Few events have become as iconic as Gery Keszler’s annual Life Ball—for all not to forget that AIDS is still present. From Bill Clinton to Whoopi Goldberg, from Naomi Campbell to Elton John, the worlds of politics and fashion unite at amfAR’s (the American Foundation for AIDS Research) gala in Vienna, designed each year by a different artist and now one of the most coveted events in Europe. The spectacle invariably turns into an all-night party with several thousand donors dressed in the most stunning and outrageous costumes.

This book is Michel Comte’s portrait of the glamour and grit of the Life Ball. Comte remembers: “My first journey started in New York. We all boarded a large chartered Airbus. Wherever I looked, there was somebody I knew, had read about or was interested in meeting. The experience onboard reminded me of a sixties rock-’n’-roll charter. People were frolicking through the aisles with glasses of champagne. In Vienna my assistants and I started working early afternoon before the legendary event began. Everyone was creating something special; chaos later turned into the most surreal experience. From the dazzling black-tie dinner to the fashion show, the performances and the late-night party, it all seemed like a crazy mid-summer night’s dream. Here is our story.”