In the Mood for (Red)

(NEW YORK) Sotheby's was awash in red Thursday night, transformed into the fashion set's newest hangout as hundreds, including John McEnroe, Dennis and Victoria Hopper, Jamie Niven, Russell Simmons, Olivia Chantecaille, Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, Marisa Noel Brown, Michael Stipe, and newly engaged couple Ziyi Zhang and Vivi Nevo turned out on York Avenue for the Bono and Damien Hirst-curated (Auction) Red charity gala, which raised more than $42 million for AIDS research and relief in Africa through a live auction of 83 donated lots of artwork. "We're going to put the heart, and the sex appeal, back into Valentine's Day," declared Bono as he mugged on the red carpet with Bobby Shriver and Ali Hewson.

"It's a party tonight; no wonder it's not starting on time," chided Aby Rosen, who arrived promptly for the 7 p.m. festivities--though they didn't start until 40 minutes later. Ducking into a private skybox with Hirst, Larry Gagosian, and Tico Mugrabi, the arts and real estate mogul wasn't surprised by the night's turnout. "Bono's a great hustler," he joked. "He'll sell you anything." Rosen, who had his eye on a few pieces, wasn't at all concerned about having enough space to accommodate all his acquisitions. "I sell, trade, loan, and put in museums," he offered. "Or they can go in my buildings...Gramercy, Core, Lever."

In honor of the auction's founding theme, not to mention Valentine's Day, guests showed their support in a multitude of ways. Sotheby's executive vice president Lisa Dennison wore a red Donna Karan dress while Katharina Otto-Bernstein, whose husband, Nathan, celebrated his birthday that night, chose red Prada (the couple subsequently placed the high $420,000 bid on Subodh Gupta's "Sunday Lunch"); Gigi Mortimer toted along her red Hermès Birkin (size 25 cm); Christy Turlington showed up in a red Temperley dress straight off the fall runway (and bought Francesco Clemente's "Red Flower on Scorched Earth" for $155,000); B.J. Topol Blum wore red Stella McCartney; and Roberta Armani sported a red python Armani bag. "I'm very new to this, but I'm learning," she said, later snapping up Thomas Demand's "KFC" for $80,000. "The colors! It's so Americana!" she exclaimed. Christina Floyd, however, chose a fuchsia Tibi number. "It's definitely not a typical Sotheby's dress, or a typical Sotheby's auction with Eminem playing through the speakers," the client liaison laughed while the waitstaff passed champagne. After all, there's nothing like a buzzed bidder to get the action started, right?

Bono, who spoke at the auctioneer's podium before the furious bidding commenced, was both emotional and impactful with his words. "St. Valentine was a strange one," he said. "When he was confirmed, it was for selfless acts known only to God, much like the artists tonight." Turning to his friend Hirst, "whose Irish blood is thicker than he'll ever admit, whose penis, I mean brain, is enormous--he did party tricks with it," he described light-heartedly, crediting him for the night's results before adding, "He was sued by the Clarion Hotel for the things he did with his brain in the tea room." The Irish icon then broke out into a surprise a capella rendition of the Beatles' hit, "All You Need Is Love," while the audience clapped along.

An after-party on the auction house's 10th floor followed immediately after the auction, where The Hours performed multiple sets as waiters clad in Emporio Armani (Product) Red shirts served hors d'oeuvres to the financially famished crowd. Gallerist Kenny Goss (sans George Michael), Dallas socialite Angie Barrett, Barneys' Julie Gilhart, Ed Burns, and Liya Kebede joined art royalty Hiroshi Sugimoto, Tracey Emin, Takashi Murakami, and Tony Shafrazi as they meandered throughout the cavernous space, awash in flashing red heart lights and sculptures. "I'm very happy with the results," said Murakami. "When Bono and Damien wrote me asking me to participate, I thought it would be appropriate to create a circular piece, which is like the Zen philosophy of the full circle." Over at the bar, meanwhile, Armani and Amanda Hearst enjoyed a fashion reunion. "What perfume are you wearing?" she asked. "Michael Kors," Hearst replied, to which Giorgio's niece doted, "You need diamonds!"

Helena Christensen, who did not wear red, nevertheless put some thought into her outfit for the occasion. "It's a La Perla robe an old boyfriend gave me that I turned inside out and cut," she said of her silky slip dress. Allison Sarofim, however, who received a vintage Asprey cigarette case from her beau Stuart Parr for Valentine's Day, perhaps should have put more thought into her Zac Posen number--after Stella Schnabel showed up in the same dress. "You work the back, I'll work the front," Schnabel concluded.

Fashion aside, philanthropy was the night's strongest current, washing over all those lucky enough to be in attendance. Bono, who stayed until nearly midnight, closed the night by taking to the stage to sing "Revolution" before breaking out into a chorus of, "All you need is Hirst, all you need is Hirst, all you need is Hirst, Hirst is all you need!"
JIM SHI