The British Fashion Awards celebrated all things style last night. We bring you the designers, models and industry insiders who officially rocked 2015.
By Natalie Trevis
The British Fashion Awards never fails to be an industry highlight, bringing together designers, their muses and many more for a red carpet parade that celebrates the best of the year’s style. This year was certainly no exception, with appearances by the unlikely but awe-inspiring pairing of Lady Gaga and uber-model Lucky Blue, who collected Tom Ford’s award for red carpet designer of the year on his behalf, and Ab Fab’s Patsy and Edina, who took us on a time travelling trip back to the Nineties, presenting Stella McCartney with her award for brand of the year.
The undisputed winner of the night however was the unassuming raw talent that is Jonathan Anderson, who collected awards for both menswear and womenswear designer of the year for JW Anderson, the first time the double has ever been achieved. Known for his gender blurring and season-defining collections for the label (and latterly also for Loewe), the designer somehow manages to do it all, striking out in an avant-garde but infinitely desirable direction at every turn. We spoke with the designer recently in an interview to be released in MOJEH in 2016 about his complex design process that so often bears previously unimaginable colour ways, techniques and silhouettes. “The design process is about mixing a lot of elements into something that cohesively has to make sense,” he told us. “I don’t like doing a singular collection where for example you take Russia as a theme and do an entire collection on Russian peasant wear. That doesn’t appeal to me. I think as a society we don’t work that way. I feel like collections need that speed and complexity, because I think life is complex, you know. I think clothing has to reflect that.”
Another fashion revolutionary of 2015, Alessandro Michele, took home international designer of the year for his transformative work at Gucci, including his recent foray into the world of art. It’s hard to believe he has been at the helm of the brand for less than a year (and not at all surprising that it has just been announced that his first two collections will not be marked down this year). Other winners include model of the year Jourdan Dunn, who was presented with her award by an always effervescent Olivier Rousteing, selfie-stick at the ready, and Mary Katrantzou and Erdem Morgaliou, who won prizes for new establishment and establishment designer respectively. Vanguards of the future Thomas Tait and Grace Wales Bonner secured their places on the ones to watch (and buy into) list, while at the other end of the spectrum, godfather of the industry Karl Lagerfeld was acknowledged with an outstanding achievement award. All hail the king.
As the parties fade to memories and the celebrations wind down, reflections on 2015 will turn to thoughts of 2016: new collections, new editorials and a whole host of new fashion moments. “I love to create,” says Anderson. “It is what keeps me alive. The more you do the more addicted you become.”
