Even it is only for one night a year... Fashion does care.
Monday, March 26 marked New York's ninth annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares, a fundraiser event benefiting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and HIV/AIDS research. 2012's Honorary Chair and Oscar-nominated actress/designer Chloe Sevigny attended the event aboard the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier -- along with singer Joe Jonas, 90210 star Shenae Grimes, stylist and personality Robert Verdi, the voice of Lisa Simspon Yeardley Smith and Who's The Boss icon Judith Light -- to support Jeffrey Kalinsky, founder of the event, and the important charities and nonprofit organizations. Since being established, Jeffrey Fashion Cares has raised more than $11 million for its beneficiaries, with 90 percent of every dollar donated to fight discrimination, support LGBT youth, provide life-saving services and education.
I jumped aboard to support the evening of auctions and cocktails, and of course, the fashion show featuring 44 of the hottest male models in the lastest designers wears from the Jeffrey Store in NYC. With casting by Andrew Weir, this year, models included Brazilian boys Arthur Sales, Michael Camiloto and Andre Ziehe, as well as swimsuit-clad Jason Morgan and Adam Von Rothfelder contributing both their time and chiseled physiques for a not so average catwalk show. As the boys took to the runway, Sports Illustrated's Models Irina Shayk and Kate Upton and Aussie Models Jessica Gomes & Andrej Pejic sat front row, cheering over the pumping tunes of the DJ with the rest of the attendees.
The night also marked the inaugural community leadership award to Terrence Meck, founder and executive director of The Palette Fund, honoring him for benefitting the lives of LGBT people and those living with HIV/AIDS, personally and through his foundation, stating "I'm lucky to have the opportunity, through the Palette Fund, to carry out Rand's [his late partner] legacy every day."
The 1,200 guest raised more $610,000 for beneficiaries with auctions ranging from Madonna concert tickets to an all-expenses paid trip to Barcelona. Another successful year for Jeffrey, who, along with all involved, contributed their time, auction prizes and bodies for the charity organisation. When asked what he is looking forward to tonight, Jeffrey joked, "When it's over and I can have a piece of pizza and watch Mad Men."
Special thanks to Jeffrey Kalinsky & Team, Factory PR, Renna Communications and everyone involved in contributing to this video.
Video by Jaclyn Amor