Fashion One Spotlights Diane Von Furstenberg and the CFDA launch charity auction for Hurricane Sandy

At an estimated cost of $20 billion, the 'superstorm' Hurricane Sandy devastated large areas of the US East Coast, including swathes of downtown locations in New York City. The CFDA and Vogue have launched Fashion For Sandy Relief, a charity auction aimed at raising money to help rebuild storm-struck homes and businesses.

A massive storm surge caused by Hurricane Sandy hit New York City on October 29, flooding streets, tunnels, cutting power in and around the city, and crippling the transportation system.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, led by their president Diane von Furstenberg, has joined forces with Vogue magazine and New York City's Mayor Bloomberg to launch an online auction of "amazing fashion experiences" designed to raise money for the city's reconstruction efforts.

Lots include the chance to attend a fashion show with Anna Wintour, a week-long stay at Tommy Hilfiger's Palm Beach estate on the island of Mustique, lunch with Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali, tickets to the US Open and a meeting with Maria Sharapova.

Current bidding for the Tommy Hilfiger lot has reached $21,000 with 13 days left to go. Expect to see a flurry of activity around all of the potential lots on deadline day, with bids ending at 4pm EST on Wednesday, December 4.

All are invited to bid, with the online auction run by Charity Buzz. All proceeds raised from the online auction will go to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and to other relief organizations in the tri-state area.

The CFDA was founded in 1962 as a non-profit trade organization for North-American designers of fashion and fashion accessories. The famed Belgian-American fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg has been President of the organisation since 2009.