Apparently, the terms “fashion” and “compassion” are more than mere words that rhyme. These ideas have a lot in common. They belong together. In fact, we will never think of one word without the other again. The stars in and behind the Hollywood scenes immortalized the relation between these concepts with an added does of passion and fashion at the Macy’s/American Express Passport 2006 this fall on September 27th at the Los Angeles Barker Hangar.
Sharon Stone, Photo Courtesy of Macys
The Flash:
The evening’s festivities opened with a breakway “James Bond” flavor as an sensuous model clad a la “To Catch a Thief” was lowered on a rope to the center of the runway just in time to dash off stage left with a briefcase seemingly covered in diamonds while Shirley Bassey crooned “Diamonds are Forever”. What better way to kick-off another Sean John urban chic parade down the runway to drooling spectators?
Sean John, Photo Courtesy of Macys
The male models walked in signature Sean John style, upscale urban with a luxe twist and a playful smirk. All eyes were wide open at the fiery grand finale during which the effortlessly aloof and mysterious P. Diddy strolled blithely through a ring of fire and into the throbbing hearts of Los Angeles.
Sean Combs, Photo Courtesy of Macys
Highlights of the show were the LA fave camp and kitsch designers Richie Rich (on roller skates) and Traver Rains for Heatherette.
Heatherette Designers, Photos Courtesy of Macys
Marilyn Monroe clone models in matching blonde vamp wigs glided and collided with glee in another retro revisit to the 80’s this time via Cirque du Soleil.
Photo by Michael Caulfield, WireImage
Alas, their muse Paris Hilton was notably absent since this year’s show overlapped with Milan Fashion Week.
Photo Courtesy of Macys
Special kudos to Guest Choreographer Brian Friedman, whose dancers moved and grooved ages probably ranging from 5 to 15 proving once again that groove is in the heart.
Bali Platinum, Photo Courtesy of Macys
Bali Platinum and 2xist brought down the house with his/her sultry Moroccan-flavored lingerie. Hot colors trimmed with guilded coins, reincarnated Matahari at her chicest.
Photo by Michael Caulfield, WireImage
Stunning romantic evening gowns in various shades of scarlet, maroon and merlot presented by Viva Glam included offerings by Boudicca, Elie Saab, Kevan Hall, Roberto Cavalli and Vivienne Westwood to name a few.
While key Hollywoods took stylists note and designers Randolph Duke and Charlie Lapson looked on the hauntingly romantic musical backdrop voiced by Italian opera singer Vittorio was a fitting operatic backdrop to this luxurious parade of diva attire that finished with an explosion of rose petals over Vittorio and model clad in the most sumptuous “period piece” scarlet confection of a gown fit for the pages of Vogue or the closet of a Renaissance Queen.
Photo Courtesy of Macys
Celebrity guest models included: Jimmy Smits and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who took to the runway to strut their stuff during the fashion show’s Hugo Boss segment, each wearing a custom tailored creation from the Hugo Boss collection.
Hugo Boss for Her, Courtesy of Macys
The Cash:
The event raised more than $100 million for HIV/AIDS organizations. The funds will be donated to 60 local Los Angeles HIV/AIDS organizations.
“When we were children, there was only one question. It was not ‘what race are you,’ what religion are you’ or ‘what do you do for a living. It was — ‘Wanna play?” says Sharon Stone, queen of the who, what, when, where and why of giving back.
“In my travels, someone will occasionally say to me snidely, ‘Oh, you’re from Hollywood,” says Ms. Stone. “I am here to tell you how blessed I am to be a member of that community. We are a tight community, a strong community, a community of doers. A community that hangs together even behind the scenes to fight for just causes, like finding the cure for HIV/AIDS. There is no community anywhere that I am more proud to be part of than Hollywood.”
Also Stone: “My father always told me that I could sell ice to the Eskimos.” This Ms. Stone quips to the audience immediately before proving her point by auctioning off a vintage, signed guitar owned and donated by Carlos Santana — to the tune of ten thousand dollars.
The Legend:
Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Shields and Macys West Chairman & CEO, Bob Mettler
Photo by Michael Caulfield, WireImage
The theme of this year’s fashion extravaganza was, “Say it.” And say it she did when Dame Elizabeth Taylor (proudly and movingly introduced by actor Brooke Shields, cohort with Taylor and Stone in their fight against HIV/AIDS) presented her plea for funds to fight the disease. While Ms. Taylor dazzled us with her timeless beauty, she shocked us with the statistics regarding the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and abroad. We must not rest on our laurels but heighten, not diminish, our motivation to find a cure. Whereas there has been a slight decline of the disease in the US, other nations are experiencing exponential rates. “Africa,” she exhorted, “has become a nation of orphans.” According to statistics from the (National Institute for Health), one of every ten adults are afflicted with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia alone. It is Ms. Taylor’s fierce message to the world that Africa’s status as an orphanage is a wake up call to us all. She further confides, “It has been my experience that there are two major stumbling blocks to finding the cure for HIV/AIDS, fear and stigma.” Of course, funding for education, treatment and research for the disease runs a close third in this equation.
Desserts at Macys Passport
The Stash:
Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone and Brooke Shields, helped raise more than $1 million over one evening for HIV/AIDS organizations. Two thousand supporters showed up at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica for the annual fashion event, The atmosphere was so emotionally and sensually charged that the audience was.spellbound. We were so moved we forgot to applaud (almost).
Writer Marie Bargas and friends
The Cause:
“For those living with HIV and those of us fighting to end HIV/AIDS, the biggest challenge we face today is apathy and the misconception that AIDS is over. The truth is HIV still has a grip on our communities. There is no vaccine. There is no cure,” says Macy’s West Chairman and CEO Robert Mettler. “Macy’s has been in the fight against HIV/AIDS since the darkest days of the pandemic. We lent our voices and our support when it wasn’t popular and we will continue to speak out until AIDS truly is over.”
Macys Vodka Bar
Last Word:
The marriage of talent and serendipity became beauty in its purest essence. If truth is beauty, then Passport 2006 vastly exceeded its primary purpose of “saying it.” This gala sparked an awareness of that simple but often forgotten truth that love is the reason we are here. Thanks to this event, fashion will forever be clothed in its counterparts — hope and compassion. And that says it all.
Marie Bargas & Rita Kerstiens,
contributing writers to Fashiontribes.com Rock Punk Magazine and blogs!
Uncredited photos courtesy of writers.
LA Story .
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