Fergie, Robert Duffy, Marc Jacobs, Hilary Swank, Rose McGowan, Cheyenne Jackson, Greg Louganis, Francisco Costa, Larry Boland, Sean Patterson, M·A·C AIDS Fund Chairman John Demsey, amfAR Founding Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim, and amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole were among those who came out to amfAR’s Inspiration Gala. The black-tie benefit, hosted by longtime dedicated amfAR supporters Cheyenne Jackson and Rose McGowan, celebrated men’s style with an Olympic sports-themed runway show and raised nearly $1 million for amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programs.
Iconic recording artist and eight-time Grammy winner Fergie and Marc Jacobs International President Robert Duffy were honored at the event, each receiving the Piaget Award of Inspiration in recognition of their contributions to the fight against AIDS. Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank presented Mr. Duffy with his award, praising her longtime friend for “embodying what compassion is all about.”
Francisco Costa, the Women’s Creative Director of Calvin Klein, presented Fergie with her award. Upon accepting, Fergie gave a speech that was both humble and energetic, breaking out into song twice: once to belt out “We Are The Champions” in recognition of the night’s athletic theme, and again to spell out “a..m..f..A..R” to the tune of her chart-topping hit “Glamorous.” The event kicked off with a runway show of exclusive looks by the world’s leading menswear designers, featuring black-tie takes on athletic wear, inspired by the upcoming Olympic Games. Legendary Olympic medalist and AIDS activist Greg Louganis made a special appearance in the fashion show, modeling a Hugo Boss suit. Rugby star Ben Cohen also walked in the fashion show, alongside top male models. Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Dsquared2 Men’s, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Hugo Boss, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kenneth Cole, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Piaget, Ralph Lauren, Rick Owens, Rodrigo Otazu, SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED, Thom Browne, Versace, Vivienne Westwood, and Y-3 were among the designers who donated looks for the runway show. The live auction, which was conducted with the help of Simon Doonan, raised $139,000. Fergie, one of the evening’s most active and generous bidders, walked away with a trip to Brazil for amfAR’s Sao Paulo event and a Marc Jacobs fashion package.
The Scissor Sisters closed out the night with a thrilling set that included songs from their new album Magic Hour, as well as their international #1 hit “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin.” The Inspiration Gala was presented by Title Sponsor M•A•C Viva Glam, Award of Inspiration Sponsor Piaget, Fashion Sponsor HUGO BOSS, Kohler Co., and B&B Italia. Cocktails were provided courtesy of GREY GOOSE Cherry Noir. In-Kind Sponsors for the event included Mandarin Oriental, New York, Jeff Leatham Design, and Coloredge New York + Los Angeles. The Inspiration Galas are a series of amfAR benefit events, produced by Josh Wood Productions, celebrating all aspects of men’s style. Previous events in the series have taken place in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and São Paulo, raising more than $4 million for AIDS research.
Check out our video from the red carpet:
