UNITED KINGDOM: The world's leading fashionistas flock to the British Capital to celebrate 25 years of fashion. Previous winner Christopher Bailey is named designer of the year
Record ID:
197308
UNITED KINGDOM: The world's leading fashionistas flock to the British Capital to celebrate 25 years of fashion. Previous winner Christopher Bailey is named designer of the year
- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: The world's leading fashionistas flock to the British Capital to celebrate 25 years of fashion. Previous winner Christopher Bailey is named designer of the year
- Date: 10th December 2009
- Summary: BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER HENRY HOLLAND BEING FILMED ON SMALL CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER HENRY HOLLAND, SAYING: "Well, this is our big event -- our -- as in people who work in the fashion industry. This is kind of our Oscars, or our Baftas. This is our equivalent, where everyone gets to dress up." BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL (BFC) DESIGNER OF THE YEAR CHRISTOPHER BAILEY BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL (BFC) DESIGNER OF THE YEAR CHRISTOPHER BAILEY, SAYING: "You know, I think what makes this year so special is the energy... You know there is such a wonderful kind of energy amongst all the people who are working together. I think just the idea of everybody being excited about being in London, and I think the industry is on fire." MODEL (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH SUPERMODEL ERIN O'CONNOR, SAYING: "Very excited... It just feels like the sort of fashion Oscars, doesn't it? We're gonna go for it, and hopefully there is time for fun, and 25 years is a big deal. Just gotta make sure the next 25 are even better." WORLD'S FIRST SUPERMODEL TWIGGY BEING INTERVIEWED DESIGNER EXTERIOR OF ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE
- Embargoed: 25th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA7LJ4JXEFGSP5L61X1C1HZS3R7
- Story Text: The creme de la creme of fashion gathered in London on Wednesday (December 9) to celebrate 25 years of British fashion.
The red carpet was sprinkled with Swarovski crystals -- the sponsor of the event -- and Champagne was flowing, as A-listers converged on what has been dubbed the 'fashion Oscars.' With three rotating Swarovski Chandeliers displayed on stage, the main hall of the Royal Courts of Justice was transformed into a glitter box of glamour.
Singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham showed she can still sparkle after having dresses stolen from her Spring/Summer 2010 collection.
Sporting a long black gown from her own range -- and a Geisha-esque hairdo -- the Brit gushed over the up-and-coming talent the UK has to offer.
"I love British fashion. I love the way people in Britain will really push the envelope, and it's always really exciting to see who's going to be the young British designer," said Beckham in an interview with Reuters.
Kitted out in a red design by London-based talent Peter Pilotto, supermodel Claudia Schiffer was also amongst the celebrities at the gala evening,
"London has had such an amazing set of designers coming out, all the way from Vivienne Westwood, to Alexander McQueen and Christopher Bailey, and stella McCartney, and then Christopher Kane and Peter Pilotto... It's never-ending -- sort of -- amazing amazing talent and interestingly enough the whole world is looking to London as well. If you look at design houses, from Paris or Milan or New York, they're very interested in hiring people that have come just of university from London, just because of that, because of that image of being edgy and cool," she said.
Despite the glitz and glamour, the global downturn was still on the mind of some attendees.
"It's a very very scary time right now. I think we are in our -- coming into the last leg of the 'W' before we go up again -- so next year is going to be really really horrific. As a designer who's been in the industry nearly 30 years, I took this view last year, to take a step back from the cat walks... Take the Ben De Lisi collection, move it to more of a wider audience. So I took it in its entirety to Debenhams," said American designer Ben De Lisi.
The fashion editor of British newspaper The Daily Telegraph however, showed the recession can be defied by turning to high street trends.
Wearing a tuxedo coat from retailer Dorothy Perkins, she told Reuters "it all happens on the British high street."
Nadja Swarovski of the world's leading producer of cut crystals was proud to support the British Fashion Awards for the fifth consecutive year.
"The creativity of British fashion is totally exciting and Swarovski's really been supporting British fashion in the last ten years by working with young up-and-coming designers," said Swarovski.
The Fashion Awards capped an impressive year for Brit Burberry designer Christopher Bailey, who was also awarded an MBE by the queen earlier this year.
"I think what makes this year so special is the energy... You know there is such a wonderful kind of energy amongst all the people who are working together. I think just the idea of everybody being excited about being in London, and I think the industry is on fire," said Bailey.
During the event the designer also announced that Burberry would continue to show at London Fashion Week in February.
The other winners were: The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator -- Grace Coddington The London 25 Award -- Kate Moss Menswear Designer -- Kim Jones The Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards for Ready-to-Wear -- Peter Pilotto The Swarovski Emerging Talent Awards for Accessories -- Holly Fulton Model - Georgia May Jagger Accessory Designer - Katie Hillier Designer Brand -- Burberry Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design -- John Galliano - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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