- Words Maria Mukaranda
Designers, models, and creatives alike celebrate all things fashion from haute couture highlights to fashion's fresh faces.
Within the walls of London’s Royal Albert Hall, the fashion industry bore witness to the unfurling of an event almost three decades old. Hosting over 3,000 guests, from Gwenyth Paltrow and Lila Moss to Stormzy and Pamela Anderson, this year’s British Fashion Awards had many highlights…
The Hosts with the Most
Maya Jama – best known for her roles presenting on Love Island, Celebrity Juice and Glow Up – hosted the awards this year alongside genre-bending musician and visual artist Kojey Radical. From a long white gown to a red crushed velvet dress, the TV personality brought her style know-how, wearing various enviable outfits.
Designer Aficionado
Jonathan Anderson was the winner of this year’s Designer of the Year award. Recognising his work under JW Anderson and as creative director of Spanish fashion house Loewe, the Northern Irish designer and creative director was one of many lauded designers nominated, including Martine Rose – who won the award for British Menswear Designer – and Maximilian Davis, who won the award for British Womenswear Designer.
Queen of the Runway
Paloma Elsesser scooped up the award for Model of the Year. The American fashion icon has been on the cover of Vogue Mexico, published a book called Treasure, a collaboration with trendsetting Instagram account idea.ltd, and just generally slayed her way through 2023. You could say, it’s well deserved.
Hollywood Haute-Couture
Draped in the epitome of elegance, Anne Hathaway served up her customary doses of glam and glitz, stealing the spotlight in a resplendent pearly Valentino dress. Even years after her time at Runway magazine, The Devil Wears Prada star never fails to impress on a red carpet.
From i-D to Icon
Edward Enninful, Ghanaian-British creative force and Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, received the Trailblazer Award this year, joining fellow esteemed figures like Alessandro Michele, Kim Jones, and Sarah Burton. With a multifaceted career spanning styling, editing, and creative direction, Edward commenced his remarkable journey as the Fashion Director of i-D at just 18.
The Haute Honourables
Sarah Mower, a prominent British fashion journalist and US Vogue critic, received a Special Recognition Award for her unwavering support of emerging design talent. Her impact on elevating the profiles of young British designers, such as Christopher Kane, Erdem Moralıoğlu, and Jonathan Anderson, clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Sarah Burton, the English fashion designer whose accolades include being the creative director of Alexander McQueen for two decades and the designer of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress also received a Special Recognition Award.
Fashion’s Fresh Faces
Ahead of this year’s Fashion Awards, the British Fashion Council also revealed its latest New Wave: Creatives list, showcasing 50 innovative young talents in the fashion industry. This year’s lineup includes British makeup artist Alice Dodds, Ghanaian visual artist Sarfo Emmanuel, French photographer Lucie Rox, and American art director Sandra Leko. Judged by industry insiders like A-Cold-Wall founder Samuel Ross and Vogue India’s creative director Bandana Tewari, the selection mirrors luminaries including photographer Campbell Addy, Off-White’s art and image director Ib Kamara, model Adut Akech, and model and poet Kai-Isaiah Jamal.