Couture Week Ended With the Glitzy Sidaction Dîner de la Mode Fundraiser

By tweaking its format and (importantly) relocating to the grand marble-columned Pavillon Cambon Capucines just down the street from the Chanel headquarters, the 18th Sidaction Dîner de la Mode gala broke an all-time record, raising 780,000 euros (nearly $860,000) for AIDS research.

It also drew more guests than ever, including royalty—Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark—as well as the minister of culture Franck Riester, and stars in fashion, film, and high jewelry including Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert, Clémence Poésy, and the new Kenzo designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista, Bouchra Jarrar, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Julie de Libran, Caroline de Maigret, Guo Pei, and Cindy Chao. The vegetarian menu was developed by chef Amandine Chaignot, with desserts by Christelle Brua, pastry chef at the Elysée Palace.

Rossy de Palma was there in body, but her spirit was still soaring following Jean Paul Gaultier’s farewell runway show. “I’m here with Jean Paul celebrating, but we’re still in the clouds, so much emotion, like back in the day. What an amazing sensation,” she said.

People were especially moved by filmed speeches, particularly by the iconic French actress Line Renaud, who cofounded Sidaction with Pierre Bergé and was among the guests at the head table, still going strong at 91.

“It’s a reminder never to take life for granted,” offered Anna Cleveland who, in addition to modeling and acting, is currently training in Tibetan medicine. “I want to be a practitioner by the time I’m 40,” she said. “I’m giving myself 10 years.”

“What’s amusing is seeing all these families in fashion coming together. It’s like a fashion barometer,” offered Loic Prigent. “There’s a table where everyone is wearing Jacquemus, and everyone wants to win the Jacquemus bag. I never win anything because I always give my envelopes to the women next to me. It’s like seats in the metro; you have to leave them to the ladies.”

Meanwhile, Simon Porte Jacquemus was at the center of the action on the dance floor, cutting moves until he had to peel off a layer. Unlike so many previous years, when people scrambled to get a taxi out of the Bois de Boulogne by midnight, this year the party rolled on until 2 a.m.