It’s the Thought That Counts, as Well as the Thousands of Dollars
CANNES, France--Dame Elizabeth Taylor was the last to arrive, making a grand entrance nearly three hours after cocktails began at the Thursday night fund-raiser for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. She was resplendent in diamonds and a beaded flesh colored Gianfranco Ferre gown.
But it was model Iman who stole the limelight, wearing a pear-shaped, 203-karat Millennium Star diamond--the largest and purest stone of its kind--to accessorize a simple black, low-cut gown by John Galliano for Dior.
The AMFAR event, the annual social highlight of the Cannes Film Festival, was attended by 500 at the famous Le Moulin de Mougins restaurant. At the Cinema Against AIDS fund-raiser, guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner and auction for $2,500 a ticket. The hosts for the evening were Taylor, Iman, Sharon Stone, Elton John, Harvey Weinstein and Cannes jury President David Lynch.
The function was attended by Prince Albert of Monaco, AMFAR founding Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim, Calvin Klein, Bianca Jagger, actors Stephen Baldwin, Adrien Brody, Milla Jovovich and Michelle Yeoh. There were a host of entertainment glitterati and social and business elite.
Stone was wearing a simple, fitted red Versace pantsuit with a 25-karat diamond DeBeers necklace, which was to be auctioned during the evening along with a variety of luxury items. Two were described as “priceless”: tennis lessons with Pete Sampras (Prince Albert outbid Klein, winning the lessons for $100,000) and a 10-minute chat with Stone on the latest Motorola V70 cell phone, opening at a minimum bid of $10,000 ($1,000 per minute).
“We started the event 10 years ago and so far have raised $40 million,” said Weinstein before the auction. “You’ve got to step up in life,” he said, “I started from nowhere and you have to give back.”
Iman, who grew up in Somalia, said she became involved in the cause because of AIDS’ growing impact on Africa. “It’s reached huge proportions there and I see this function as an ideal way to raise world awareness.”
Hush-Hush Affair
German supermodel Claudia Schiffer is taking a leaf out of her friend Madonna’s book by opting for privacy over publicity when she marries British film producer Matthew Vaughn on Saturday. Schiffer, who at 31 is one of the world’s most sought-after models, will wed Vaughn at their 5-million pound ($7 million) mansion, Coldham Hall, in Suffolk, England, after a determined bid to keep the details secret.
International interest in the glamorous couple’s nuptials has been intense, fueled by reports that guests will include stars like Madonna, Elton John, Brad Pitt and Naomi Campbell.
But the couple are determined to keep their big day private, hiring a security firm to patrol the grounds of their 500-year-old home and making everyone involved sign a confidentiality agreement.
Despite the battle for secrecy, some details appear to have leaked out. The catwalk queen is said to have ordered an ivory silk Valentino wedding gown and has requested that guests refrain from wearing white.
From Reuters
