I arrived early for backstage access to the Red Dress Collection, the first show of Fall 2009 NY Fashion Week. When I entered the New York Public Library near Bryant Park, hair and make-up teams were already busy at work glamming up celebrity models like Hillary Duff, Susan Lucci, and Tori Spelling.

I immediately spotted popular make-up artist Bobbi Brown when I entered the room. She’s a Montclair resident like me, yet more importantly, she’s the woman behind the make-up look for the Red Dress show. Bobbi came dressed to support the cause—educating women about heart disease—wearing a red buttoned-down shirt and black three quarter length sweater. Her simple pearl necklace gleamed under the flashing lights of photographers. She smiled and chatted eagerly as she applied Patricia Arquette’s make-up.

Bobbi was friendly and accommodating as I asked her a few pointed questions. When she took her glasses off and looked me in the eye, I knew immediately that this cause mattered to her.

Can you tell me what The Red Dress show means to you?

Well, the reason I am doing this show, besides the fact that it’s a blast to do and has all these cool celebrities and women in it is to really educate women about heart disease which is the number one killer of women. The symptoms often go unnoticed because we are so busy doing so many things. Also, it’s really important to teach women how to take care of themselves. My philosophy is workout, eat healthy, and you have to take care of your heart.

Bobbi and I chatted about working out for a few minutes… She is a consistent exerciser, and as a personal trainer, I am very much attuned to the importance of physical activity and its relation to combating heart disease.

So Bobbi, what is the inspiration behind the make-up?

It’s every woman is different. It’s whatever they want. There are different celebrities, different dresses. It’s as much or as little as they want. *

And with that, Bobbi gave me a smile and finished applying a nude gloss to Patricia Arquette’s lips. It was true, there were many different celebrities and I was excited to interview a few more of them. As I thanked Bobbi for the interview, her and Patricia exchanged numbers, and I was off to my next celebrity interview with the sweet Hillary Duff.

Photos: Kate Monahan