The British Fashion Council’s event of the year — The Fashion Awards — took place on Monday night. And while there were fewer surprises than at many awards ceremonies (plenty of the awards having been flagged in advance), there was enough of a big reveal on the night to justify the excitement that has built up around the event in recent months.
And excitement is really where it’s at with the red carpet and celebrity guests for this key BFC fundraising event that helps bankroll much of the work the BFC Foundation does.
The evening was hosted by British broadcaster Maya Jama and musical artist Kojey Radical and celebrated 16 awards, decided on by an international judging panel (and the public too for the Model of the Year Award).
But who walked away with the big prizes? Jonathan Anderson was top of the tree as Designer of the Year, both for his work at his own for JW Anderson label and for Loewe.
Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo took the British Womenswear Designer Award, while Martine Rose for her eponymous label took the same title for menswear.
The BFC Foundation Designer Award recognises a BFC Foundation initiative designer who has had a major impact on global fashion over the past year and this year’s winner was Conner Ives.
And the New Establishment Womenswear Award went to Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena for Chopova Lowena, while for menswear, Bianca Saunders took the title.
Meanwhile, Paloma Elsesser was Model of the Year.
Other awards included those that had already been announced, such as the Valentino recognition; Charlotte Tilbury getting a Special Recognition award for her contribution to the fashion industry, Sarah Mower getting the same award but for championing young designer talent, and Sarah Burton for an “outstanding contribution” to the industry.
Other titles included the Posthumous Special Recognition Award for Joe Casely-Hayford; the Cultural Innovator Award for Sam Smith; the Trailblazer Award for Edward Enninful; the Pandora Leader of Change Award for Michaela Coel; and the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator going to Campbell Addy.
As part of Valentino’s recognition, there was a fashion show “of 24 of the most iconic red dresses” to a backdrop of An evening at the opera with Valentino, the ballet that was filmed last month in his hometown. Gwyneth Paltrow presented the award to his long-time friend Giancarlo Giammetti.
The British fashion industry also paid tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood “and her fearless approach to design and activism”.
There were some surprises on the red carpet as celebs moved wholeheartedly away from the grand and the pretty in favour of shiny, slinky and very revealing. But what was perhaps most surprising was just how many barely-there dresses were on show on such a very cold night in London.
Making an impact on the red carpet was Burberry as it dressed Georgia May Jagger, Neneh Cherry, Kano and Liberty Ross among others… and Cavalli, which was worn by Lottie Tomlinson, Maja Malnar, Hana Cross, Sophie Hermann, and Elarica Johnson. Meanwhile Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow both wore archive Valentino and Simone Ashley also came in Valentino; Iris Law wore Vivienne Westwood; Mona Tougaard wore Alaïa; Maya Jama picked Dolce & Gabbana; a make-up-free Pamela Anderson wore a white Stella McCartney pantsuit; Lila Moss was in Nensi Dojaka, Jodie Comer in Victoria Beckham, Alexa Chung in 16Arlington allover sequins, and Sheila Atim in Harris Reed. Adut Akech made an impact in custom KNWLS and Anok Yai did too in Ferragamo.
The usual quota of high-end fashion was also accompanied by some by more budget options and industry initiatives. There was even a celebrity dressed by Primark for the red carpet. The fact that it was Rita Ora, who recently launched a signature collection for the budget retailer, made it less of a shock. Her custom dress will be on sale for just £50 this week in a limited run of 500 units, although the chrome spikes that decorated her back aren’t part of the deal.
Another was Suki Waterhouse wearing H&M, while the supporting but hugely important players of the industry got a look-in as Lenzing’s flagship textile brand, Tencel, revealed a collaboration with London based designer Patrick McDowell to create a unique custom-made gown for Nicole Scherzinger crafted using materials exclusively made from Tencel Luxes filament yarn and its Lyocell fibres.
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