Women's
Designers Donate Dresses for Cancer Cause
Dress 4 Yellow dresses on display at Neiman Marcus' flagship store.
Atop the cosmetics and designer jewelry counters in Neiman Marcus’ flagship store stand mannequins, garbed in dresses in the color of the season from DKNY, Carmen Marc Valvo, Thakoon, Zang Toi, Sachin + Babi, Elie Tahari, Ralph Lauren, Tibi, David Meister, Rachel Roy, Diane von Furstenberg, and Lela Rose. These designs are inspired not by the color trend that saturated the Spring runways, but by something greater, the fight against cancer. The 4 Yellow Foundation’s Dress 4 Yellow luncheon benefitting Lance Armstrong’s foundation Livestrong and Cook Children’s Cancer Center drew the designers to give back by creating either a new design or unarchiving a yellow runway piece.
“Dress 4 Yellow is designed to inspire and empower those affected by cancer,” Lance Armstrong, who is on the advisory board of the organization alongside his mother Linda Armstrong Kelly, says. “Through dollars raised, we will increase awareness, provide critical navigation services, fund research and survivorship programs and work to end the stigma of cancer around the globe.”
A design by Lela Rose for Dress 4 Yellow.
The lively hue of the featured philanthropic designs have rode with Armstrong to many wins in his life.
“I do have a long history with the color yellow,” Armstrong, who notably overcame testicular cancer and went on to bicycling stardom, says. “It is the color of the jersey for the leader of the Tour de France, so for about 7 years it was a big part of my summer. It just seemed like a no brainer to incorporate it into the Foundation.”
Left to Right: Lela Rose, Ralph Lauren, Elie Tahari and Thakoon.
It’s not everyday that the record-breaking cyclist, father of five and full-time philanthropist changes out of his biker gear, but when off the clock he does like to let loose from his signature spandex.
“Between cycling stuff and workout clothes is where I spend most of the time,” Armstrong says. “But other than my work clothes I enjoy a pretty casual style, lots of jeans and tee shirts.”
Left to Right: Sachin + Babi, DKNY, Tibi and Diane von Furstenberg.
But for formal galas, fundraising events and the such, Armstrong does have to occasionally suit up and when he does he turns to his pal Ralph Lauren.
“For the foundation I occasionally have to put on the suit and tie which is not my most favorite thing to do,” Armstrong admits. “Ralph Lauren is a good friend and a very generous man in the philanthropic area. When I do have to get it together it is his collection.”
A design by Rachel Roy donated for the Dress 4 Yellow event.
Armstrong’s wheels seem to spin non-stop, but when he’s not raising money for his cause or training for his next triathlon he enjoys spending time with his kids, listening to live music and collecting art.
“Free time seems to be less and less these days but I enjoy getting out on the water with my children or going to see live music at the countless clubs down in Austin,” he says.
You can view the designs up for auction this week at Neiman Marcus’ Downtown-Dallas store. The Dress 4 Yellow luncheon and fashion show is in Dallas on April 4.
