Last weekend Vienna, one of Europe’s most charming and underrated cities, undressed up for its most glamorous annual event – Life Ball.
Eva Longoria, Pamela Anderson and former US President Bill Clinton were among this year’s presenters, and Life Ball’s annual fashion parade featured the work of the fabulous Patricia Field, who has her own clothing line and was also the costume designer for Sex And The City – The Movie and The Devil Wears Prada, sharing her talent with the adoring party people, themselves clad in a variety of outfits ranging from the outlandish to the outrageous with a bit of black tie (and tail…) thrown out for good measure. Life Ball is Mardi Gras ten times over, not necessarily in size, but certainly in enthusiasm – the whole city gets excited, and the event is broadcast all over Europe, with VIPs clamouring for the oh-so-precious tickets not because it is politically correct to be seen in attendance but because it’s a damn fine party. Over the years the charity fundraiser has seen the likes of telephone hurler Naomi Campbell, siren Sharon Stone, Aussie singer Kylie Minogue and the incandescent Liza Minnelli – not to mention a whole lot of hunky men gather at Vienna’s Town Hall for the city’s night of knights, most of them fresh and shiny, yet happily devoid of the armour so often worn at these A-list events. While Life Ball is a great reason to come here, Vienna is fantastic anytime of year, even in the depths of a Central European winter that’s when the arts are at their peak. The city’s official tourism office publishes a gay guide telling visitors where the best cruising places are and which bar, sauna, or sex club bests suits your tastes, however deviant they may be. It’s a welcome that’s not just warm, it’s hot. Vienna is a place where long-held gay traditions are maintained in fact, they do not die at all. They positively thrive. Vienna is justly famous around the world for its balls, the exclusive dances which take place all through the northern winter ball season. Most of these are arranged by profession, others by social association. The famous New Year’s Eve Ball and Opera Ball are among the most highly prized tickets of the year – though Life Ball, colourful spectacle that it is, gains the most attention. We have one all to ourselves, called The Rainbow Ball, which takes place each year at the end of January. Uncle Max would be thrilled to have a place to go after dropping off Captain von Trapp and the Baroness.