Event HISTORY

World AIDS Day Ball: Fashion Icons

Balancing heritage, innovative design, and exquisite craftsmanship, contemporary fashion houses have played an undeniable role in shaping the world as we know it—weaving themselves into the fabric of Ballroom too. For decades, designers at the helm of these colossal institutions have fought tooth and nail to cement their legacies. Tonight, it’s time for you to solidify your own. 

The World AIDS Day Ball is an annual event highlighting Ballroom culture, BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ talent, and the importance of HIV awareness, education, and linkage to care. For our third edition, Fashion Icons, we’re revisiting some of the world’s most influential fashion designers and the iconic collections that have shaped generations, past and present.

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FUNCTION Events WADB 3 Main
TEAM PERFORMANCE

$7500
3 trophies

Presented by Absolut

Unmistakable Colours

They say fashion houses are clamouring for colours, but not all shades are created equal. Some have been so successful at claiming their hue it’s become intrinsically, unequivocally, and forever linked to their identity. In teams of three, bring it in a monochromatic look featuring one of the quintessential designer colours, below. All team members must wear the same colour. Teams of any gender, legends included, from one or multiple houses. No house affiliations across different teams.

  • Hermès Orange
  • Tiffany Blue
  • Bottega Green
  • Valentino Pink
  • Fendi Yellow
  • Louboutin Red
FACE

$2500
2 trophies: 
MF, FF

Presented by MAC Cosmetics

Schiaparelli

Known for her surrealist designs and eccentric fashions, Elsa Schiaparelli hit the scene in the late 1920s. Through her revolutionary vision and iconic collaborations with the greatest minds of her time, including Jean Cocteau, Salvador Dalí, and Meret Oppenheim, Schiaparelli’s legacy is one of boldness and boundless creative spirit. Today, with Daniel Roseberry at its head, the house is tapping into its past to propel us into the couture of tomorrow. Tonight, bring it in a look that screams Schiaparelli!

SEX SIREN

$2500
2 trophies: 
MF, FF

Presented by Jems

Bob Mackie

Designer to the stars, having dressed a legion of the world’s most captivating entertainers, including Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Madonna, and Barbara Streisand, Bob Mackie is no stranger to glamour. Draped in sequins, feathers, and beads, his legendary pieces and electrifying red carpet moments have earned him a spot as one of the greatest American designers of all time. Bring it in a look that oozes elegance, flamboyance, and seduction, true to Mackie’s most iconic work.

RUNWAY

$2500
3 trophies: 
AA, European, FF

Mugler

A fashion visionary, Thierry Mugler launched his eponymous label in the mid 1970s, gaining incredible traction through his provocative collections and theatrical shows. His work—synonymous with bold silhouettes, precision tailoring, and female empowerment—galvanized the renaissance of haute couture, and today, Casey Cadwallader is honouring the same essence as the brand takes the world by storm. Tonight, hit the runway in an effect worthy of Mugler’s retrospective show, Couturissime. 

TAG TEAM REALNESS

$2000
2 trophies

Gucci

With a legacy spanning over a century, Gucci has welcomed some of the world’s most illustrious creative minds along the years. Characterized by sharp tailoring and plunging necklines, Tom Ford revitalized the brand in the late ’90s, bringing sensuality, provocation, and glamour to his collections. Years later, Alessandro Michele reimagined Gucci once again, driven by his passion for nostalgia and opulence—culminating in his final collection for the house, Gucci Twinsburg, shown across two runways, each a reflection of the other. In pairs, bring it in coordinating looks, drawing inspiration from any era of the brand’s incredible history. Teams of any gender, legends included, from one or multiple houses. No house affiliations across different teams.

BEST DRESSED

$1000
3 trophies:
MF, FF, GNC

Presented by Sony Music Canada

Thom Browne

Challenging conventions and blurring the lines between art and fashion, Thom Browne’s process is as unconventional as his clothing, from tailored pieces with a modern twist to precision-cut suits. Staying true to Browne’s exaggerated silhouettes, theatricality, and attention to detail, bring it in a look that combines embellishments, textures, and innovative materials, transporting us into the designer’s whimsical world.

BODY

$1000
2 trophies:
MF, FF

Presented by Maggie's Toronto

Versace

Synonymous with intricate detailing, Medusa head motifs, and classical influences, Italian behemoth, Versace, is known for its bold and opulent style. Founded by Gianni Versace in 1978, the brand shaped the fashion landscape of the ’80s and ’90s, ushering us into the supermodel era. Following his tragic death, his sister Donatella stepped in, becoming one of the industry’s most recognizable players and bringing the house’s legacy to new heights. Celebrating Versace’s daring, bold, and glamorous DNA, bring it in a look that leverages any of the brand’s signature elements.

BIZARRE

$1000
1 trophy

Presented by NYX Professional Makeup

Iris Van Herpen

A true Dutch gem, eponymous label Iris Van Herpen has gained a cult-like following over the last 15 years for its groundbreaking and experimental approach to fashion. The brand’s avant-garde designs, sculptural forms, and futuristic aesthetic, fuelled by the exploration of unconventional materials and use of cutting-edge technologies, have placed it at the very forefront of couture. Tonight, bring the brand’s most outlandish creations to life, whether you’re a creature from the deepest of seas or fringes of outer space. 

Featuring

Partners

FINE PRINT

For media inquiries or if you have any questions or concerns regarding this event, please get in touch with us via email at hello@function10.ca

We wish to acknowledge the land on which we will be meeting for the World AIDS Day Ball. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. We are grateful for the opportunity to host this event on this land. If you identify as a member of any of these groups, please get in touch with us at hello@function10.ca by November 25th, and we’ll be more than happy to offer you a discounted ticket. 

Please note that this event will be filmed and photographed, and footage may be used for marketing, social, and archival purposes. By attending, guests hereby grant FUNCTION 10 Inc. the right to use their name, likeness, image, voice, video, performance, biographical and other information in any format whatsoever, and to distribute, broadcast and exhibit these without charge, restriction, or liability.

FUNCTION 10 Inc. (“Event Organizers”) accept no responsibility whatsoever for any property brought to the premises by any guests or participants, and will have no liability for any loss, damage, or destruction of property. Participants understand and acknowledge the risks and dangers associated with participation in the World AIDS Day Ball (“Event”) and related activities, including without limitation, the potential for serious bodily injury, sickness and disease, permanent disability, paralysis and loss of life; contact with other participants, spectators, or objects; participants of varying skill levels; situations beyond the immediate control of the Event Organizers; and other undefined, not readily foreseeable and presently unknown risks and dangers (“Risks”). Participants hereby expressly assume all such Risks and responsibility for any damages, liabilities, losses, or expenses incurred as a result of their participation in the Event.