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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Event Design & Decor

Amfar Gala Greets Fashion Week With Decor Tailored to Lady Gaga

Michael O'Connell
February 12, 2010

At Wednesday's annual Amfar gala at Cipriani 42nd Street, the likes of Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and Vanessa Redgrave raised money for the HIV and AIDS nonprofit's devastated Haitian outpost and took in a performance by Lady Gaga—whose addition to the program proved the linchpin in this year's event and prompted a change in direction for the designer. 

"Really, we started out with a completely different story and decor," said Dallas event designer and longtime Amfar partner Todd Fiscus. "And then Lady Gaga signed on. We needed the atmosphere to take on a more modern look, so we switched to a palette of red, black, and white."

Gaga did her part to complement the decor by arriving on the red carpet covered head to toe in white make-up—provided, no doubt, by event sponsor M.A.C., for whom she's now a spokesperson—and pearls glued to her face and body.

Curiosity over what sort of spectacle the ubiquitous performer had planned and the tribute to late board member Natasha Richardson bolstered celebrity attendance and the event's $1.2 million take, much of which will go to Amfar's efforts in Haiti.

"We added a small live auction and a cash call for a program we run in Haiti," said Amfar vice president and director of development Gregory Boroff. "We lost 14 men in our support group for people with HIV, and the building is 100 percent gone. The director of the program survived, so now we really just need to get a satellite location up and running. Fortunately, with all the ticket sales, we have our highest walk-in-the-door total for a New York event yet."

Lady Gaga performs for a mannequin at the Amfar gala
Lady Gaga performs for a mannequin at the Amfar gala
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Event designer Todd Fiscus brought Swarovski crystal orbs from his studio in Dallas to hang from the ceiling.
Event designer Todd Fiscus brought Swarovski crystal orbs from his studio in Dallas to hang from the ceiling.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
Among the flowers were 1,000 stems of white phalaenopsis orchids, which Fiscus's grower shipped directly to New York.
Among the flowers were 1,000 stems of white phalaenopsis orchids, which Fiscus's grower shipped directly to New York.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
The bright pink cherry blossom branches were actually constructed out of magnetic LED lighting.
The bright pink cherry blossom branches were actually constructed out of magnetic LED lighting.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
Fiscus worked on a Dallas Amfar event called Two by Two for AIDS and Art for seven years before receiving an invite from the nonprofit to show his work in New York this year.
Fiscus worked on a Dallas Amfar event called Two by Two for AIDS and Art for seven years before receiving an invite from the nonprofit to show his work in New York this year.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
Fiscus changed the event's color palette to give it a cleaner, more modern look when he learned Lady Gaga would be performing.
Fiscus changed the event's color palette to give it a cleaner, more modern look when he learned Lady Gaga would be performing.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
The venue was broken up by partitioning walls that limited some colors to certain areas, like this pink tableau by the step-and-repeat.
The venue was broken up by partitioning walls that limited some colors to certain areas, like this pink tableau by the step-and-repeat.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
New York's Cloth Connection and Ruth Fischl Inc. provided the dinner's linens.
New York's Cloth Connection and Ruth Fischl Inc. provided the dinner's linens.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
Flowers Fiscus didn't source from his orchid grower were acquired from Fischer & Page.
Flowers Fiscus didn't source from his orchid grower were acquired from Fischer & Page.
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
After a performance by Rufus Wainwright—and a surprise Irish folksong from Meryl Streep—Lady Gaga took the stage and, eventually, the top of her piano.
After a performance by Rufus Wainwright—and a surprise Irish folksong from Meryl Streep—Lady Gaga took the stage and, eventually, the top of her piano.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
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