Photo: Getty Images

Last night, H&M threw what may have been the biggest fashion party of the year in honor of their collaboration with the house of Versace. Guests—Blake Lively, Sofia Coppola, Chloe Moretz, Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming, Helena Christensen, Chace Crawford, Uma Thurman, Abbie Cornish, Coco Rocha, Zachary Quinto, basically anyone famous who happened to be in New York—entered into a hall of mirrors built from scratch on a pier in the West Side Highway. On the red carpet, Allegra Versace told us that her uncle “would be very proud,” while Donatella gushed over New York, “I love the people and the energy.” Post-champagne, a second room opened to reveal a square-shaped runway. Nicki Minaj sat in front of us and recalled her most memorable Versace moment: “I fell in my triple platform heels in the ‘Super Bass’ video, but I was like no I’m not taking them off! Fashion is pain! So I went on and did my lap dance. ‘Super Bass’ went onto be such a big song so maybe Versace is good luck.”

Photo: Getty Images

The crowd burst into applause when Prince entered the room and sat across from Minaj (and next to Zoe Kravitz and Alexander Wang), signalling the start of the show. Though we’d already seen the clothes, they came to life on the runway, set to heavy dance music and accessorized with leather head wraps and smoky eyes. Chunky collars, gem-encrusted cuffs and pointy lace-up booties polished off the colorful dresses and studded skirts. After Donatella took her bow, another set of massive doors opened to reveal a swanky, palm-papered lounge and gold stage. Minaj, decked out in the new collection, led the crowd in a “Donatella” chant before Prince drove everyone wild. However, by the time Prince started singing ‘Purple Rain’ a contingent of serious shoppers was about to bust through one of the fake walls into the designated shopping area. “This is like a Black Friday at Wal-Mart situation,” one editor groaned. Another held onto the bar to avoid being trampled in the crush of desperate print-seekers and once inside we watched a slew of successful, well-known people crawl on the floor to retrieve their must-have pieces. So if you’re wondering how the collection looks in person, and whether it’s worth waiting in line for come November 19th, there’s your answer. With additional reporting by Misty Sidell.