Liz, Sharon Use Fashion to Fight AIDS

There are a lot of hot tickets in Los Angeles, but one of the hottest is the Macy's Passport event -- a glamorous gala and fashion show with a 27-year history that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for HIV causes.

On Thursday evening, Macy's and cosponsor American Express pulled out all the stops for the latest fund-raiser, which took over the Barker Hanger at Santa Monica airport (a San Francisco Passport event happened last week). After dining al fresco on shrimp, beet tortellini, and mushroom brie and drinking bubbly chardonnay and vodka tonics, the well-dressed guests rolled into the hanger. With Madonna's "Celebration" blasting, Sharon Stone stomped out on the makeshift runway looking like she had stepped off the set of the original Basic Instinct (though clothed). Using charm and persuasion, the miniskirted and high-heeled Stone had guests racing up to the runway to commit thousands of dollars to AIDS research, drugs, and meals.

Soon after, Dame Elizabeth Taylor was wheeled onto the runway and implored guests to donate as much as they could to AIDS funding. She reminded everyone what her best friend Michael Jackson said: "We Are the World." Taylor related that Jackson had told her it was our responsibility to take care of the sick and dying -- not just in the Western world, but especially in Africa. As Taylor put it, Africa is "the continent we [all] came from."

Levity was in order after Taylor's impassioned speech, and there was masterful dancing from not only professional movers but also a group of children, who helped introduce the new Harajuku Lovers Snowbunnies perfume from Gwen Stefani. Lots of skin followed, with models donning collections from Levi's, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Rachel Roy, American Rag, and Tallia Orange.

Click here for more information on Macy's Passport event.