Highlighting the day’s events was a fashion show in the East Lansing Marriott at University Place put on with the help of MSU’s fashion-based publication, VIM Magazine.

People ranging from aspiring models to MSU students dressed in attire and jewelry from some local downtown businesses. In lieu of an actual runway, models came down the escalator to show off their clothing and accessories to the crowd.

The show ended with a flash mob featuring a group of about 13 preteens dancing to songs, such as “Brokenhearted” by Karmin and “Circus” by Britney Spears.

Ashley Jones, an LCC student who plans to transfer to MSU in the summer, opened up the fashion show wearing a blue, knee-length formal dress, nude heels and a smattering of gold and orange bracelets and necklaces.

“I love opening,” she said. “It was kind of nerve-racking because I’m wearing heels and we’re going down an escalator. So it was like, ‘Oh my god, I hope I don’t fall!’ But in the end, it turned out very well.”

VIM Magazine had a hand in planning the fashion show during the first-annual Girls’ Day Out event in October 2011. Brittany Ricca, the event coordinator for VIM Magazine and a Spanish senior, said this time around, they were given a little more hands-on experience running the show and dealing with all the models and retailers.

“We handled all of the backstage work, clothes, getting the models ready, lining them up, sending them down the runway,” she said. “That was all facilitated by us, which was great. Everyone wants that little taste of real world experience, which I think this definitely gets.”

Businesses, such as Douglas J. Aveda Institute, Jeanologie and Mad Eagle, had shopping deals throughout the day to entice people to come downtown and shop. Douglas J. Aveda Institute gave out free massages and Mad Eagle offered 20 percent off everything in the store.

Restaurants also planned events for people to come check out, such as a beer tasting at Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub and a wine tasting at Beggar’s Banquet.

East Lansing resident Bridget Seitz came downtown with her daughter, 8-year-old Natalie, for Girls’ Day Out to support the small businesses in East Lansing. Mad Eagle and Jeanologie were on her list of shops to visit.

“This does bring the community together,” she said.

“This is, for me, the first opportunity to see so many people come out and the fact that it’s for Girls’ Day Out and you see all kinds of people … It’s fantastic.”