HSN, Lancôme Products to Benefit St. Jude

'I love Christmas,' designer Reem Acra says. 'It is one of my most cherished holidays because it's always happy.'

While we haven’t decided on a Halloween costume yet (bed bug? Betty Francis? Lady Gaga at the airport?), at least we can get a head start on our holiday shopping. The Heart HSN 2010 Designer Ornament Collection went on sale this week and features more than 70 tree trimmings by renowned stylemakers, including VIVmag contributor Colin Cowie, Jonathan Adler, Gwen Stefani, Naeem and Ranjana Khan, and Padma Lakshmi. We plan to give the chic ornaments as presents this year because we love that 100 percent of the proceeds go to a good cause: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a comprehensive cancer center that treats pediatric patients regardless of the families’ ability to pay.

During the collection’s launch party in New York City last week, ornament makers — including supermodel Iman and fashion designer Reem Acra — mingled with attendees while admiring their creations among the dozens on display. Ranging in price from $19.90–$299.90, the festive bulbs suit a wide spectrum of personalities and tastes.

“It’s always exciting to see how other designers have looked at their brands through one element,” says Acra, adding that she once decorated for the holidays by fashioning a whole Christmas tree out of stacked books (a smart alternative to live fir even if it’s still made of trees).

We’re fans of Acra’s elegant, silver-toned ornament with black-and-white bead detailing ($39.90) as well as Naeem Khan’s tassled, bejeweled creation ($299.90) and Colin Cowie’s glittering green bulb accented with a peacock feather ($19.90). Honorable mention goes to skin-care maven Adrien Arpel, who painted a face on her ornament and topped it with a head-turning mini wig ($39.90).

St. Jude national outreach director Marlo Thomas, who designed two of the ornaments in the collection ($29.90 for the set), inspired support with this sobering fact: “It costs $1.4 million a day to run St. Jude,” she says. Thankfully for Thomas and her organization, French cosmetics powerhouse Lancôme will lend a hand too: Today, the beauty company is holding Genes Day, a one-day fundraiser for St. Jude. For every bottle of Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate ($78) sold on Oct. 22, Lancôme will donate $7 toward research at the hospital.

Do you plan to help St. Jude this year?

Photo credit: Courtesy Getty Images