FASHION | BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2012

Popped over to The British Fashion Awards the other night. It was a parred down pretty causal affair at this London hotel called The Savoy. Champers, goodie bags and trying not to be blinded by the fashion and flash bulbs were on order.

Seriously, it was an amazing night. British fashion's on fire at the moment and these awards were an excellent celebration of the talent coming out of old Blights at the mo.

Rocksanda Ilincic in one of her amazing creations

The back of British Model of the Year Winner Clara Delevigne

Here's the list of winners in full:• Designer of the Year: Stella McCartney• Designer Brand: Stella McCartney• New Establishment: Erdem• Menswear Designer: Kim Jones for Louis Vuitton• Emerging Talent Award - Ready to Wear: JW Anderson• Emerging Talent Award - Accessories: Sophie Hulme• Emerging Talent Award - Menswear: Jonathan Saunders• Accessory Designer: Nicholas Kirkwood• Red Carpet Award: Roksanda Ilincic• Model: Cara Delevingne• Outstanding Achievement in Fashion: Manolo Blahnik CBE• Special Recognition: Harold Tillman CBE• Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Louise Wilson OBE• British Style Award: Alexa Chung.

British fashion is on fire right now. There's such a lot of talent in the UK and this glamorous bash really wetted the old appetite to see what marvels are still to come and to appreciate what steps the pioneering British fashion industries taken. Exciting times!

FASHION | MANOLO BLAHNIK

Let's talk about shoes! Any excuse! I was already looking forward to the British Fashion Awards next week and so was pretty pleased to hear that the British Fashion Council have announced that the winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award is non other than shoe king Manolo Blahnik CBE. 

Manolo moved to Paris in 1965 and was encouraged by fashion journalist Diana Vreeland to concentrate on shoes. That was some good advice! By 1971 he was based in London making shoes and a year later Ossie Clark used his collections in one of his eponymous shows. The rest is fashion history as Manolo went on to have a ridiculously impressive career that spans over 40 years and resulted in some of the most covetable shoe designs ever. He's an icon! Congrats Manolo!