To fête the lighting of a 50-foot Burberry sign atop its new headquarters on Madison Avenue—forever altering the New York City skyline, publicists were quick to point out—the English company pulled out all the stops. A white carpet led up to the viewing area, which was located on the terrace of the Palace Hotel across the street, and big-name Burberry fans like Claire Danes, Orlando Bloom, and Carla Gugino all arrived dressed in the label's finest. The only thing it seemed the Brits couldn't deliver was a dry, clear evening. Or was the dampness intentional? "Are you kidding?" creative director Christopher Bailey chirped. "We brought this weather in special from London, just for tonight."

Clever move: The mist was the perfect ploy to show off the brand's trademark trenches. "Yeah, the coats help with that, but can Burberry come up with something to help frizzy hair?" laughed Lily Donaldson. The band One Night Only played through the rain, and then the crowd enjoyed a favorite English pastime: drinking and dancing, tunes for which were provided by MTV's newest property, Alexa Chung. But as anyone who's been to a London pub around closing time can tell you, it's hard to keep the bar stocked at a good English party, and the well ran dry shortly after the sign was lit. When Justin Long sauntered in holding a cocktail glass, Penn Bagley wasn't the only one to ask, "Where'd you get that?"

— Derek Blasberg