On 17 July, celebrity fashion designers Diane von Furstenberg, Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein Collection’s Francisco Costa personally unveiled to the public the 2010 Life Ball MINIs they personally designed. Last Saturday night, the international style icons accompanied “their†MINIs along the red carpet laid out on Vienna’s City Hall Square on the occasion of the annual AIDS charity event. The three gems on wheels were given a rapturous welcome by the enthusiastic crowds.
Belgian-born US fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg captivated onlookers with a bright red MINI which she had sprinkled with numerous colourful lips. Elegant mother-of-pearl white lent an iridescent touch to the wheel rims, mirror caps and roof of the car. Delivering a similar dash of glamour was the gleaming silver MINI Convertible by New York fashion star Kenneth Cole, with a surface of brushed metal and some 8,000 studs applied by hand. Inside the car, the creative New Yorker showed his keen attention to detail in the fine-leather seats, piping with Swarovski crystals, stud appliqués and embossed logos, among other features. Calvin Klein Collection’s award-winning Women’s Creative Director Francisco Costa designed an arresting MINI Countryman in matt black paintwork with a reflective logo on each of the front doors. The tinted windows lent the car an aura of mystery.
The Life Ball MINI by Calvin Klein Collection’s Francisco Costa went under the hammer for the amount of 40.000 Euro that same evening as part of the amfAR Gala in Vienna in support of the AIDS charity. The other two MINIs will be auctioned at upcoming amfAR events. Total proceeds will go to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President MINI Brand Management, commented: “We can now look back on a successful ten-year partnership with the Life Ball. The event is an excellent platform for the MINI brand, while our involvement allows us to contribute further to the fight against HIV/AIDS.â€
MINI at the 2010 Life Ball.
This was MINI’s tenth successive involvement in Europe’s leading AIDS charity event. The 18th Life Ball was held in Vienna on 17 July 2010 and once again served as a hot spot for international celebrities. This colourful, extrovert event flew the flag for solidarity and provided MINI with the perfect platform on which to highlight its social-political commitment. Global measures to fight HIV/AIDS are a key element of the BMW Group’s involvement on behalf of social causes.
This year’s Life Ball – held to coincide with the 18th International Aids Conference in Vienna that starts the day after the event – took place against a special backdrop. On 17 July, not only Vienna’s City Hall and City Hall Square were dedicated to the red ribbon; the Burgtheater also played its part with the Red Ribbon Cotillion Summer Ball, as will the Austrian Parliament, which hosted the amfAR Gala.
In the spirit of this year’s motto “Sow the Seeds of Solidarity!†and the “Earth†theme, the 2010 Life Ball wanted to sow its seeds around the world wherever the need is greatest.
<p>Egads, NSFW tag on the video please!</p>
<p>CK wins as the R60 looks great in sinister mode… black certainly is slimming! ;)</p>
<p>I had a ticket (thanks MINI AG) and didn’t go ($2500 last minute flight). Biggest regret! :(</p>
<p>Yeah, well….</p>
<p>“growl like a tiger, grr baby grr!</p>
<p>I can’t wait for MINI to sponsor an event that I actually find in any way, shape or form interesting.</p>
<p>That said…have to give props to that CK R60. Matte finishes FTW.</p>
<p>Minis are at 1:55, then you can skip the nauseating camera work.</p>
<p>The Countryman does indeed look fantastic in matte black.</p>
<p>Hey, Matt – totally agree. Trouble is, MINI/BMW sees it’s target demographic for sales as a bunch of “posers”. Always has. And unfortunately (small groups of hard-core MINIacs like those that visit here, and at NA, and some other BBS and Blogs not withstanding) they are pretty much right. (It’s why most MINI “improvements” are lipstick, instead of dipstick.)
So of course their events are poser too ;-P</p>
<p>Matte black R60 – luscious…</p>
<p>Hardcore enthusiasts aside, MINIs demo is dramatically different outside the US. Go to MINI United and you’ll see what I mean.</p>
<p>Now THIS looks like a party!!!
