SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The 24th annual Macy’s Passport fashion show and auction had a little bit of everything.
Auction emcee Sharon Stone threatened to sell the clothes off her back at the charity event, screen legend Elizabeth Taylor attended, Sean “Diddy” Combs strolled the runway for Sean John with rings of fire at his back and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa bopped down the catwalk as a model for Hugo Boss.
The show and auction at Santa Monica airport’s Barker Hangar has raised $24 million for AIDS/HIV services, prevention and research since its inception. The event raised more than $1 million to be donated to 60 Los Angeles organizations.
Stone returned for her eighth year as host of the live auction, wearing a black satin vintage Gucci dress that she said she would sell if she didn’t make her quota. “There’s no stopping me, because in my lifetime, AIDS will become a thing of the past,” Stone told the audience.
Heatherette designers and Macy’s partners Richie Rich and Traver Rains staged a runway presentation combining pieces from their junior and designer lines. “I love Macy’s, they’re so supportive of everything we do,” said Rich, dressed in gray jeans and a military-style jacket from the junior collection — paired with his signature roller skates.
Others on the runway included Lauren Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and Theory, a favorite of actress Nia Vardalos, who arrived wearing a black velvet dress by Vince and Prada stilettos. “Theory makes everyone look like they have legs,” she said. American Rag tapped hip-hop choreographer Brian Friedman to stage a high-energy dance performance that ended in a standing ovation.
“Passport is about giving,” said Bob Mettler, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s West. “I hope it says that we’re committed, as a company, to the people we serve.”