Live from New York, it's Saks' annual Key to the Cure!
And this year the national retailer and NBC's "Saturday Night Live" are joining forces to help raise funds for cancer research.
Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, Vanessa Bayer, Cecily Strong and Colin Jost have been named as ambassadors for the Saks Fifth Avenue's 2014 Key To The Cure campaign, with the past and current "SNL" cast members donning a specially-designed T-shirt for the PSA image to publicize the charity shopping event taking place from Oct. 16 to 19 at all of the company's full-price stores as well as its online one and Off 5th stores nationwide.
Designed by New York-based label Rag & Bone, the limited edition unisex T worn by the "SNL" alum will retail for $35 and during the charity shopping weekend 100% of the proceeds from each shirt sold will be donated to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women's Cancer Research Fund, benefiting charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, better treatments and, ultimately, cures for women's cancers.
In the 15 years since the first Key to the Cure charity event, Saks has donated more than $35 million to cancer research. Former celebrity ambassadors include Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman. 2014 is the first year a group of celebrities has fronted the campaign.
Alongside the Rag & Bone promotional shirt will be an array of specially designed clothing from labels including Diane von Furstenberg, Elizabeth & James, Suno, Alice + Olivia and Eugenia Kim. The clothing, curated by the "SNL" costume designer Tom Broecker, will be inspired by beloved characters from the sketch show, which is in the midst of its 40th anniversary season.
"Everybody wanted to sign on board. If we could have had more spaces, we probably could have gotten more people to be involved," Saks senior vice president of marketing and public relations Kathleen Ruiz said. "That, to me, says the world is interested in doing good things."
The specially created merchandise includes a dress fit for The Californians by von Furstenberg, Mango’s shorts as interpreted by Alexander Wang, Suno's take on Gilly's dress, The Nerds outfit refashioned by Alice + Olivia, Spartans Cheerleading uniforms via Elizabeth and James, Coneheads-inspired hats by Eugenia Kim and a new take on Mary Katherine Gallagher’s school uniform from designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville of Rag & Bone. Check out all the items.
Soon after the partnerships were announced, Wang teased the event by posting a short film produced for his T by Alexander Wang label starring none other than Mango (Chris Kattan) and model Behati Prinsloo.
