Green, Now Available in Black

It’s award season once again, and celebrities in partnership with some of the most sought-out designers are doing their part to help charity.

2012 marks the third year of Livia Firth’s “Green Carpet Challenge” charity event. At the end of each year Firth, wife of actor Colin Firth, donates gowns to the Oxfam’s “Curiosity Shop” in London. Donated dresses have been worn during such award events as the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards, the LA Film Critics’ Awards and even during the Weinstein pre Oscars party.

The gowns donated to Oxfam’s are auctioned off with proceeds benefiting women struggling with living in poverty (the necklace that she wore to last year’s Oscar’s went for more than $40K).

Being an Italian native, working with Giorgio Armani on such a project was like a dream come true. With Firth’s enthusiasm for the cause and Armani’s flare for beautiful gowns, how could the pair go wrong?

Firth started off this season’s contest by wearing the first ever eco-friendly black silk gown designed by Armani. The dress, which looks far too elegant to be green, is floor-length, strapless and includes a fishtail skirt that opens to a floral pattern.

Along with Armani, Firth has invited other top designers to join the efforts of the Green Carpet Challenge. Now Armani set the bar pretty high, but high profile designers such as Tom Ford, Paul Smith, Gucci, and even Alberta Ferretti are all coming along for the ride.

As audiences ooo and aww at the red-carpet gowns this season, designers will be coming up with the best ways to make their stars look good while being green. It will be interesting to see who else will show up in eco-friendly formal wear.

Be sure to check out Firth’s Eco Age and Vogue pages for more information on the Green Carpet Challenge, who is going to be involved, and more pictures of Armani’s bar-setting black silk gown. And remember, on the red carpet, green is now available in black.