Vivienne Westwood Unveils Stunning Costumes for amfAR Gala in Salzburg

The prestigious amfAR Gala, held on Sunday, August 24, showcased costumes created by British luxury brand Vivienne Westwood. This star-studded event welcomed around 400 influential personalities from arts, culture, politics, and business at the stunning Salzburg Residence. The night’s theme was inspired by Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s “Jedermann,” featured in the Salzburg Festival.

Creative director Andreas Kronthaler ingeniously reimagined costumes from the Salzburg Festival’s archives, previously worn by opera performers and actors. By deconstructing, merging, and re-stitching various elements with pieces from current collections, the aim was “to tell a new story in the unmistakable style of the house,” a press release noted.

“Salzburg holds special significance for both Vivienne and me, and we are deeply honored to participate in the amfAR Gala, especially since it’s occurring here in Austria for the first time. Collaborating with the incredible costume department of the Salzburg Festival allowed us to design costumes for this performance. The costumes will be auctioned to support vital research and combat the global AIDS epidemic. Theatre is essential,” commented Kronthaler.

Costume Highlights

The costumes vividly conveyed the play’s themes: life versus death, possession and loss, as well as power and humility. They encapsulated the narrative and motivations of the characters.

Buhlschaft made three appearances on stage to signify her evolution across time—past, present, and future. This was symbolized by three unique red dresses. The first was a playful light red-pink chiffon gown layered over a classic Vivienne Westwood corset, adorned with archive beading and a signature Westwood butterfly motif. This design merged two original dresses from the Salzburg archive.

The second red dress showcased elegance, featuring a beaded bodice paired with a long sequined skirt, creatively crafted from two archived pieces.

The final dress represented vision, fashioned as a classic Vivienne Westwood “Bird of Paradise” gown in striking red silk taffeta, complete with voluminous sleeves and the brand’s iconic silhouette. The new romantic design included embellishments from an original costume.

For the dinner guests, original dresses were also utilized. One ensemble featured a striking combination of two archival dresses on a corset structure, complete with an exaggerated front peplum and layered Elizabethan-style sleeves. This look captured the essence of the Westwood silhouette, complemented by a cascading black feather skirt.

The second outfit drew inspiration from the 1950s, revamping a simple black taffeta ballgown with added layers of tulle and dazzling oversized crystal motifs, alongside large embroidered flowers.

The character of Death donned a dramatic black corset gown embellished with beaded shoulder pads and fringed sleeves, all seamlessly transitioning into a trailing taffeta train. This look was uniquely crafted by reassembling various archived pieces.

Post-performance, the 18 bespoke costumes were auctioned, contributing to an impressive total of over half a million euros raised for charity.