An Exclusive Sneak Peek at The Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection

Wearing red is always a statement, but that’s especially true during the The Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection. This Thursday, February 11^th at 8pm, the American Heart Association will present the runway show during New York Fashion Week to bring awareness to the number one killer of women: heart disease. Over 20 celebrities will wear custom gowns by top womenswear designers—including Badgley Mischka, Pamella Roland, Nicole Miller, and Marchesa—and walk the annual fashion show, with attendees asked to wear red as well to show their support. “Every season it is an honor to participate in the Red Dress Collection show,” says participating designer Reem Acra. “New York Fashion Week brings such a spotlight on the fashion industry, with people watching from around the globe. I applaud the Red Dress Collection for using New York Fashion Week as a platform to promote awareness of heart disease in women.”

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association's national campaign to bring an end to heart disease and stroke for women. For more than a decade, they have created a movement to education ladies about heart health, encouraging them to learn what they can do to prevent heart disease, get regular check-ups, adapt a healthier lifestyle, and fight for equal health opportunities. Contrary to common belief, heart disease doesn’t just affect men—it affects everyone. "I support the American Heart Association’s Red Dress Collection each year because it affects many of the women who wear my clothes,” says Miller. “Heart disease can be prevented with lifestyle changes, so it's very important to spread awareness and encourage women to be healthy."

In addition to showcasing the red dresses dreamed up by household names, three designs made by the Macy’s Incubator Designers will go down the runway, by Conrad Booker from Philadelphia, Kanjana “Cake” Carlos from San Francisco, and Grace Lee-Lim from Chicago. Each of the Fashion Incubator programs are housed at Macy’s locations and aim to develop the next generation of fashion trendsetters by providing them with exposure to industry contacts, business resources, mentorship, and more in their home city. The three designers share an exclusive look at their designs, as well as their inspiration and what The Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection means to them.

Grace Lee-Lim: “The gown I designed was inspired by the women portrayed in Gustav Klimt's Art Nouveau paintings. Klimt often depicts female subjects who are alluring and confident, and the line quality shown in his works have a beautiful mixture of soft curves and hard lines. In the same way, this gown was designed to have a balanced combination of a strong, refined silhouette with softly feminine curves and intricate details. Heart disease isn't something that usually comes up in everyday discussion but it's shocking to see how many people, especially women, are affected on a daily basis. By being a part of the Go Red For Women show, I'm given the platform to play a small role in the larger discussion of heart disease and the preventative measures that we can take to overcome this condition as a unified society.”

Conrad Booker: “The ‘Dress’ or ‘The Whole Look,’ as I like to refer to it, finds its inspiration in the patterns generated from the body's interconnecting blood vessels. The structural make-up and concept of ‘stents’ are woven throughout the dress, making for an eye-catching experience. The dress will be accessorized with one of my signature red clutches. Go Red For Women and the Red Dress Collection, for me, is a vehicle to bring awareness about the importance of heart health for women. While my mother suffers high blood pressure and my father suffered a stroke at 49, it has helped to bring this serious issue front and center in my life. This show helps women understand that they are not immune to this disease and should monitor their blood pressure and get annual check ups. If we could, with our spouses, ‘couple’ our visits, we might be able to combat both issues.”   

Kanjana "Cake" Carlos: “I found out that Kit Hoover was the celebrity who would wear my design shortly after I was selected to participate. Knowing who would wear my dress influenced the design a lot. Kit is a very petite woman, so I changed the original design to ensure the dress would still be beautiful without overwhelming Kit. This is a win-win for me:  I get to design a beautiful red dress that will be featured on the runway at NYFW and fight heart disease at the same time. I try to put my health first, but to be honest, it is quite difficult while I am trying to grow a business. There is so much stress and never enough time. You skip meals and exercise. Sleep sometimes suffers too. It is tough, but I know not to take my health for granted and being a part of this Go Red campaign helps me remember to do what’s right.

Looking for something red to wear on Valentine's Day? Check out 11 Sultry-But-Chic Lingerie Looks for Valentine's Day. Follow me on Forbes, Twitter and Instagram.