...not just a woman's issue || Thinking Pink

...not just a woman's issue || Thinking Pink

Although the end of breast cancer awareness month gradually approaches, there is still time to do your part in the fight against breast cancer by shopping! Here are some of my favorite picks and the organizations that these designers/ products support

Designer: Jaclyn Smith
Product: the Jaclyn Smith Anniversary Collection
Being a breast cancer survivor, herself, this cause hits close to home for Jaclyn Smith. And so, for every piece purchased from her Limited Edition Apparel Collection, Kmart will make a donation to Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). These pieces are easily identifiable by the pink ribbon- and range from $24.99 to $89.99

Image Credit: Wanita Indonesia

Designer: Lauren Merkin

Product: Diana Pink Studded Lambskin Bag
I absolutely love this studded leather flap front cross body bag. 50% of the proceeds of this baby pink beauty will be donated to Young Survival Coalition (YSC); a global organization dedicated to ensuring that no young woman is left to face breast cancer alone.

Company: Clinique
Product: Limited Edition Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
The truly dramatically different moisturizing lotion comes with a collectible key ring with a pink ribbon heart and a Clinique “C” charm for $35. It also includes a free pink ribbon pin and a bookmark with key breast health tips. For each purchase, $10 goes to BCRF

Company: Rumba Time

Look fashionable in this pink RumbaTime wristwatch while contributing to breast cancer research at the same time. The colorful rumba watch is $20 with 20% of proceeds from its sale (40% during October) being donated to BCRF

Company: Converse
Product: Chuck Taylor Pink All Star Hi-Top and Oxford
Converse is also partnering with BCRF for Breast cancer Awareness month and is donating $50,000 connected with sales of this chic and comfortable pink chucks that are currently being sold for $45

Designer: Ralph Lauren
Product: Ralph Lauren Pink Pony
For higher end items, shop Ralph Lauren Pink Pony. This year, Ralph Lauren enlisted 100 fashion bloggers to stylishly showcase their support of Pink Pony’s mission to benefit breast cancer prevention and care to medically under-served communities. 10% of all proceeds from Pink Pony benefit the Pink Pony Fund.

Image Credit: Karla's Closet

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“Breast cancer is not just a woman’s issue- it affects all of us; the brothers, husbands, fathers, children, friends. Pink Pony is our effort in the fight against cancer”- Ralph Lauren

Estée Lauder || Thinking Pink

Estée Lauder || Thinking Pink

When it comes to breast cancer awareness, the Estée Lauder brand is one that has been actively involved in the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign since 1992. By distributing pink ribbons and informational brochures at counters in North American and around the globe, the brand works to raise awareness about breast cancer around the world. This month, Estée Lauder companies’ brands are selling Pink Ribbon products to raise funds and awareness for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)- a foundation dedicated to preventing and finding a cure for breast cancer.

Their exclusive Pink Ribbon collection acts as great conversation starters and will create opportunities for women around the world to share stories, encourage screening and raise awareness. Apart from raising awareness, proceeds from the sales of this elegant pink collection will raise funds of up to $500,000 which will be donated to the BCRF. Check out the Estée Lauder pink ribbon collection. Where better to wear pink than on your lips?

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In the United States alone, about 39,840 women will die of breast cancer in 2010

Source:

-The American Cancer Society

the white cashmere collection || Thinking Pink

the white cashmere collection || Thinking Pink

In support of a future without breast cancer, fifteen Canadian designers including Ines Di Santo, Paris Li, Angela Chen, and Caitlin Power took on White Cashmere Collection 2010: Fashion with Compassion. An annual awareness-raiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the White Cashmere Collection 2010 event was held to not only raise breast cancer awareness but to also raise funds for the Foundation. It featured models that strutted out in lovely couture designs made solely out of Cashmere bathroom tissue (BT) and inspired by the strength and courage of women affected by breast cancer. The spectacular BT creations ranged from hats, jewelry, swimwear and even a wedding gown.

Where do you come in? Well, participate in Cashmere’s Vote Couture for the Cure and vote for your favorite White Cashmere Collection 2010 design. For each vote placed, Cashmere will donate $1 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and $5,000 on behalf of the designer with the most votes. In addition, every voter also gets the chance to win a limited edition $150 cashmere scarf by designer, Thien Le. So go to Cashmere.ca, feast your eyes on this year’s lovely BT couture designs and vote vote vote!!!

