Keira Knightley donates Oscar dress to Oxfam e-bay auction

Keira Knightley was the star of the red carpet at the Oscars in a deep-claret taffeta silk gown designed by Vera Wang. She has now very generously offered this custom made dress to Oxfam to auction, with all proceeds going to support Oxfam's life-saving work in East Africa.

Knightley, who was nominated for Best Actress for her role in "Pride and Prejudice," wore the dress with a vintage 1960s Bulgari necklace. She said: "This is such an amazing dress and I am really pleased to be able to donate it to Oxfam. I have seen the TV reports on the horrendous drought in East Africa and I know how desperate things have become, so I am happy to be able to do something to help."

The off-the-shoulder dress, will be auctioned on eBay. Bidding will begin at 5pm GMT on 21st April and end at 5pm GMT on April 30th, with all proceeds going toward Oxfam's East African Food crisis appeal. With $10,000, Oxfam could provide food for 500 children for 30 days.

The dress is currently on display at an Oxfam shop at 144 Notting Hill Gate, London, and will be on exhibit in New York City at the Vera Wang Flagship store on 991 Madison Avenue from April 19 until the end of the auction on April 30.

Paul Smith-Lomas, Oxfam's Director for East Africa said: "Millions of people across Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Tanzania are at risk of starvation in one of the harshest droughts the region has ever faced. Young children are those most at risk, and there are already reports of child deaths as a result of malnutrition. Oxfam is helping over 500,000 people - carrying out food distributions, providing water and offering livelihoods support. Donations like this will help to fund this vital work.

"We hope the public will get behind this auction so that it is a great success."

The public can also support Oxfam's work by donating online at their nearest Oxfam affiliate: www.oxfam.org/en/donate.

To bid for a piece of Oscar fashion history go to www.oscardress4oxfam.org