It has taken fashion designer Ralph Rucci a while to get the respect he deserves from the U.S. fashion press and establishment, but he continues to add big feathers to his professional cap.

A week ago Monday at a White House reception, Mr. Rucci was honored with the 2008 National Design Award for Fashion Design by the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. The accolade recognizes excellence in clothing, accessory or footwear design, and judges were impressed with the restrained yet intricate aesthetic of his Chado Ralph Rucci womenswear influenced by Cristobal Balenciaga, abstract painters such as Cy Twomby and Asian symbolism. (Chado is a highly stylized Japanese tea ceremony.)

A Philadelphia native, Mr. Rucci began showing his collections formally in 1981. He has never garnered the media attention, commercial success or household-name recognition of titans such as Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta -- and many lesser designers -- but he is America's closest thing to a true haute couture designer.

Past Cooper-Hewitt fashion design award recipients include Rick Owens, Tom Ford, Yeohlee Teng and Maria Cornejo. Other 2008 winners were recognized in corporate achievement, design mind, architecture, communications, interior, landscape and product design. All will be feted at an Oct. 23 gala dinner at Cooper-Hewitt.

If Mr. Rucci often seems underappreciated at home, the respect he has garnered abroad is testament to his creative genius.

In 2002, the exclusive Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture invited Mr. Rucci to show his first haute couture collection in Paris, making him only the second American to be included in the 138-year-old group's official show calendar. (Mainbocher was invited in the '40s.) And in 2006, the Couture Council of New York's prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology honored him with the first Artistry in Fashion Award.

Tired of being ignored by much of America's fashion press, Mr. Rucci decided to skip New York's biannual fashion week in September and February last year. He flew in October to Paris, where he debuted his fall-winter haute couture and spring '08 ready-to-wear lines.

Meanwhile, in September, a profile of Mr. Rucci will kick off a week of Sundance Channel fashion programming following New York Fashion Week.

"Ralph Rucci: A Designer and His House" airs at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. It's a 45-minute documentary narrated partly by Martha Stewart. Each following night through Sept. 28, a film will be shown on another fashion subject, ranging from Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton to Yves St. Laurent. A marathon of all seven films will be shown on Sept. 28.

Larrimor's wins award

Larrimor's has won a prestigious award for high-end fashion retailing. The family-owned men's store, with locations Downtown and in Mt. Lebanon, is a recipient of the third annual Uptown/Downtown Retail Award for Retail Innovation presented by MR magazine.

The award is chosen by menswear designers and manufacturers and the editorial staff of the fashion trade publication. Larrimor's reps will be among 250 guests during the awards presentation at a sit-down dinner at the Four Seasons restaurant in New York City.

The store also is featured, along with other winners, in the July issue of MR.

"Aside from the rarity of being a third-generation retailer and the fact that they are talented merchants committed to top quality fashion and exceptional service, this is a family that is all about giving back," said Karen Alberg, the magazine's editor-in-chief. "Their innovative charity events have benefited so many wonderful causes. They've also helped new apparel designers gain entry into other stores."

Avon embraces charity

After raising and awarding $580 million to women's charities since 1955, the Avon Foundation has launched its first global fundraising product.

The Women's Empowerment Bracelet is a periwinkle stretch-cord style with a silver-tone infinity symbol, a global symbol of infinite opportunities for all women. It's $3, with $2.25 going to women's empowerment programs worldwide, such as the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.

There are nine other items for sale, all less than $12, ranging from breast cancer crusade tennis bracelets, lip balms, locket necklaces and rhinestone-embellished flipflops to anti-domestic violence candles, key chains and bracelets. At least 70 percent of all proceeds go to charities.

The products are available through local Avon reps (call 1-800-FOR-AVON) and at avon.com.