We've seen what can happen when celebrities sell some of their possessions to benefit charity.

But what can we expect when someone who dresses celebrities cleans out his closet for a good cause?

We'll soon find out. Starting today, numerous items owned by stylist-to-the-stars Philip Bloch will be auctioned on eBay to benefit Charity: Water. Mr. Bloch got involved in the charity, which helps get clean water to those without, after a 2006 goodwill-ambassador trip to South Africa and Botswana.

Up for bid are items for men and women by brand giants such as Donna Karan, Nina Ricci, Theory and Thierry Mugler. There are even a few of Mr. Bloch's own designs, including leather shoes from his guest designer series for Hush Puppies -- a line that doesn't even go on sale to the public until fall 2009.

Mr. Bloch, who's currently taping the VH1 reality show "Glam God With Vivica Fox" in Los Angeles, called on some celeb friends to donate items. Beyonce has given an autographed CD and DVD set that will accompany a dress from her House of Dereon label, for example, and Fran Drescher sent a package from her Cancer Schmancer charity that includes an autographed book, DVD, T-shirt, hat, photo and bag.

Mr. Bloch has dressed some of Hollywood's heaviest hitters, from Mariah Carey, Drew Barrymore, Michael Jackson, Jim Carrey and John Travolta to Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. He also styled Halle Berry the night in 2002 when she tearfully accepted the Academy Award for best actress.

One expensive stain

During the final game of the NBA playoffs, Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers wore a white dress shirt custom-created by ECC Life & Style. In celebratory moments right after the Celtics clinched the championship, team captain Paul Pierce dumped red Gatorade on Mr. Rivers, drenching the shirt.

But it wasn't necessarily ruined.

Last week, an anonymous bidder paid $55,000 for the shirt, which was hand-stitched and featured mother-of-pearl buttons, a hand-cut collar and hand-cut and turned cuffs. ECC Life & Style is a Boston-based lifestyle apparel company that caters to pro sports figures and corporate guys.

The money will benefit the Shamrock Foundation, a Louisville, Ky.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to ending pet overpopulation, reducing the number of companion animals destroyed in local shelters, and saving and enhancing the lives of animals in need.

Lifts and tucks for less

The global economy is affecting the physical augmentation industry in the United States.

Not that fewer people are going under the knife or needle -- rather, more are coming to the United States to get it done.

People living abroad, especially Europeans, are taking advantage of the cheap dollar to travel here for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. They're finding the same procedures cheaper here, even with transportation and hotel costs.

"There's always been folk who have come, but there are more now with the outreach of the Internet and the popularity all over the world of TV reality programs," said Dr. Robert Kotler, a clinical instructor at UCLA and author of "Secrets of a Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon" and "The Essential Cosmetic Surgery Companion."

He said a favorable currency exchange rate has helped attract more and more Europeans and Russians to his Beverly Hills office in the past six to nine months, including an Italian banker who told the nasal surgeon that it was cheaper to come there for 10 days for plastic surgery than to go next door to Switzerland.

"The currency exchange rate brings people to the U.S. who might otherwise not come," said Dr. Kotler. "People want to tap into the great American medical system. The skill level is just much, much higher here, and the savvy people in Europe recognize that."

Virtual consultations by e-mail make such long-distance hook-ups easier, he added. His office also helps make travel arrangements for those patients and offers assistance ranging from airport pickup to hotel lists and restaurant recommendations.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that in 2007, despite inflation and the home-lending crisis, almost 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were done -- a 7 percent increase over the prior year and a 59 percent increase from 2000.

Fashion agenda

July 12: "Fashion Finds With a Flair" annual fashion show, brunch and auction presented by Treasure House Fashions, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton in Cranberry, Butler County. Tickets are $25 at 412-364-3256; proceeds benefit women in transition and crisis.