UNICEF Snowflake Lighting – November 19 – [HQ]

Gucci Tattoo Heart Collection to Benefit UNICEF – Reception – November 19 – [HQ]

Gucci Tattoo Heart Collection to Benefit UNICEF – Dinner – November 19 – [HQ]

Rihanna has a foot fetish of sorts.

“I love buying stuff – bags and shoes. I love shoes. I love fashion,” the singer says with a sigh.

So her new collaboration with Gucci is a deal made in sartorial heaven. She’s the face of the luxe Italian brand’s Tattoo Heart accessory collection. Twenty-five percent of sales from the line will be donated to UNICEF.

The collection, on sale now through Jan. 31, was kicked off with a glitzy launch party at Gucci’s flagship store. During a joint interview at the Plaza Hotel before the bash, Gucci creative director Frida Giannini said selecting the chart-topping and fashion-forward songstress to front the do-gooder line was a no-brainer.

“She represents the perfect Gucci woman. She’s so talented, she’s so fresh, she’s so beautiful,” Giannini says. “She’s putting her face, as a celebrity, to a very right cause that’s dear to all of us.

“We became good friends and we started to play together. The time we spend together is very light. We’re always having fun.”

The ad campaign, Giannini says, focuses on “the beauty of Rihanna.”

As for Rihanna, “I’m so proud when I see it because I would never have thought, in a million years, that I’d be a spokesperson for Gucci. It’s such a massive brand,” she says.

Rihanna, 20, dreams of creating her own collection, and she has Giannini serving as her own personal Tim Gunn-esque design guru.

“I love designing. Frida’s helping me develop as a designer,” Rihanna says. “We’ve been collaborating on some designs. We’ve been doing it together, so far for Gucci, but later on in life I want to become a designer.”

For now, Rihanna is enjoying the other perks of her collaboration with Gucci. “I was always a good customer, but now we have a very special relationship. Frida sent me two of the new shoes from the spring collection, so I’m showing off because I’m one of the only ones (who has them),” she says, giggling.

Does she get goodies every day? “Not to that extent. That’s a little ridiculous. But every time I see them, they always bring me gifts.”

Next up for the singer, whose 2007 release Good Girl Gone Bad keeps generating hits? Some downtime.

“I don’t really need a big break if I have a good pace of work,” Rihanna says. “I’m going to have a little break at Christmastime and spend a little time with my family in Barbados. I like doing what I do. It’s a fun job.”

Source: NY NewsWire

Fans may bid for tickets for the show on CharityFolks.com until October 15.

The amount comes not just from viewers of the “Stand Up to Cancer” special that was aired on three networks and a cable channel. It also includes money raised since last May, when the initiative was launched.

The organization behind it says all of the money will go directly to funding cancer research programs.

Research advocates and about 100 stars from music, sports, TV and film took part in Friday’s live event. They included Rihanna, Jack Black, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry and Keanu Reeves. Sitcom star Brad Garrett underwent an on-the-air prostate exam.

The telecast was aimed not just at fundraising, but also at educating the public on cancer prevention and treatment.

Source: Associated Press

Bid now on an exclusive piece of GRAMMY® memorabilia autographed by Rihanna! It’s part of the GRAMMY Charity Online Auctions July sale benefiting The GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares®. Auction runs now through July 31, so place your bids today by entering the auction at www.ebay.com/grammy.