.COM's Fancy Raffle Table

Besides holding the raffle, we created special shopping lists for the attendees a la Ikea — so “pleasantly buzzed” shoppers could take notes and remember which vendors to return to later on during the event.

Our shopperific shopping lists!

One of the great highlights of the evening was the bar area at Shecky’s. There were three cocktail choices that were ambiguously named “The Fashion”, “The Passion”, and “The Fun”. Or something along those lines. There was an entire area set up with a bar, tables, and low mood lighting and music to make you feel as though were at a swanky bar. Without the swanky prices — FREE!!

Fashionistas at the Bar Area at Shecky's

Not to brag, but I really think that SHOP.COM was the 2nd greatest highlight of the evening (after free drinks, of course) because of our raffle and because we partnered with Benefit Cosmetics. The Benefit Cosmetics store in Beverly Hills sent over two of their fab makeup artists, Tiffany and Carrie-Ann to provide makeovers and they were awesome!

SHOP.COM and Benefit Cosmetics -- what a great team!

The Benefit Cosmetics Girls -- They Rocked!

Talia -- The Winner of the Diamond Journey Pendant

Shecky's Girls Night Out LA

So what were some of the hot trends I saw at Shecky’s? I saw a great product called Mobile Beauty, which is simply a stick-on mirror that you apply to your cell phone for beauty-on-the-go. The mirror comes in several different designs, from cute piggies to sparrows to stars. I also saw TONS of jewel-toned maxi dresses and some great makeup from Einstein cosmetics. Angry One also had some interesting apparel and notecards that, uh, gives you the chance to really say how you feel. On the contrary, there’s a popular trend right now with yoga-inspired jewelry that I saw, like from this vendor Janaration, that was right across from us.

There was also tons of blingy, chunky jewelry and gorgeous accessories around too — not to mention your usual breast augmentation and teeth whitening services (it is LA, after all).

The perfect nightcap to the evening was getting the famous Shecky’s goodie bag, which this year seemed chockfull of food this year rather than product. The savior of the evening were the Popchips in the goodie bag, as there was no actual food at the event except for these delicious chocolately 170-calorie-Fling bars. But, really, how much chocolate can a girl eat over two nights? OK, dumb question.

All in all, a great event, a perfect way to indulge for a few hours, and amazing vendors. The Shecky’s Girls Night Out motto says it all: “Cure Your Recession Depression at Shecky’s Girls Night Out”!

Want to go to the next event? Check out the Shecky’s Girls Night Out schedule and see when they’re coming to a city near you.

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