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In Canada alone, 23,200 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die as a result of the disease in 2010

Source/ Image Credit:
-Canadian Cancer Society
-Cashmere

Thinking Pink ... globally

Thinking Pink ... globally

In 2010, 1.5 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

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Although a disease thought to be exclusive to the developed world, in reality 69% of resulting deaths from the disease occur in developing countries. Affecting nearly 1 in 4 women with cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and is a leading cause of death from cancer among women globally.

Breast cancer survival rates vary worldwide with the lowest survival rates (below 40%) found in low income countries as a result of late detection programs, lack of adequate diagnosis and lack of treatment facilities.

October is breast cancer awareness month and so this month, LecielLarue will be dedicated to all things breast cancer slash fashion related! Music, tv ads, billboards and even facebook is being used as a platform to raise breast cancer awareness around the world!

Well, why not fashion?

Source:
-The American Cancer Society
-The World Health Organization
-Worldwide Breast Cancer

Why Not Fashion?

Why Not Fashion?

Walking down the ever busy streets of Michigan Avenue one foggy morning, it suddenly struck me how despite the gloomy weather, Chicago’s women still dressed as sophisticated and as chic as ever. Deep in thought, something caught my eye- a pair of unique red stiletto pumps briskly walking towards me. Intrigued and mildly filled with want, I looked up at this beautiful mid-thirties woman and blurted out “oh wow, I love your shoes!” She looked back at me in surprise, smiled and said “Thanks! Its rock the red pump!” and disappeared into the crowd. Being the inquisitive person I am, I immediately Googled “rock the red pump" as soon as I got home. And there it was- an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign for women and girls! …and I thought to myself, “Well, why not fashion?”

The world of fashion is emerging as a medium for public health awareness. Utilizing the “voice” of fashion, awareness campaigns such as The Heart Truth (which uses the red dress as a symbol to build heart disease awareness among women) and “Rock the Red Pump” (which raises awareness about HIV/ AIDS among women and girls) have been a huge success.

Health messages are being infused into the psyche of women via fashion shows, runways and clothing designs. The permeation of health into the fashion world is however painfully slow despite the fact that the fashion industry is proving itself to be quite an effective medium in raising awareness about women’s health issues.

As an industry that captures a wide range of female audiences, fashion can be a gateway to improving health for women. By utilizing fashion in ingenious and unconventional ways, it can be an effective tool to alert women to health issues that affect them while informing them on actions to take to lower risks.

Fashion designers can raise awareness about women health causes they are passionate about by designing and creating health inspired fashion lines with pieces, clothing, distinct colors, accessories (including hats, belts, shoes etc) and beauty products. These can have add-on health messages or come with information on additional health resources. Popular clutch designer Lauren Merkin, for instance, designs a special pink item every year from her collection to support breast cancer awareness and issues. Celebrities and famous role models are possible frontiers for using fashion to address health. By donning health-messaged designs and pieces, they can help in raising awareness about important women health issues including breast cancer, heart disease, cervical cancer, HPV, HIV/AIDS, stroke and even promote healthy prenatal behaviors. In addition, fashion magazines and media geared towards women can do a better job of providing appropriate health-related articles targeting the greatest mortality risks faced by the women who make up their readership. Studies suggest that women’s magazines may be encouraging women to focus on aspects of health that will not improve overall health or reduce risks. A conscious effort to use fashion to address health will however ensure that the most important health issues are tackled.

Fashion is a part of most women’s lives in some way or the other. To improve health for women therefore, fashion magazine editors, designers, celebrities, role models, working professionals and women health activists will have to figure out tasteful ways to use this medium to promote and raise awareness about women’s health issues.

When fashion and health can effectively work hand in hand, symbols that have been created and linked to health can then have a “voice”. So that when women see a beautiful red dress, they think –“what can I do today to protect my heart health?” A pair of red pumps- “HIV rates among women my age is rising, what can I do? Who do I tell?” A cute hair band with a pink bow they’ll think –“what can I do to lower my risk for breast cancer?” Or when a favorite fashionista or role model wears a health-inspired design they can begin to think of ways they can also be a part of the global movement against poor health outcomes.

If we are concerned about improving the overall health of women, addressing health from a platform that most women identify with, needs to be considered. Well, why not fashion?

Image Credit: mendoza

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