The ladies of the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection 2009. Red Dress Collection photos by MBUSA

New York City - There're a lot of folks out there seeing red! And no, I don't mean about the economy, silly. Not only does February bring Valentine's Day and President's Weekend but it is also Women's Heart Health Month when top designers and celebs get out the red dresses to kick-off the annual Heart Truth campaign, sponsored by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to help raise awareness of the nation's leading killer of women.

Since its inception in 2002, the Red Dress icon has become the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. For the last six years, Women's Day magazine has sponsored The Red Dress Awards to honor those who have helped raise awareness of this killer disease. Heart Truth was one of the honorees this year.

Resplendent in a red Gustavo Cadile flowing gown - soap star Susan Lucci who has a home in Westhampton.

The 2009 Red Dress Awards were held at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Allen Room with East Hampton's resident wise cracker Joy Behar of "The View" as emcee. Only problem was Joy wasn't wearing a red dress! Apologizing for not wearing the required color she quipped, "Sarah Palin stole my red outfits!"

One of the award's sponsors, Campbell Soup Company teamed up with "30 Rock" star and heart health advocate Jane Krakowski and East Hampton fashion designer Nicole Miller to help raise funds and awareness for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. Miller designed three one-of-a-kind red dresses which were worn by Jane in a series of appearances and later auctioned off to benefit American Heart Association.

But the big event was the 7th annual Red Dress Collection organized by Heart Truth shown at the opening of Fashion Week in New York and this year the Hamptons were well represented with top East End designers contributing glamorous red gowns which were modeled by the hottest celebs including some of our neighbors.

Olympic medalist Kristi Yamaguchi showed real style in curvy Vera Wang. No surprise as Vera has been doing Kristi's skating outfits for years. Actress Hillary Duff sported Donna Karan while Westhampton's reigning soap queen Susan Lucci was gorgeous in Gustavo Cadile with floating chiffon panels and a dramatically plunging neckline. Betsey Johnson dressed Tori Spelling in one of her ruffled tiered cocktail dresses.

"Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter went femme fatale in a one shoulder baring elegant Carolina Herrera column. CBS anchor Katie Couric brought the show to a close in Carmen Marc Valvo.

The show was meant to inspire all women so the catwalk strutters ran the gamut from 22-year-old Amanda Bynes who glittered in Daniel Swarovski to the ageless, O.K. she's 75, Cicely Tyson who made a splash in a regal gown with voluminous Elizabethan sleeves by my pal Michael who regularly fits Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, and Beyonce in his entrance-making evening wear. Collection organizers get an 'A' for inspiration and an 'A+' for high glam.

Tori Spelling in Betsey Johnson and Kristie Yamaguchi in Vera Wang strut the red catwalk during the Red Dress show.

Our always full of surprises friend Betsey Johnson skipped showing in the tents this year in a traditional runway format to do what Betsey does best - create interesting fun tableaux in which to show her over-the-top girly-girl fashions. Who can forget her 60th birthday party at her wooded East Hampton compound where she decided to show her new collection that year along side of many of her classics in a nursery rhyme themed setting? All over the forest like statues, models reenacted "Little Miss Muffett," "Mary Had A Little Lamb," and "Old King Cole" while others prowled around in ruffled crinolines and party dresses. At the end of the show, Betsey, clad in a midnight blue evening gown and tiara, cartwheeled into the swimming pool!

Well there is no swimming pool in her SoHo showroom, Betsey's riotous sense of humor was on full display as she transformed her workrooms into an old-fashioned diner with a soda shop circa 1950 serving mini Martini & Rossi Proseccos, and a sweet shop serving macaroons and cake. Shades of Betty Crocker! Liam McMullan, photog Patrick's not so little boy and his buddy Nick Hunt played waiter, serving guests mini hamburgers and hot dogs. Even in a recession economy Johnson continues living the Cyndi Lauper riff, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!"

Maybe fun is what all these athletes who are delving into high fashion are seeking. First it was National Hockey league's bad boy Sean Avery who traded in his hockey stick to become a coffee-fetching intern for Anna Wintour at Vogue. Now word is out that Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley has joined the staff at Elle and is already blogging for their website.

Amagansett's Gwyneth Paltrow took the spotlight this week for the Paltrow-Martin clan. Last week, hubby Chris Martin of Coldplay had been on the receiving end of major kudos for the group's big score at the Grammys while Gwynnie stayed out of the limelight - though not out of TV camera range which snagged her in the Grammy crowd cheering. This week's it was Oscar winner Gwyneth the paparazzi had in their lens for her walk on the red carpet at a Cinema Society and Salvatore Ferragamo hosted screening of the James Gray directed "Two Lovers" in which she stars with Joaquin Phoenix that debuted at the Hamptons International Film Festival this past October.

Reportedly this is Joaquin's last film as he has reportedly quit acting to embark on a music career with the help of none other than Diddy. He had come directly from taping his now infamous appearance on David Letterman's show and was as laconic at the screening as TV audiences witnessed later that night. Joaquin has been insistent that he is not fooling around and is dead serious about his nescient rap career, only time will tell.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Joaquin Phoenix at the "Two Lovers" opening. Photo by Wire Image

On the other hand, the lovely Paltrow was her usual radiant "just scrubbed my face" glowing self and was already anxious to get back to work. Though the red carpet was noticeably "society-lite" (perhaps because the Society's Andrew Saffir and Daniel Benedict's usual crowd are all in Palm Beach) it was definitely a field day for the photogs outside the landmark Sunshine Cinema. Feeding the flash frenzy were the always darling Beth Ostrosky Stern, Michael Stipe, Hilary Duff, Cheyenne Jackson, Vinessa Shaw, Phylicia Rashad regal in red (she got the Heart Truth call!), Eva Amurri, Tinsley Mortimer, Olivia Palermo, John Leguizamo, and "Gossip Girl" Taylor Momsen with her platinum bangs.

I must point out some news from WordTheatre which is bringing together a gang of amazingly talented actors to read from the works of amazingly talented writers at the very private and exclusive SoHo House in New York. Cedering Fox, daughter of famed Sagaponack poet, writer, sculptor and illustrator, the late Siv Cedering, is producing and following in her mother's footsteps and directing this marvelous evening of magical words. Artistic Director of WordTheatre, a literary salon operating in Los Angeles, New York, and London, Cedering directs top film, television, and theatre actors in live performances of short stories. For this series she has lined up James Franco of "Milk" and "Pineapple Express" fame; Juliana Margulies, and the effervescent Lynn Whitfield who knocked folks out at the recent Grace in Winter Gala.

Here's some more gala talk courtesy of my Southampton neighbor Janice Becker who is an even bigger dance-ophile than me. For years, Janice has worked tirelessly for Career Transition for Dancers and has made their annual City Center gala a star of the social season. Last year, she also took on another event for CTFD a more casual evening, Latin Dance Party. No ball gowns, no black tie says Janice it is "Wear whatever makes you dance!" Rolex is once again sponsoring and the action takes place in the legendary Rainbow Room high atop Rockefeller Plaza. Janice is thrilled that ticket sales are away ahead of last year. So check it out fast and get to work on your best salsa, tango, and mambo moves.