5 things to know about the 2019 British Fashion Awards

Last night at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the British Fashion Awards 2019 took place, the ceremony that every year recognizes the designers, models and celebrities who have influenced the most the fashion system. 2,500 insiders chose Daniel Lee of Bottega Veneta as the best designer of the year. The young creative won over Alessandro Michele and Miuccia Prada as Designer of the year, but shared the spotlight with veterans like Giorgio Armani, who received a special award for her legendary career; Naomi Campbell, Queen of the catwalk; Kim Jones of Dior, awarded for menswear; Bethany Williams and Rejina Pyo, Emerging Talents.

Highlights of the evening include Naomi Campbell's speech, Armani Privè's fashion show, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's red carpet but most importantly, the outfits worn by guests at the British Fashion Awards.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2019 British Fashion Awards.

 

Bottega Veneta and Daniel Lee triumphed

As expected, Bottega Veneta's creative director, Daniel Lee, was the real winner of the 2019 British Fashion Awards, bringing home four awards: Designer of the Year, Designer of the Year-Womenswear, Designer of the Year-Accessories and Brand of the Year. Just a year and a half after his appointment at Bottega Veneta, the 33-year-old who started his career working for Margiela, Balenciaga, Donna Karan and Celine, has managed to gain a leading role in contemporary fashion. How? Renewing the image of the Italian brand, introducing new aesthetic codes that can attract the younger generations, without forgetting craftsmanship, quality, elegance, but also creating instant cult items such as Dream napa added sandal and The Pouch bag.

 

Naomi Campbell is the real Fashion Icon

Naomi Campbell was one of the protagonists of the evening, beautiful as always in her dress of embroidered tulle and transparent by Alexander McQueen and Bulgari jewellery. The model was the first black woman to receive the Fashion Icon Award, for her fabulous career, but also for her philanthropic commitment. On stage at the Royal Albert Hall, Naomi thanked her mother for "raising me by herself" and unveiled her style icons: Grace Jones, Josephine Baker, Eartha Kitt, Donyale Luna, Bethann Hardison, Naomi Sims, Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Diahann Carroll, Janet Jackson and Tina Turner. If the all-time Fashion Icon is Naomi Campbell, Adut Akech, Best Model of the Year, could be her heir. 

 

Rihanna received her first fashion award

Urban Luxe, the award that last year went to Virgil Abloh of Off-White, this time went to Rihanna. For the first time, the pop star and her brand Fenty were awarded for their contribution to sportswear. Riri wore an exclusive green-wasabi mini-dress and a long, transparent shirt from her Fenty line, all accessorized with a diamond crew neck, a small clutch and gloves and heels in the same shade, sharing the red carpet with A$AP Rocky. 

 

King George

The British Fashion Awards celebrated Giorgio Armani's career with the Outstanding Achievement Award that the designer received from Cate Blanchett, his first global beauty ambassador, and Julia Roberts. During the evening, his latest Armani Privè haute couture collection was presented, accompanied by a surprise performance by Eric Clapton who sang and played Tears in Heaven and Layla. After the ceremony, celebrations for Armani continued at Harry's Bar with guests such as Tom Cruise, Lauren Hutton, Alexander Skarsgård, Yasmin le Bon and Stella Tennant.

 

Best dressed

All the fashion elite, designers, models, influencers and style icons walked the red carpet of London's Royal Albert Hall last night. The most interesting looks? Shailene Woodley and Liya Kebede in lacquered nylon puffer dress by Moncler Genius by Pierpaolo Piccioli, Rihanna's mint green satin micro-dress by Fenty, Emilia Clarke in a yellow Schiaparelli, Adut Akech in an elegant green Valentino dress by Pierpaolo Piccioli, Alexa Chung in creation from her collection. Anna Wintour, who opted for a sustainable choice: an outfit of Chanel Couture sequins already worn at the Met Gala in 2011. In terms of the beauty look, the winner was Rita Ora with a graphic make-up, the trend of the moment.

See the full list of Fashion Awards 2019 winners, below.

• Award for Positive Change: Signatories of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action
• Brand of the Year: Bottega Veneta
• British Emerging Talent Menswear: Bethany Williams for Bethany Williams
• British Emerging Talent Womenswear: Rejina Pyo for Rejina Pyo
• Urban Luxe: Fenty
• Business Leader: Remo Ruffini for Moncler
• Fashion Icon: Naomi Campbell
• Accessories Designer of the Year: Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
• Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Sam McKnight
• Designers’ Designer Award: Christopher Kane for Christopher Kane
• Trailblazer Award: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
• British Designer of the Year Menswear: Kim Jones for Dior Men
• British Designer of the Year Womenswear: Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
• Model of the Year: Adut Akech
• Designer of the Year: Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
• Outstanding Achievement Award: Giorgio Armani