Place a bid and you will have the opportunity to receive advice from Tim Gunn over lunch with five friends, meet Reed Krakoff at his Spring 2012 Fashion Show and have the designer create you a One-of-a-Kind, Custom Boxer Handbag, attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Academy Awards Viewing Party, or own a pair of diamond encrusted 18k gold Oliver Peoples Harlot sunglasses! The auction comprises of 102 lots, with diverse offerings in fashion, travel, music, art, sports and even internship opportunities.

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Place bids before April 28, you can meet legendary VOGUE Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour and attend a photo shoot for the magazine….I’m already daydreaming about my Paris trip on Mr. Lauren’s tab!

Online catalogue accessible via: http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/fashionandfriendsforjapan

FASHION GIRLS FOR JAPAN: 60+ DESIGNERS/60+ ROLLING RACKS

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A SPECIAL DESIGNER SAMPLE SALE TO BENEFIT JAPAN SOCIETY’S JAPAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND, THE RED CROSS, AND THE NYC’S JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI FUND. 100% of proceeds from the sales will go towards the relief efforts.

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More than 60 designers have come together – including Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Derek Lam, Diane von Furstenberg, Doo Ri, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, VPL, Zero Maria Cornejo and several accessories designers– and pledged to donate ‘one rolling rack’ of their clothing for this charity event. All items will be offered at 50% or more off the retail price.

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THE BOWERY TERRACE AT THE BOWERY HOTEL 335 BOWERY NEW YORK SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 11AM – 7PM SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 11AM – 5PM

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$5 MINIMUM DONATION FOR ADMISSION BUY TICKETS ONLINE AT www.fashiongirlsforjapan.com

Uma Thurman modeling the campaign's T-shirt

Uma Thurman has been named by the Entertainment Industry Foundation as this year’s ambassador for Saks’ Key to the Cure campaign.

Thurman will take over from Gwyneth Paltrow as the face of the campaign. This year, the “Key to the Cure” campaign features T-shirts designed by Donna Karan, proceeds benefit the Women’s Cancer Research Fund.

Thurman says, “everyone I know has been affected by breast cancer one way or the other….It is vital that we work toward a cure as well as develop more accurate and advance testing.

“For me, it’s not just about dressing women; it’s about addressing the issues that are so important to all of us.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. This year, they predict more than 40,000 women will lose their battles against breast cancer. The staggering statistics means that 110 women will die each day, five every hour. Research is the key, actress Patricia Clarkson says, there have been great advances in the fight against breast cancer, there is much more to be discovered.

The campaign, which has raised over $33 million in the last 12 years, will kick off this Fall; shirts will be on sale starting October 21 in Saks Fifth Avenue stores around the country.

I’ve been looking for a new pair of jeans lately and was desperately searching for the Rock the Cure pair from Rock & Republic. I was about to give up on finding a pair that supported a charity until I came across a small, high-end denim label called Pierce Jeans. YES- Finally!

Pierce jeans are made from organic cotton and are known for their excellent fit and washes. But what really sets this label apart from other designer denim brands is the fact that Pierce donates a ‘significant’ portion of their profits to children’s charities around the world including World Vision and Kids of Kilimanjaro.

Even better, Pierce actually hand-stitches a symbol on the back pockets that signifies to which continent/country/charity the profit from the sale of that particular jean is supporting.

Founded in 2006, Pierce already has a small celebrity following including A-listers such as Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez (ok so what if some of those names are B-listers).

For 25 years, Italian fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli has been making some of the world’s finest cashmere clothing with a refined yet casual aristocracy-meets- the Ivy League feel. He has also been running his business with an eye toward philanthropy and ethical business practices.

Employing a good percentage of the locals, his designs are made in rural Italy in the village of Solomeo.  Brunello treats his employees with respect and values each of their opinions. There are no hierarchies and the employees do not clock in (they even have their own keys to the premises).

His ultimate goal is to have “a form of modern capitalsim where profit is used to improve the condition of human life.”

The brand supports the Ale Foundation by raising money through events and activities throughout the year. The Ale Foundation is a non-profit working toward improving the lives of children in need.

Cucinelli has boutiques in SoHo, the Hamptons and Beverly Hills. His collections can also be found at Bergdorf and Saks.

This year -2009- , they have designed clutches, men’s and women’s t-shirts and jeans which can be bought online or at boutiques carrying the R&R label.

