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| Suzanne Somers |
On the eve of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week the night belonged to The Heart Truth, which held its Red Dress Collection 2011 Fashion Show at the Tents in New York City’s Lincoln Center yesterday evening. The stars were out in force, both on and off the runway. Guests in the front row included Susan Sarandon, Matthew McConaughey, Andy Cohen, Johnny Weir, Mr. and Miss Jay from America’s Next Top Model, Robert Verdi, and Luann de Lesseps from the Real Housewives of New York.
The Heart Truth uses the Red Dress symbol to raise awareness about the dangers women face from heart disease while stressing the importance of prevention. Each year the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show brings together a group of famous, accomplished women to model dresses created by top fashion designers. This year The Heart Truth also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lucille Ball and the 60th anniversary of the debut of her iconic television series, I Love Lucy. Ball died in 1989 of cardiovascular disease.
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| Eva Amurri |
As always, this year’s list of celebrity models reads like a who’s who from the fields of entertainment and media. Dancing With the Stars was well represented with Julianne Hough, who danced on the show for several seasons, leading off the parade of beautiful women in a Swarovski gown. Former contestants Audrina Patridge, Denise Richards, and a very pregnant Leila Ali wore Badgley Mischka, Matthew Williamson and A Pea in the Pod, respectively.
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| Laila Ali |
The Today Show’s Ann Curry looked radiant in a Carmen Marc Valvo gown, strolling, appropriately enough, to the U2 song Beautiful Day. E! News host, Giuliana Rancic, danced her way down the runway in Notte by Marchesa. She stopped briefly to blow a kiss to her husband, Bill Rancic, in the front row. Proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, actress Eva Amurri, daughter of Susan Sarandon, was poised and elegant in a cocktail length dress by Chris Benz.
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| Linda Gray |
The loudest applause of the evening went to veteran actresses Linda Gray, who did her catwalking to the theme song from TV’s Dallas wearing a Pamella Roland gown and the forever-sexy Suzanne Somers in Ina Soltani. Legendary singer, Patti LaBelle also wowed the crowd looking sleek in a design by Zang Toi.
At the finale of the show, singer Natasha Bedingfield, modeling Nicole Miller, performed live, before all of the models took one last turn on the catwalk. Some of the dresses worn at The Red Dress Collection show will be available for public bidding at www.clothesoffourback.org through March 4th. Proceeds will help to support women’s heart health awareness and research.
-Rhonda Erb
(photos: Stylist.com)
The Daily Bet by Rhonda Erb
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