Parties You Will Never Get Into

Model par excellence Natalia Vodianova has a heart — a Naked Heart Foundation, that is. Each year, she mounts the Love Ball, a glamorous fundraising rendezvous for her nonprofit organization.

This year’s fundraising was held at Camden’s Roundhouse in London on Feb. 23. Sponsored in part by De Beers, the ball fetched £1.2 million for the foundation, which erects children’s playgrounds in Vodianova’s native Russia.

While guest Elizabeth Hurley diverted some with her see-through sari, hostess Natalia Vodianova certainly got the most attention at the bash. She arrived wearing a shimmery diamond necklace called Magic Moment, which she designed with De Beers. By night’s end, the necklace had a new owner, who shelled out £180,000 for it.

Others made similar costly bids for artists’ opuses. Peter Blake’s artwork, “I Love You,” was auctioned for £160,000 while a sculpture by Jake and Dinos Chapman earned £135,000. Tracey Emin, in a speech, pronounced the latter’s auction “an absolute bargain.” She herself drew some generous bids, for her piece “With You I Breathe.”

Works by artists Jeff Koons, Keith Tyson, Pavel Pepperstein, Francesco Vezzoli, Gosha Ostretsov, Anselm Reyle and Marc Quinn were also featured.

In between biddings, guests were entertained with musical performances, beginning with Yusuf Islam’s incredible rendition of Natalia Vodianova’s personal favorite, “Where Do the Children Play?” Another highlight was a number by British songstress Leona Lewis. The music of Kristof Barati, Paloma Faith, Sharleen Spiteri and Ruby Wax also wafted through the Roundhouse.

Having a ball that evening were such belles as Kate Moss, Donna Karan, Rachel Zoe and Carolina Herrera. Diane von Furstenberg, fresh off the show of her House’s outgoing creative director Nathan Jenden, was also present. Other guests included Mario Testino, Stella McCartney, Jacquetta Wheeler, David Gandy, Amber Le Bon, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Paloma Faith and Matthew Williamson. Harper’s Bazaar Editor Lucy Yeomans co-hosted the affair.

Love Ball 2010 was also sponsored by Louis Vuitton, Gagosian, and Christie’s.