By Anne Bratskeir
Newsday via McClatchy-Tribune

You wouldn’t guess that by purchasing a hot pink, lacy lingerie ensemble that, ahem, glows in the dark, you’d be waging war against breast cancer.

But, in fact, October is the month when fashion and beauty forces rally for this cause, offering a staggering number of products to fight the disease. (For the record, this includes fluorescent undies by Cosabella.)

So, really, buy a little something.

“I think it is important for everyone to get involved with Breast Cancer Awareness month,” says actress Garcelle Beauvais, who’s working with handbag designer Patricia Nash on a promotion to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. “If we support each other and help each other, then together we can find the cure.”

Yes, of course you can splurge. A David Yurman pink ceramic and diamond watch has our lust-o-meter shorting out and costs thousands. But shelling out $5 for a great athletic tee at Kohl’s helps, too. The Estee Lauder company and its many brands will raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation; at Avon, all net proceeds from special items go back to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony Fund has been supporting programs for screening, early diagnosis, treatment, research and patient navigation for 13 years.

We’ve combed through piles of pink—and, by the way, not everything is actually pink—to bring you the best of the best. You’ll look good, feel fabulous and, in some cases, even have a little fun (back to that lingerie), all the while battling the disease that affects so many of our friends and families.

Everything’s turning up rosy, wouldn’t you say?

Handbag designer Patricia Nash has teamed up with 16 celebrities (among them Garcelle Beauvais, January Jones, Giuliana Rancic, Elizabeth Hurley, Padma Lakshmi and Kristin Chenoweth) to auction off her fabulous vintage-looking Italian Lari Crossbody bag (it generally sells for $128) signed by the celebrities and complete with a duplicate of their must-have real-life luxury item inside.

Lakshmi’s bag comes with her favorite classic Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses, Chenoworth’s iPod, while Rancic is all about her favorite Theodora & Callum Casablanca scarf. Beauvais can’t live without her iPhone, hence a $200 Apple gift certificate.

Such fun, and every penny raised will go directly to the Breast Cancer Research Fund. The auction closes Oct. 31; bidding starts at $100. Visit patricianashdesigns.com/bcrf to learn about it, and bid. (PS: We’re going for Padma’s bag.)

Shoes, glorious, shoes! QVC and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) are in their 20th year of joining forces to raise funds to benefit a variety of breast cancer research and education charities. Look for more than 120,000 pairs of fab shoes from some 80 big brands—Michael by Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, Jessica Simpson and Bandolino among them, that will be offered for—get this—half the manufacturer’s retail price. There are a few ways to find your perfect pair and support a worthy cause: Tune into the QVC “FFANY” Shoes on Sale broadcast to air on QVC from 6-9 p.m. Thursday. Or throughout October, a “Shoe of the Day” will be offered from 7 to 9 a.m. on QVC; and you can also shop the online collection at QVC.com/ffany. It’s while supplies last … and we’re kind of crazy for the pink sparkly Uggs.