I was honoured to have been co-chair of the inaugural amfAR London at the newly opened Rosewood Hotel. And the night didn’t disappoint! Most importantly, the fundraising gala raised $2.1M in support of amfAR’s lifesaving biomedical research and advocacy programmes.
I checked into the fabulous new Chancery Rosewood – this all-suite property is staggering in size and attitude. I stayed in Kennedy House, one category beneath the penthouse. It was so enormous, it felt like living in a Mayfair apartment for the night! It is most certainly a design icon, reborn for a new era following an extraordinary architectural restoration. Set within the historic former US embassy on Grosvenor Square, the restoration was led by British architect Sir David Chipperfield.
With my makeup applied by the incredible Charlotte Tilbury team, all gowned up and dripping in Chopard diamonds, it was time to step into London’s first amfAR Gala.
Celebrities turned up the heat, and guests went all-out with their fashion. Jodie Turner-Smith stunned in Jean Paul Gaultier’s 26 Collection, Michael Fassbender, Julia Fox in Marc Jacobs, Natasha Poonawalla in Balenciaga, model Chantal Monaghan styled by me in Alessandra Rich, and the stunning Fala Chen in Schiaparelli.
Over 300 guests spilled into the low-lit grand ballroom, with vodka martinis in abundance thanks to Philip Libert and his vodka brand You and Me. The production was executed by Emanuela Santi, founder and creative genius behind Event Republic Studio. Surrealist punk meets Cool Britannia – celebrating the best of British – London is calling! The anarchic legacy with a touch of royal irreverence. A celebration of British creativity at its boldest, where décor was a theatrical mix of sharp graphics, surreal visuals and text, high glamour with a punk twist. It was punk revolution and surrealist fantasy combined.
Grace Jones performs onstage during amfAR London 2025 gala at The Chancery Rosewood
Photo: Lia Toby/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR
This concept paid homage to the rich fashion and art legacy of Britain, with iconic muses like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Alexander McQueen, Isabella Blow, and Tracey Emin – rebels and forward-thinkers who disrupted the status quo while turning royal tradition inside out with irreverent flair. It’s the spirit of the Sex Pistols, The Clash – unexpected, audacious, and opulently disobedient.
The night opened with an electric performance by Jess Glynne, singing her hit songs Hold My Hand and Rather Be. Stepping into the spotlight to host the evening was British gem Joely Richardson. Natasha Poonawalla was presented with the amfAR Philanthropic Leadership Award: “amfAR’s work, from fighting HIV to funding research and innovation, proves that science and compassion together can rewrite the story of global health.”
Kyle Clifford, the newly appointed CEO, presented the Award for Inspiration to Dame Tracey Emin. After a poignant speech, she reminded us all: “If we continue to fight, AIDS can be eradicated in our lifetime.”
Jodie Turner-Smith, fashion icon and long-standing supporter of amfAR, introduced the remarkable and outrageous Grace Jones, which brought the evening to a climactic end. We were all on our feet as she performed her iconic hits La Vie en Rose and Slave to the Rhythm.
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Olivia BuckinghamCredit
Lead Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for amfAR
