Red Dress Collection: All dressed up for a good cause

The crowd whooped and hollered as KARE-11 reporter Jana Shortal struck a sassy pose. Nationally known fitness expert Chris Freytag high-fived WCCO-TV anchor Jamie Yuccas, who did the shimmy shake at the end of the catwalk.

At Sunday's Red Dress Collection fashion show, a lineup of news anchors, radio personalities and fitness stars used their pulling power to raise money and awareness for heart disease. Each was outfitted in a custom dress by a different local designer.

While it was a party vibe at the Graves 601, a few tears rolled as heart disease survivor and Go Red ambassador Elizabeth Smith shared her experience, and that of 7-year-old heart defect survivor Millie Muller.

Those are the stories that make the hours spent behind the sewing machine worth it, said designer Christopher Straub. He created a knee-length knit dress with leather floral detail, worn by Kelsey Soby of Fox 9.

Backstage, everyone was a collective "ball of nerves," said WCCO-TV's Aristea Brady, who wore a dress by Adrienne Yancy. "I have so much more respect for people who do this modeling thing. A few glasses of wine sure does help, but it's not easy," Brady said.

CW-Twin Cities host Carly Aplin founded Minnesota's Red Dress Collection in 2012. All proceeds benefit the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women program.

"Heart disease continues to be the No. 1 killer of women," Aplin said. "Being able to do this while showcasing some of the most notable designers in the Twin Cities is a true joy."