In town for New York Fashion Week and to check on the progress of his first U.S. store, Nicholas Kirkwood made a personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue last night, where he was met by a throng of fans young and old—many of whom brought their own or purchased a new pair of his shoes that he dutifully signed.

“The energy here is incredible; you have everyone from bloggers to CEOs,” he said, scanning the crowd gathered on the eight floor shoe hub. Kirkwood, who also wears a second hat as creative director at Pollini, is staying through the weekend to attend the Suno and Prabal Gurung shows; he collaborated with both designers on their catwalk footwear. “There’ll be lots of texture and colours mixed together,” he hinted.

As for his new store, which will be located on Washington Street at the corner of Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District (directly opposite the future new home of the Whitney Museum), Kirkwood said it will be open in about a month’s time. And with the autumn winter 2012 shows in full swing, what does Kirkwood have up his sleeves for his next collection? “I’m developing a new point with a bow heel,” he told us. “It’s going to be an interesting silhouette. I haven’t actually made it yet, but I can picture it in my mind...”