Last evening I went to my first British Fashion Awards ceremony at The Savoy Hotel. Firstly there was a drinks reception with a blue carpet entrance and cluster of photographers and journalists catching the establishment royalty as they entered the venue. After a mingle and chance to catch up with everyone, a bell was rung and we were whisked outstide the hotel to be seated in its resplendant Art Deco auditorium. Lauren Laverne and George Lamb compered the proceedings, introducing each category and guest to announce and award the winner. Mary Katranzou was the first recipient up on stage taking away the title of ‘Emerging Talent – Womenswear’ which was welcomed with a warm reception as she is such an embraced talent down to the fact that she's a genuinely nice person!! Mary thanked Louise Wilson which was a theme throughout many of the speeches to follow including Kim Jones who had recorded his words of thanks from his position at Louis Vuitton in Paris. Despite not being able to leave the LVMH HQ to attend the event, Marc Jacobs did make an appearance presenting Victoria Beckham with the award for ‘Designer Brand’. Victoria included Katie Hillier in her list of mentions who is responsible for the label's handbags in addition to having her own nomination in the Accessories category. Tabitha Simmons snapped up the ‘Emerging Talent Award- Accessories’ award which was a very exciting moment for me seeing Nazir Mashar and Jordan Askill both in the running.
The whole spectacle was fantastic for a fashion fiend like myself witnessing the entire industry under one roof - all equally excited to be there and turned out in their finery. Louise Gray, Edward Meadham and Fran Burns were flying the flag for colour wearing pop bright outfits amidst a sea of the standard black uniform and I was particularly pleased to see Hillary Alexander with some silver glitter in her hair! With two new categories added to the agenda this year "New Establishment and Emerging Talent – Menswear" I would really like to see a further stream in following years to make space for extended roles in the industry "Art Department" which would cover set design, art direction, beauty etc............. and perhaps a fourth for "Editorship.Journalism" which might answer the question of what is missing which Melanie Rickey was musing after the proceedings.......
(Outside the Savoy, Craig Lawrence and Holly Fulton, Mary on stage, Brix Smith being interviewed, Michael Van Der Ham and Susie Bubble)
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