Tickled pink

Rebecca Taylor's latest designs on the runway in New York. Photo / Supplied

In the world of fundraising, if you pull together a line-up of leading fashion designers, throw in some talented musicians, some fantastic auction items, great food and plenty of cocktails you're on to a winner. No one knows this better than the charity foundation In The Pink which, now in its 10th year, has been prolific in the fight against breast cancer with its annual fashion fundraising extravaganza.

This year its aim is to help BreastScreen Counties Manukau raise $400,000 for a Full Field Digital Mammography Unity. The foundation reports that because Counties Manukau is New Zealand's fastest growing region, with a culturally diverse population, it is home to some of the most at-risk groups for breast cancer including Maori and Pacific women who have a lower survival rate from breast cancer.

So, this Friday night, designers such as Adrienne Winkelman, Tanya Carlson, Helen Cherry, Liz Mitchell, World, Zambesi, Cybele and Rebecca Taylor are putting on a collective fashion show and singer/songwriter Anika Moa will fly in from Australia specially to perform.

New Zealand-born designer Taylor who lives in New York, and whose garments are sold exclusively in Auckland at Muse boutique in Newmarket, won't be able to attend but she told Viva she's delighted to be showing her clothes at a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness because "it's an important cause and issue for women across the globe".

Taylor, who was nominated by the Council of Fashion Designers of America for their prestigious Perry Ellis Designer Award for New Design Talent in 2000, talked to Viva about life in the Big Apple.

What are you working on at the moment? We are working on spring 2010 at the moment. It is inspired by "Summer in the City" and "Bright Lights, Big City" themes. We wanted, as a team, to work on a collection inspired by New York. Novel concept!

When you design what kind of woman do you have in mind? Free-spirited, feminine, with a sense of humor and a love of details. The Rebecca Taylor signature look is difficult to pin down. Usually some component of sparkle is important. "Polished cool" is a term our buyers use.

Do you have star clients? Our celebrity fans include Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sophia Bush, Rashia Jones, Reese Witherspoon, and Evangeline Lilly. This spring they were drawn to our lightweight cotton jaguar dresses and fun ruffled jackets.

What do you love about living in NYC? What's not to love? It is such a lively city. Its merits change with different stages of my life.

Describe a 'normal' working day A normal working day for me is: wake up, dress, and feed all of the babies (including myself), and go to work. I'm never at my desk. Usually you'll find me in the design and sample making room approving sketches, meeting print and fabric people, and brainstorming with merchandising and sales. So much happens in a day you really wouldn't believe it.

Are you more New Yorker than Kiwi now? I think once a Kiwi always a Kiwi. Being raised Kiwi is a very specific way of being raised. The can-do mentality is something that can't be learned later in life.

What has been the highlight of your career? The Perry Ellis Award nomination was a real thrill. I'm incredibly blessed to be so successful that every day feels like a highlight. Corny but true.

The low point of your career? Sending the pizza guy away because we didn't have enough money. But we could still see the humour in it.

What is the best career advice you have been given? I don't really recall any career advice given to me. Cynthia Rowley said to me once "Just smile!" in reference to getting my picture taken. Does that count?

Plans for the future? Professionally, I love where we are. I'm still really challenged, but feel like I have it under control, which is a great place to be.

Tickets for the In The Pink fashion extravaganza on Friday June 26 are still available, . $140. To book, ph: 0800 902 732 or go to www.nzbcf.org.nz