Red Dress Collection Fashion Show 2009

My FIRST evah fashion show and it's the one with ALL the celebrities in it! Not to mention, a fashion show that reminds us all that heart disease is the number one killer of women.

The Red Dress Collection Fashion Show is a celebration of the red dress being the symbol of heart health for women. Red as a color alerts us to danger, and yet is also sexy, feminine, and fashionable.

I was given the chance to attend this event by the generosity of Twitter Moms and Olgivy PR and I was live tweeting with hashtag #hearttruth all day...which started at 5:45 am as I boarded my Amtrak train for NYC.

I was so excited walking up to The Tent at Bryant Park (and surprised that it really was a huge white party tent) that I barely noticed the numbing already starting in my toes - I never wear heels anymore.

After waiting outside, then inside, then watching the mannequin models with their Netbooks, then chatting with Bryn Taylor of SheFinds.com, the gates were finally opened and we streamed inside to where the party was.

Mannequin models

The first thing you see are the photographers, then the red catwalk. And while I was sooooo tempted to jump on there and do my best "I'm too sexy" move, I stuck with Bryn (a pro) and found my place at the very top of the seating. Actually, behind the seats...
where I stood...
in my heals...
that were already making my toes numb an hour earlier.

The view from my 'seat'

Then the show begins. And Tim Gunn {gasp, vigorous clap} from Project Runway came out and started talking about heart disease in women, and it got real quiet. We all realized that the celebrities, the designers, the glam of Fashion Week in New York, (and my now bleeding toes) mean nothing when compared to the battle women are fighting every day within their own bodies. Tim mentioned 4 things that women can do to lower their risk of heart disease:
1. eat right
2. be physically active
3. don't smoke and
4. maintain a healthy weight.

A Red Dress

So began the celebration in which 20 celebrities came strutting down the catwalk wearing creations by some of the greatest designers. Some of my favorites were:

Jennie Garth in Badgley Mischka (stunning)

Tori Spelling in Betsey Johnson (fun and flirty)

Vivica A. Fox in Jenny Packham (for her 'girl power' move)

Lynda Carter in Carolina Herrera (one of my personal favorite designers and Wonder Woman looked amazing)

Samantha Harris in David Meister (OK, I sort of hated her for how good she looked)

Susan Lucci in Gustavo Cadile (because she's Susan!) and

Katie Couric in Carmen Marc Valvo (because she looked a little uncomfortable and that made her real).


Before I show you the video, I have a little something I want you to do:
Go to The Heart Truth website and download a .pdf version of The Heart Truth for Women brochure.
Put it into a #10 envelope and write a little note that says, "Because I love you."
Then mail it to your mom, your aunt, your grandma, your sister, or your best friend.

Because that is what this day was really all about:


Before the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show from twincident on Vimeo.


The Red Dress Collection Fashion Show 2009 from twincident on Vimeo.

Take care of your heart!
Janine

For a closer look at the models and the dresses, check out The Heart Truth Flickr stream and the OlgivyPR video of the show.