Wow, what a week. Between the British Fashion Awards, Valentino's Master of Couture opening, Vogue's December issue launch in Madrid, the Hangover Ball, the Pirelli Calendar unveiling, and the Target-Neiman Marcus holiday collaboration shopping event, the fashion action was nonstop. See who turned up to which events — and which looks had heads turning — here, in our best-of roundup.
The British Fashion Awards took place at the Savoy Hotel in London last night, and all of our most-loved It Brits were out in full force. One of our favorites, Alexa Chung, arrived in a Simone Rocha dress to receive her third consecutive win for the coveted British style award. Other winners of the night include Stella McCartney — who took home designer of the year and designer brand of the year — Cara Delevingne, and Nicholas Kirkwood. Watch today's Fab Flash to hear all the details from the event! On Allison McNamara: Alice + Olivia top, Gorjana earrings. Hair and makeup by Kasia Bohos.
Leave it to the annual British Fashion Awards to bring some of the coolest style setters across the pond into one very well-dressed room (or so we'd like to imagine). Hosted by UK personalities Gemma Arterton and Nick Grimshaw, the British Fashion Council handed out awards to some of our favorites, including Alexa Chung, Cara Delevingne, and Manolo Blahnik. But the highest mark of achievement — the designer of the year award — was bestowed upon a very deserving Stella McCartney, whose designs can be spotted on almost every red carpet these days. To prove our point, Stella had quite the lineup of friends (think Salma Hayek and Amber Valletta) on hand to celebrate, and of course, they were all wearing her creations. And for every chic accolade, there were some behind-the-scene antics to go with. Thus, we've rounded up the evening's most gorgeous looks, along with all of the award night action. Make sure to tell us who you think is best dressed in the comments below.
Congrats to all the British Fashion Awards winners!
The 2012 British Fashion Awards took place at the Savoy Theater in London last night. The event was hosted by actress Gemma Arterton and British radio presenter Nick Grimshaw, bringing out a group of stylish stars. Designer Stella McCartney was honored with two titles including designer of the year and best designer brand, while Alexa Chung took home British style icon for the third time. Check out the full list of British Fashion Awards winners.
Model Amber Valletta chose a dramatic red gown for the occasion, and singer Rita Ora went strapless in Vivienne Westwood. Rita made the rounds and said hello to pals like the designer Valentino. Salma Hayek was on hand to celebrate and mingled with Princess Beatrice, while Lily Collins arrived with boyfriend Jamie Campbell Bower. It was the couple's first official appearance after they were linked over the Summer while filming The Mortal Instruments.
"Something that I've learned this year is that great people make Great Britain," Stella McCartney said at Tuesday's British Fashion Awards. And McCartney, who won both the designer of the year and brand of the year awards, is undoubtedly among those great people.
Both honors cap off a year filled with milestones for McCartney: she famously designed the uniforms for Team Great Britain to wear during the 2012 London Olympics. She also won rave reviews for her Resort 2013 and Spring 2013 collections and even got an honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts in London.
Other award winners included Cara Delevingne, who won the model of the year award; Alexa Chung, who won the British style award; and Erdem Moralioglu, who took home the New Establishment Award. A full list of all the winners below.
Winners:
Designer of the Year: Stella McCartney
Designer Brand: Stella McCartney
New Establishment: Erdem Moralioglu
Menswear Designer: Kim Jones of Louis Vuitton
Emerging Talent Award — Ready-to-Wear: J.W. Anderson
Emerging Talent Award — Accessories: Sophie Hulme
Emerging Talent Award — Menswear: Jonathan Saunders
Accessory Designer: Nicholas Kirkwood
Red Carpet Award: Roksanda Ilincic
Model: Cara Delevingne
Outstanding Achievement in Fashion: Manolo Blahnik
Special Recognition: Harold Tillman CBE
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Louise Wilson
British Style Award: Alexa Chung
The British Fashion Awards attracted a slew of fashionable attendees including Victoria Beckham, Alexa Chung, Olivia Palermo, and Kate Moss. Sarah Burton — who had quite the year designing Kate Middleton's gown for the royal wedding — won the Designer of the Year award for continuing Alexander McQueen's vision and legacy. Stella McCartney took home the Red Carpet award, and it's no surprise considering her huge celebrity following. Her pal Kate Hudson even presented Stella with the award. It Brit Alexa Chung snagged the British Style award for the second year in a row and definitely dressed the part in a sweet Christopher Kane sheath and Charlotte Olympia shoes. Watch to see our entire coverage of the stylish event! On Allison: Theory blazer, H&M top.
