Last night, the British Fashion Council handed out its annual awards. As these things go, the shenanigans that ensued at the ceremony are grabbing more headlines than the actual awards. Such as Karen Elson, who fell into the orchestra pit when she walked onstage to present the Fashion Creator Award. The Telegraph devoted an entire article to this:
She walked straight into an ill-concealed “orchestra pit” and promptly disappeared from sight.
All the audience of fashion luminaries, including Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham, saw was a flash of Elson’s red velvet, Alexander McQueen fishtail gown, as she tumbled four feet downwards into the darkness.
Elson, you may recall, also fell at Zac Posen’s fall 2008 show, where Diddy rose from his front-row seat to help her back to her feet. Although Diddy may have been at her side in spirit, as he is for all of us, he wasn’t physically there to drop a rope ladder down the hole and help her out.
She appeared, back on stage, within minutes, declaring:”I am the clumsiest person on this earth. I cannot believe I just did that.
“That is the worst fall I have ever had. I might have broken a rib, but I’m fine.”
The Fashion Creator Award went to Grace Coddington, Vogue’s creative director and the star of The September Issue, who wore flats, had no trouble navigating the pit, and did not fall.
Kate Moss was also there, with her boyfriend Jamie Hince. Even so, she practically fondled Vivienne Westwood on the red carpet. This wouldn’t be a British awards show if Moss didn’t take home something, and so she did: the London 25 Award, which is voted on by the public and recognizes a person who embodies the spirit of London as international fashion “ambassador.”
The Best Model award is another big one at the BFAs. Last year it went to Jourdan Dunn, who had her first baby on Tuesday. This year it went to Georgia Jagger, Mick Jagger’s daughter, who is the spring 2010 face of Versace, and now perhaps a star instead of a rising star. According to the BFA website, she won because she “has contributed most to the international fashion scene in the past year.” Below, enjoy the full list of winners. And in the slideshow, enjoy some sarcastic commentary on what people wore!
Swarovski Emerging Talent Award for Accessories
Holly Fulton
Swarovski Emerging Talent Award for Ready-to-Wear
Peter Pilotto
Designer Brand
Burberry
Model
Georgia Jagger
Accessory Designer
Katie Hillier
Menswear Designer
Kim Jones for dunhill
BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design
John Galliano
London 25
Kate Moss
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator
Grace Coddington
BFC British Collection of the Year
Christopher Kane
BFC Designer of the Year
Christopher Bailey
Award Winners 2009 [Official site]
British Fashion Awards: Christopher Bailey named designer of the year [Telegraph UK]
Supermodel Karen Elson takes tumble at British Fashion Awards [Telegraph UK]