Lady LUX

Saturday has always been a great day. But for the last 13 years, it’s been super.

That is because it’s Super Saturday, the annual fundraiser and fashion sale for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund held in the Hamptons, on Long Island, New York. A huge field in Southampton is transformed into a sea of fabulous fashion as a crowd of designers descends this last weekend every July to showcase their wares and donate part of the proceeds to this incredibly worthwhile charity.

Started by Donna Karan, OCRF President Faith Kates Kogan, and former Harper’s Bazaar magazine Editor in Chief Liz Tilberis in the face of Tilberis’ own ovarian cancer, which ultimately claimed her life, Super Saturday is now one of the premiere charitable events held over the summer in the Hamptons, not to mention a premiere one on the social circuit too. Kelly Ripa is the host each year, and other great women add their names and beautiful faces to the cause as well, like Christie Brinkley or Beth Ostrosky Stern, who have done so in the past, and has been totally and completely underwritten by Donna Karan every year since its inception. If that’s not a charitable mindset, I don’t know what is.

The location—which usually home to Nova’s Ark Project, an art installation—is taken over now by 181 designers, as well as the hundreds of cars driven and parked by eager shoppers and those who believe that charity is the best way to change the world. From 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. designers of every rank and file—from Vivienne Tam to Juicy Couture to Eileen Fisher to Thomas Pink (yes, men are part of the mix here too) set up a table and sell current collections, end-of-season pieces, and even samples, a real score for any fashionista worth her salt; think of it as a big fashion tag sale, where merchandise comes at reduced prices—and as the day goes up (and the temperatures to too)—reduced even more, making the temptation that much greater. Beauty brands even get in on the act, with the likes of Fresh, Dior Beauty, Sephora, and LVMH Beauty Bar participating this year. There is even a carnival to keep the kiddies entertained, raffle, and gourmet treats. If you’re not in the area, you still can participate via the tele: QVC will broadcast the event from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. that day. Super Saturday has grown from year to year, but has never gotten too big for its britches: It’s just been proof positive of the fashion crowd’s willingness to give—and to receive.

Tagged in: fashion, celebrity, qvc, hamptons, ovarian cancer, beauty brands, super saturday, sample sales,