They project to make $10M from the collection, setting aside $5M to set up the foundation and donate to various non-profits and the other $5M to go to City of Hope. R&R will also be generating funds for City of Hope by hosting fundraisers throughout the year including concerts, film festivals and shopping events.

Based in California, City of Hope is a biomedical research and treatment center which aims to prevent, treat and cure life-threatening illnesses like cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.  It has been around  since 1913 and has performed over 9,000 bone marrow and stem-cell transplants!

Basel clutch in cherry croc-stamped leather, $195 - 100% of profits go to City of Hope

Klum modeling the new t-shirt designed by Michael Kors, $40

This year, Saks continues with its tradition of philanthropy through supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. WWD reports that Heidi Klum has signed on as the ambassador for the Key to the Cure Campaign and Michael Kors has designed this year’s t-shirt available for purchase exclusively at Saks.

The shirts, retailing at $40, will be available the first of October in conjunction with a public service campaign featuring Klum to appear in the glossies.  Saks will donate 2% of its sales (up to $250k)  to local and national women’s cancer charities during the weekend of Oct 15-18.  For the BCRF? Saks is donating a lump sum of $500k!

Heidi Klum comments, “It’s important that we all work continuously to find the cure for cancer and to find answers… This year’s T-shirt is fabulous and not just because Michael, my fashion inspiration and great friend, designed it. It’s fun and comfortable and really a great gift for yourself or a family member or friend that you can give to support a very worthy cause.”

According to WWD, Saks has donated over $32M to cancer research over the past 10 years through their special shopping initiatives and designer t-shirts.

Last year, Gwyenth Paltrow served as ambassador with Karl Lagerfeld (head designer and creative director of Chanel) designing the shirts. Mercedes-Benz also developed a special edition sedan (S550) for the Key to the Cure campaign, donating money to the charity based on sales of the car.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck showing off a tunic she designed herself for the collection

In celebration of the brand’s 50th anniversary, Lilly has partnered with 9 celebrity women (Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angie Harmon, Marcia Cross, Catherine Bell, Debra Messing, Brooke Shields, Bridget Moynahan and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) to design a special S/S 09 collection benefiting the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF).

The collection, “A Colorful Cause” is classic preppy Pulitzer  and includes swim suits, caftans, dresses and skirts. While the celebrities designed the pieces themselves, they did not stray too far from the signature design elements of the brand: pastels, brights, prints, embroidery and embellishments.

The best element of the collection is that 15% of the proceeds are donated to EBMRF. This foundation supports research and treatment for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare skin disease affecting children and adults. There are approximately 100,000 Americans suffering from this congenital disease characterized by blisters and open wounds continuously appearing on the body. To date, EBMFR has raised over $5M for research efforts.

Marcia tunic designed by Desparate Housewives star Marcia Cross, $248 - 15% goes to EBMRF skin disease charity

Gisele in the Barstow bikini, $120

“Making the simple act of getting dressed world changing” is quite an ambitious goal for a small fashion company to hold, but Loyale seems to be living up to it.

Founded in 2005 by Jenny Hwa, Loyale makes beautiful clothes in the most sustainable methods possible while contributing some of its profits to Green Corps, an environmental non-profit which aims to support leaders in the environmental sector.

Loyale manufactures many of its pieces in the US in an effort to support the domestic garment industry using organic cotton (the cultivation of regular cotton accounts for a significant amount of pollution from pesticides and insecticides) and “factory reclaimed overstock” (excess fabric from past seasons) fabrics.

In adhering to these strict ecological standards, Loyale is not only creating eco-chic clothes, but is also helping to “create a shift in consciousness where commerce and compassion for the planet can coexist.”

Valencia dress, $178

Cameron Diaz picked out these plaid shorts herself for the Vogue shoot, $275

Goods of Conscience, founded in 2005 by Father Andrew whose parish is located in the Bronx in NYC, “seeks to create and sell well-designed and well-made garments for the benefit of skilled workers in impoverished communities in both Guatemala and [the Bronx], to enhance the spirit of worker and wearer alike.”

Father Andrew developed the idea for the company after a mission trip to Guatemala. The company  employs Mayan Indian weavers in Guatemala and Bronx sewers to make the collections that “look good, feel good and do good.”

Goods of Conscience asks consumers to choose to wear “The Social Fabric.” This phrase has a double meaning because it is also the trademark for the actual fabric that is used in the clothes. It is a reflective organic cotton or indigo from Guatemala which cannot be counterfeited and ensures that all parties involved in the production of it are paid a living wage.

Santiago Scarf, $225

Monterrice Jacket, $895