Fashion Fridays: At the QVC Presents FFANY Shoes on Sale Gala

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Footwear Webdesk
Fashion Fridays
October 14, 2011

Party for a Cause
The industry turns out in force at New York’s famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to raise awareness and funds for its ongoing fight against breast cancer.

Last night industry leaders and celebrities showed their support for breast cancer research and education at the 18th Annual QVC Presents FFANY Shoes On Sale gala. The fundraiser kicked off with cocktails, schmoozing, a best shoes contest and, of course, lots of shopping at the Shoe Salon where the well-heeled crowd scooped up styles for half price from the likes of Brown Shoe, Wolverine World Wide, Vince Camuto and many more. More than 80 brands—including Ugg, Dansko, Cole Haan, Coach, Jimmy Choo and Bruno Magli—donated shoes with the net proceeds benefiting breast cancer research and education institutions across the country.

The event honored FFANY Jodi Fisher Humanitarian Award recipients Timothy J. O’Donovan, retired Chairman and CEO of Wolverine World Wide, and AMB. Nancy G. Brinker, the founder and CEO of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for their tireless efforts in raising awareness and donating funds in the fight against breast cancer. “It’s because of events like this that there has been amazing progress in our efforts to put an end to this disease,” Brinker said.

During the night’s ceremony, personal finance expert and 2011 PSA Spokesperson Suze Orman encouraged guests to take out their credit cards. “Tonight is a night when everyone should spend,” she advised the crowd.

There is another shopping opportunity: On Oct. 15th, from 6-9PM (EST), viewers can tune into QVC to shop over 100,000 pairs of brand name shoes on sale for half the manufacturers’ suggested retail price with net proceeds going to the cause. Overall, the footwear industry’s largest fundraising event is expected to exceed last year’s $2.7 million in raised funds.

To date FFANY Shoes on Sale has sold over 1.5 million pairs of shoes and has donated more than $35 million to the cause. —Angela Velasquez

Walk the Talk
Celebs dished about their favorite shoes while walking the QVC Presents FFANY Shoes on Sale red carpet.

“Shopping for shoes is something every woman loves,” said Nicole Richie. The celebrity designer paired her own House of Harlow 1960 leopard booties with a simple Helmut Lang dress.

Gossip Girl actress Kelly Rutherford said she loves to shoe shop for her kids. “We go to Crew Cuts a lot. They have great Blundstone boots. I also really like Superga sneakers for their colors.”

Kelly Bensimon of Real Housewives of New York fame, wearing patent peep-toe stiletto by Azzedine Alaia, said she looks for pretty ballerina flats or sexy high heels. “I’m 5’10, but I don’t mind being taller.”

Suze Orman this year’s PSA for QVC Presents FFANY Shoes on Sale, mixed her Valentino jacket and pants with her favorite Kenneth Cole shoes. “I’ve had these for 10 years,” she said. “I can walk in them all day.”

Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, a spokesperson for Chinese Laundry, a Platinum sponsors of the event, said a pair of simple black stilettos are her go-to pageant shoes. “I’ve worn them for three years now. They’re my lucky shoes,” she said, adding that her shoe collection has grown since winning the crown. “I probably have over 15 pairs of Chinese Laundry shoes. I actually just got my first pair of rain boots from them yesterday.”