And we get … MTTS ;)</p>
<p>…ditto to Aurel…</p>
<p>@MKH – I agree. MINI is targeted at the young set demographic. This age group is partial responsible for the recession because of their “I want it now, on credit” lifestyle. i-pad, i-phone, i-owe, i-wish….</p>
<p>Old Classic Mini appealed to all age groups and you could have a budget model or a Cooper S depending on your pocket. New MINI is targeted to those with “premium” bank accounts.</p>
<p>This Life Ball thing is relatively unknown outside its demographic and location. Pity it can’t be held in a different country each year.</p>
<p>However, similar to BMW Art cars, there is some art form in the exhibitors cars. Not too dissimilar to the painted cow parades in USA. (:c)</p>
<p>Hopefully it comes with that Color option from Factory. It definitly made me take a triple look..</p>
<p>@ aurel,</p>
<p>See, most MINI enthusiasts here in the states enjoy the same old thing over and over and over and over. A parade lap at Indy… Blues traveler… Been done before. This is why I am not part of the Chicago mini club, they don’t like people who bring new life/ideas into the mix.</p>
<p>B – I’d recommend MINI United next year in Spain. Until then I’ll do my best to bring that spirit to MTTS.</p>
<p>Totally agree with Gabe. The target demographics and the user profile of MINIs are COMPLETELY different between US and rest of the world. Therefore, it is not surprising to see events like “this one” in one part of the world, and “BBQ and beer” in another. Is there an official statistic analysis of average MINI owner in the US vs. Europe somewhere? Just want to know…</p>
<p>@MKH. How old are you, sir, if you dont mind me asking? You seem to confuse the concept of “posers” and “being young” :)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Is there an official statistic analysis of average MINI owner in the US vs. Europe somewhere? Just want to know..</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes… It’s confidential 🙂 but… You can figure out the difference by watching the video above and any video from Amviv</p>
<p>lol @ Gabe … you must be testing out your new flame suit.</p>
<p>Now I see what most you see. But, really I couldn’t get thru half of the video befor I had to exit. Not into drag, maybe drag racing, not into high fashion, but do appreciate a good wine, but the cars looked good expecially the r60. Guess that i’m not with the rest of the world people.</p>
<p>That made my trips to vegas look conservative.</p>
<p>This video had it all, a cool matt black countryman, a former president, hollywood movie star, a gap toothed gypsy reporter who liked her fisting pumping, males in heels, my fave Garlic girl and all set to a rocking back beat of haciendic proportions.</p>
<p>Im off to watch Bruno again, now we’re talking NSFW!</p>
<p>Interesting tidbit…</p>
<p>Notice how Whoopi Goldberg was at the Life Ball (and also participating in the show)? She’s at 1:35, 2:24 and 2:28.</p>
<p>Well… look what happened upon her return:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2010/07/20/moos.whoopi.stoned.on.air.cnn?hpt=T2" rel="nofollow">CNN.com Video – Was Whoopi on drugs during ‘View?’</a></p>
<blockquote>Yes… It’s confidential 🙂 but… You can figure out the difference by watching the video above and any video from Amviv</blockquote>
<p>C’mon Gabe! Just release the average age data point, then. Is it 25 vs. 48?</p>
<blockquote><b>Gabe: </b>I’d recommend MINI United next year in Spain. Until then I’ll do my best to bring that spirit to MTTS.</blockquote>
<p>See you in Spain, Gabe! After attending the last 2 MINI United events, I feel I can 100% recommend the trip to MINI United for anyone who is looking for an amazing, hardcore dose of MINI culture and enthusaism.</p>
<p>We will also rendez-vous at MTTS… but I have high hopes that MINI USA will impress us since many of their marketing/event staff had a chance to experience MINI United last year with the USA owners event :)</p>
<p>I agree with Lilcoopr!</p>
<p>If you want to experience the festival nature of MINI then you MUST attend MINI UNITED!</p>
<p>MUST MUST MUST!!!!</p>
<p>See you at MTTS…AND MINI UNITED 2011!!!</p>
<p>Forget the parties. Give me a car that motors.</p>
<p>But Fredic, we party to celebrate a car that motors :D</p>