Looking good on the Red and Green Carpet

A week or so ago I had the opportunity to meet one of my favorite designers and pro-social champ, Kenneth Cole. Since it launched I've kept a link to his fantastic blog, Awearness, on the resources page of my site, and now his compilation book of celeb effort in the social responsibility space is out and I got to go to the shindig.

I have to say, it was pretty cool to be at the book party, rubbing shoulders with Diane von Furstenberg and Rosario Dawson, but I was a spontaneous guest of my friend Jack, from that other great site, CSRWire.com, so I was not exactly dressed red-carpet ready. But I threw my shoulders back and put my best foot forward only to have the first person I met be Peter G, president of Bruno Magli shoes. Luckily, he actually complimented my Steve Madden boots.

Then I met the lovely and very nice Starley Murray who slipped me one of her mini mint lip glosses, which is actually part of her "red carpet" line. More important, I learned that most of the celebs and people there are all doing their parts, to greater or lesser degrees, to give back, including Starley, who helps women put their best FACES forward with image classes and donates part of her proceeds to domestic violence prevention. Their mantra is:

"We believe that Image is more than what you wear; Image is how you represent yourself in life."

(PS: There are lots of companies who do good and lots of good companies that are organic. Let me know if you want a download on how sustainability is a subset of corporate social responsibility. For example, if you want a good organic/sustainably cosmetic line also check out Josie Moran Cosmetics.)

At least I WAS wearing my favorite Kenneth Cole watch, which I ungracefully basically shoved in the poor man's face and said, "I LOVE this. And I know I'm not your mother, but I'm PROUD of you!" He kind of sheepishly smiled, trapped in the corner next to effusive me. He does so much, though, I couldn't help but "kvell."

But I embarrassed myself even more when I complimented Stanley Tucci for his terrific talent, when I heard myself also then compliment the good job he did on his body. But come on...didn't you see him in "Frankie and Johnny..." on Broadway?

We all do what we can.