Behind the Runway: Red Dress Heart Truth 2012

Every New York Fashion Week Diet Coke sponsors the Red Dress Heart Truth fashion show, where designers donate dresses and celebrities walk the runway to raise awareness for heart health with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It is always a fun show, and Fall/Winter 2012 was no exception.

 The director helping the celebs with their walk for the show while we set up. This New York Fashion Week the celebs included Christie Brinkley, Minka Kelly, Gloria Estafan, Chaka Khan, Jenna Elfman and more.

 The red carpet outside got a surprise snow flurry before the show, I stopped for a second to glimpse through the window and was shocked it was snowing!

 Diet Coke supports this heart health cause whole heartedly and they make it fun for the guests in the process. Every guest went home with a cute Diet Coke bag filled with goodies. Diet Coke also always parks in the New York Fashion Week tents at Lincoln Center providing drinks and Heart Truth facts for visitors.

The lights from the runway always make it difficult to snap decent photos so here are some from the Heart Truth Facebook Page. Be sure to stop over and LIKE them! Spread awareness for heart health!

 Minka Kelly in Diane von Furstenburg

(all runway photos from Red Dress Heart Truth Facebook Page)

 Christie Brinkley in Pamella Roland

 Jenna Elfman in Alberta Feretti

Jennifer Nettles in David Meister 

(She's in one of my favorite bands Sugarland)

Rebecca Romijn in Marchesa

The Red Dress Heart Truth show was a fun New York Fashion Week show to work, there was a huge crowd that came and everyone really enjoyed themselves. What was your favorite dress? Be sure to visit the Heart Truth Facebook page and let me know!

Keep that heart healthy!

Do Some Good Today: Charity Fashion Show

I'm off to Connecticut today, taking the train in a cocktail dress as only the great Old Hollywood Stars do,  to volunteer backstage at a Charity Fashion Show for the Wellspring Trust foundation. The event is What's Your Worth as it features Worth Clothing. I am very excited and will report back.

Be sure to check it out and make a donation. The Wellspring Trust foundation raises support and awareness for African women and children through film making. There most recent trip resulted in a documentary from Nairobi, Kenya and proceeds will benefit the orphaned children of the Flying Kites Oasis program. This charity fashion show is not to be missed!

Remember mes cheris, 

giving to others is always in style!

Violence Against Women: Fashion Organization challenging Sex Trafficking

Violence against women has long been a problem that has been fought hard in developed countries. And as much as I love fashion, and blogging to you everyday about the various ways it can inspire you, none will every touch me more deeply than living for a cause. In many underdeveloped countries sex trafficking is a heavy threat to women, and today I wanted to share with you an organization that is changing lives. I recently met Supei Liu and discovered her organization that I was quickly enamored with, as it helps rescue hurting women through fashion.

The Nomi Network was co-founded by Supei. After many years of working in fashion retail in New York City, Supei told me she visited various manufacturing plants in Cambodia for fashion buying, and was touched by the sex trafficking problem that was brought to her attention, and from there her direction changed.

Nomi Network is a non-profit organization that aims to leverage the marketplace, film, and fashion to eradicate human trafficking. We aim to increase the financial independence of women who are vulnerable to or survivors of sex trafficking.

Buy Her Bag Not her Body is created by Nomi Network. 

We've created a partnership between the fashion industry and cause-driven, well-designed merchandise made by at-risk women and survivors of sexual exploitation, providing them with fair, sustainable employment opportunities. Supported by people like you, our stylish, high quality products don't just look good, they do good. 100% of the profit is reinvested into training and career development programs for women. For more information about our work, please visit our website at www.nominetwork.org.

Repurposed from Vietnam Rice Bags these totes, cosmetic bags, laptop cases, etc. exemplify how fashion can have a heart. I personally love the top bag with the Nomi slogan because I believe it is very catching and concise as well as well designed!  But you may be in the market for a new makeup bag or gym bag....

The products are actually extremely well designed and well priced and 100% of the proceeds go to rescuing, rehabilitating, and educating girls and women that are victims of the sex trafficking trade. The best part is, the women benefitting from this foundation...are making the bags you are buying! You are actually directly impacting their life! I personally can't imagine a better organization to support!

BUY HER BAG NOT HER BODY... TODAY.