Victoria Beckham was honored with the award for best designer brand at the British Fashion Awards in London last night. Victoria took the stage to tearfully accept the honor, saying, "I'm so sorry for crying. I'm being so rubbish. I would like to thank the British fashion industry for your support. My parents, my kids, and my husband. Without David, I wouldn't have had the courage to do what I am doing." Victoria's boys weren't on hand to see her take home the prize, but they'll get to share the excitement at home since Victoria later added that the statue is "something for the kids to take to school for show-and-tell." The stylish mom, who wore a backless dress of her own design to the show, was joined by fashionable friends Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss for the evening. Kate Hudson also made an appearance in a sexy cutout Stella McCartney gown on the arm of her fiancé Matthew Bellamy.
Across the pond, celebrity fashion fans gathered to fete their favorite designers and style icons at last night's British Fashion Awards. Among the night's big winners, Sarah Burton took home the coveted top prize of designer of the year, while Victoria Beckham was honored with the award for designer brand. Stella McCartney also received the award for red carpet designer. Not surprisingly, the blue carpet was flooded with style stars — like Olivia Palermo, Kate Hudson, and Alexa Chung (the latter took home her own prize for best British style) — who were decked out in their favorite UK designers. We spotted Beckham in an elegant black gown from her own collection, Palermo stepping out in a fringed Matthew Williamson frock, and Chung beaming in a sparkly Christopher Kane sheath. There's more in store — start clicking to get caught up on all the London festivities and the night's best-dressed.
>> Yesterday, the British Fashion Council gathered on the roof terrace of London's Soho House for cocktails and the 2010 British Fashion Award nominee announcements. Among those anointed: Lara Stone for model of the year, Celine's Phoebe Philo, in no surprise, for designer of the year, Lady Gaga's stylist Nicola Formichetti for fashion creator of the year, and Victoria Beckham for both designer and designer brand of the year. And speaking of Beckham, she's just joined Twitter and will be tweeting the lead-up to her New York Fashion Week presentation on Sept. 12, covering everything from model castings to thoughts on Fashion Week trends.
This year’s nominees were chosen by the British Fashion Council Press Committee, which includes chair Lucy Yeomans, editor of British Harper’s Bazaar, Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue, and Sarah Mower, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Vogue.com contributor; the winners will be revealed on Dec. 7 at London’s Savoy Hotel.
Winding down the year-long celebrations for London Fashion Week's 25th anniversary, Britain's most stylish crowd headed to the Royal Courts of Justice last night to toast the year's best fashion talent.
Christopher Bailey took home the evening's top award, winning Designer of the Year, while Burberry was honored with Brand of the Year.
In the Model of the Year category, Georgia May Jagger beat out Daisy Lowe. Kate Moss walked away with a new award, London 25, for which the public voted on their favorite London fashion personality. Moss also picked up John Galliano's award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design on behalf of the absent designer.
Christopher Kane received Collection of the Year, and American Vogue's Grace Goddington was the recipient of the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator. On her way up to the stage to present Coddington with the award, Karen Elson missed her step and fell into the orchestra pit wearing floor length red velvet Alexander McQueen. The former winner of British Model of the Year promptly recovered and once safely at the podium declared, "That is the worst fall I have ever had. I might have broken a rib.”
In the new talent categories, Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos shared The Swarovski Emerging Talent Award for Ready to Wear, and Holly Fulton took home the accessories award.
London 12/09/09 WireImage, Getty
