Caught Caring: Oscar de la Renta and Children's Defense Fund

Just in time for Sarah Jessica Parker‘s twin daughters, Oscar de la Renta— the 44-year-old actress’ designer of choice — has launched a new line of little girl’s dresses in sizes 2-6. The collection marks Oscar de la Renta‘s first foray into childrenswear and represents a partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund. Make no mistake, with prices ranging from $200-$350, the dresses are absolutely a splurge, and a luxurious one at that, but $100 from each sale (representing a generous 30-50% of the purchase) goes directly to the charity, whose mission is “very dear” to Oscar’s heart. He adds,

“I am very happy to be working with the Children’s Defense Fund on such a fantastic initiative. For many years, I have been asked by my customers to design a line of dresses for girls, but I only wanted to do it under the right circumstances.”

The dresses were unveiled during a May event at Oscar de la Renta’s Melrose Place boutique in California, where it was made abundantly clear that mommy-and-me dressing has been taken to the next level! Celebrities like Malaak Compton-Rock, wife of Chris Rock, attended with their daughters, snatching up the tiny shifts in floral prints which in several cases can be paired with a matching dress from the women’s collection. There will be further events at Oscar de la Renta stores throughout the country this summer, in conjunction with the Children’s Defense Fund; a second range of designs benefiting the charity is scheduled for winter 2009. For now, the dresses can be purchased only at the Melrose Place location, but by the end of June they will become available in Oscar de la Renta’s New York City boutique as well as online.

For 35 years, the Children’s Defense Fund has worked to ensure a level playing field for all children by championing policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect and ensure their access to health care, quality education, and a moral and spiritual foundation. A non-profit advocacy group, the Children’s Defense Fund is supported by foundation and corporate grants as well as individual donations. Click here to learn how else you can help.

— Missy