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Leading Ladies Model Red Dresses for Heart Truth

Start spreading the news - you know it’s not a run-of-the-mill fashion show when Liza Minnelli strides down a red carpeted runway in a shimmering Halston ensemble, belting out her famous rendition of “New York, New York,” or when the photo pit undergoes an intense security sweep because First Lady Laura Bush is in the house.

But that’s exactly what showgoers in Bryant Park saw on the morning of Friday, Feb. 1, the first official day of fashion week in New York, at The Heart Truth Red Dress collection show.

Making its runway debut in February 2003 and now an annual tradition during New York fashion week, Heart Truth is a part of a national awareness campaign warning women about the risk of heart disease and to urge them to take steps to protect their health.

“By wearing these red dresses, you’re showing that a healthy lifestyle never goes out of style,” said Bush, as she introduced the show.

Stars of film, television and music, including Minnelli, Heidi Klum, Ashanti, Molly Sims and even “West Side Story”’s Rita Moreno, modelled red dresses designed by top American designers like Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan and Tracy Reese, among others.

Flanked by faux paparazzi and camera crews, the celebs each added their own signature style to their runway walk.

While runway veteran Klum walked with her usual supermodel stride, others took the opportunity to ham things up a bit, adding a playful twist. Lisa Rinna shimmied and shook her goods like a flapper in a short fringed number designed by Michael Kors, while curvy Camryn Manheim took on the role of sassy diva, wearing sunglasses that she later seductively placed in her cleavage as she applied red lip gloss at the end of the runway.

But it was Minnelli who brought down the house when she closed the show with "New York, New York," and a delighted audience sprang to their feet to give her a standing ovation.

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