WCCO Women Strike A Pose For Heart Health

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- New York fashion week is wrapping up, and now it's our turn.

The Minnesota Red Dress Collection is an annual fashion show that pairs locally-designed red dresses with celebrity models to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

"It's all about pairing the best Twin Cities designers with prominent women in the community, and now men in the community," event founder Carly Aplin said. "It's all to raise awareness and money for women's heart health."

Now in its fourth year, the show features one-of-a-kind dresses made just for the event. I was paired with Laine Sou of Kokoon.

"I'd love to send you down and have you look really beautifully feminine and sexy, but I want you to feel comfortable at the same time," Sou said.

She started her company 26 years ago in her basement as a student at the University of Minnesota. I asked how she comes up with all of her design ideas.

"I lose sleep the night before," Sou said.

She says it comes down to the available fabrics and the designs that have been in her head for a while.

Liz Collin and Ali Lucia will also represent WCCO on the runway.

"It's more than just a fashion show, too. The night starts with a cocktail hour with pop-up shops and silent auction. And it's really a party. People get really dressed up and everybody comes out, and it's kind of who's-who," Aplin said. "It's about a serious topic, but it's about celebrating women and what women are doing to promote their own heart health as well."

For those involved, it's pretty magical to see a sketch turn into a sample and then a gown.

The Minnesota Red Dress Collection is Saturday night at the Loews Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Click here for more details.