The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) The Heart Truth campaign will once again bring the Red Dress to life on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, with the debut of the Red Dress Collection 2011.
The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2011 will open Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center today (Feb 10, 2011). More than 20 celebrity participants will showcase the power of the Red Dress to encourage women to take action to protect their heart health.
Featuring nearly 70 top fashion houses and 150 celebrities since its inception, this annual event made possible through a partnership with the fashion industry has helped to establish the Red Dress as one of the most recognizable health symbols in the country.
This year's Red Dress Collection is presented by Diet Coke with national sponsor Swarovski and partners Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and AOL.
“For four years, Diet Coke has been a passionate supporter of The Heart Truth. This year we're offering consumers more ways than ever to participate in the effort. We invite consumers nationwide to join us in capturing flags to help raise awareness and funding for heart health programs,” said William White, group director of Coke North America. “We are dedicated to encouraging new generations of people to be active, stay extraordinary and become advocates for heart health.”
Celebrity participants in this year's Red Dress Collection Fashion Show include: The Biggest Loser's Alison Sweeney, Today Show host Ann Curry, The Good Wife's Archie Punjabi, reality television star Audrina Patridge, So You Think You Can Dance's Cat Deeley, television actress and Cover Girl Dania Ramirez, actress and former fashion model Denise Richards, actress and burlesque artist Dita Von Teese, Californication's Eva Amurri, recording artist Eve, actress and model Garcelle Beauvais, talk show host Gayle King, E! anchor Giuliana Rancic, singer and actress Julianne Hough, former professional boxer Laila Ali, television and screen actress Linda Gray, singer Patti LaBelle, Law & Order: SVU's Stephanie March, Three's Company/Step by Step actress Suzanne Somers, and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson.
Participating designers in the 2011 Collection include: Alberta Ferretti, Badgley Mischka, Catherine Malandrino, Carmen Marc Valvo, Chris Benz, Daniel Swarovski, David Meister, Donna Karan, Ina Soltani, Matthew Williamson, Monique Lhuillier, Naeem Khan, Notte by Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta, Pamella Roland, A Pea in the Pod, Tadashi Shoji, Tracy Reese, Zac Posen, and Zang Toi.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute