Amidst heavy rain and wind, the much anticipated Life Ball in Vienna carried on with a force all its own last Saturday, July 17th. Stars, talent, celebrities, models, fashion designers, philanthropists, and politicians swarmed Vienna City Hall on City Hall Square to raise awareness and join in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Guests spent the evening in the Burgtheater with the Red Ribbon Cotillion and moved later into the Parliament for the amfAR gala. The Ball, organized by AIDS Life (founded in 1992 by Gery Keszler and Torgom Petrosian), is the most famed humanitarian event in Europe, providing hop
e for millions around the world with HIV or AIDS. The Life Ball came exactly one day prior to the XVIII International AIDS Conference this year, marking its 18th year.
The theme, “Sow the Seeds of Solidarity, The Circle of Life” was meant to represent Mother Earth and our continued need for harmony, unity, and a spirit of comradeship in the effort to end the spread of AIDS.
The Ball, known for its grandiosity, opulence, and extravagant decor, would be nothing if not for the stream of brilliantly (and most bravely) dressed guests. Leigh Lezark, President Bill Clinton, Patti LaBelle , Whoopi Goldberg, Katy Perry, Pamela Anderson, Roisin Murphy, Eva Longoria, and Estée Lauder group president John Demsey, were only a few of the famous names who participated in the festivities. Fashion designers Diane von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein, Francisco Costa, and Kenneth Cole led the annual runway show with supermodel Naomi Campbell, clad in a bustling yellow frock and surrounded by an ensemble of handsomely dressed toy soldiers.
The night carried on, full of live performances, speeches, shows, and of course, dancing. The Ukrainian NGO and its founder Sergey Kostin were the 2010 honorees of the Crystal of Hope award at the end of the evening in recognition of their remarkable work in helping homeless, HIV positive children in Odessa, Ukraine.
Naomi Campbell; Dita Von Teese in Elie Saab; President Bill Clinton, right; Francesca von Habsburg; Rebecca Romijn & Jerry O’Connell; Aura Dione
Posted by : Courtney O’Kane Academy of Art University Alumna at 01:45 AM (IST)
