this is exactly the effect HM wishes for.
it gets worse every year.
the minor collabs (Sonia Rykiel, Matthew Williamson...) are mostly quite normal, no real riots for those. But the annual November big thing has been well planned and advertised to create the hype.
I queued only once, for the Comme des Garcons-collab. I arrived only half an hour before opening time at the Brussels shop and there were about 30 others waiting in line. No grouping, limited purchases at all. All was pretty civilized and got all the pieces I wanted.
miss the old days....
I didn't go today, it's not really my cup of tea.