OCEAN CITY – Hundreds of locals came out for the first Fashion Night Out in Ocean City hosted by South Moon Under earlier this month.

Fashion Night Out (FNO) is an unprecedented global initiative originally created in 2009 in New York City to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence and boost the industry’s economy during the recession.

In response to overwhelming demand, FNO returned to New York City and cities across the country to highlight fashion and support retail with exciting events that include designer appearances, celebrity guests, fashion shows and musical performances.

South Moon Under was one of several stores in Ocean City to bring the national event to town for the first time. The event was held in all South Moon Under locations, as well as K-Coast, Quiet Storm, Ish Boutique, Sea Quest and Raggamuffin.

“I thought it would be a great idea to ask the other retailers in town if they wanted to join in because there really isn’t another event in town where we all participate together,” South Moon Under Manager Roxanne Prete said.

South Moon Under greeted customers with wine or a “spiced punch” to sip on and DJ Joey Capo had the music going while they shopped. Swag bags and $25 gift cards were given away every half hour and every customer received 10 percent off their purchase that night and if a $200 purchase was made they would be entered into the grand prize at the after-party held at Galaxy 66’s Skye Bar.

“Fashion Night Out is something that is growing globally so I feel like if we can introduce our customers here to the idea along with the different demographics that each of the different retailers participating provide than I think that each year it will just grow bigger and bigger as it does globally anyway,” Prete said of the plans to have FNO become an annual event in Ocean City.

Local Rina Thaler and her friends stopped by South Moon Under for their first FNO visit in Ocean City and planned to visit the other participating retailers afterwards. She said they participated in a similar event in Bethany Beach a couple of years ago.

“I think it is great that the stores are working together and with the restaurants,” Thaler said. “It’s good because all of the tourists have left so it’s all of the locals around and it is a good way to have fun. I keep seeing everyone I know at all of the stores.”

Shopper Debbie Johnson was planning to return to Italy in two weeks and attended FNO to pack her suitcase with the latest fashion from this country.

“I come out to re-connect with the locals and to see what the fashion is going to be like this season,” Johnson said. “I want to get ideas on what effortless fashion looks like and to how I can incorporate that into the things I am taking to Italy.”

South Moon Under began as a small surf shack in the summer of 1968 and has since evolved into a sophisticated, upscale clothing retailer with 18 stores in Virginia, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.