London’s most glamorous day has arrived. As this year’s stars busy themselves being polished and preened ahead of their star turn on the red carpet outside the Royal Albert Hall, let’s look back at the best of The Fashion Awards from years gone by.
The event celebrates the UK’s fashion industry — until 2016 was known as The British Fashion Awards — and is often dubbed the city’s answer to the Met Gala. It’s a chance to celebrate the fashion’s brightest stars, and an excuse to throw an excellent party. Given that it’s often held on December 1, it also tends to kick off party season in style.
Adut Akech, 2018, the year she won Model of the Year
Dave M Benett
We’re all there for the red carpet, of course, but the stars are there for the awards, and to flex their fashion muscles with some excellent custom looks.
Over the course of the night, many of them will be awarded prizes, the most well-known of which are probably Designer and Model of the Year: famously, Alex Consani accepted her award in 2024, wearing a Union Jack sash as part of her custom Dilara Findikoglu ensemble.
There are special trophies like The Special Recognition Award for Cultural Curation (won by A$AP Rocky in years gone by, and this year by Little Simz), and cutting-edge accolades such as the Metaverse World & Gaming Experience Award.
This year, big names like Jonathan Anderson, Miuccia Prada and Glenn Martens will be among those battling it out for the coveted Designer of the Year title, while Simone Rocha, Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena-Irons (for Chopova Lowena) and Erdem Moralioğlu are in the running for Womenswear Designer of the Year.
We’ll also be expecting an appearance from supermodel Anok Yai, who has already been announced as this year’s Model of the Year and will no doubt appear to collect her trophy.
Given the high-profile nature of the awards, there have also been a fair few royal moments, starting with a very special appearance from Princess Diana at the event’s 1989 inception, and including Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s surprise delivery of the Womenswear Designer of the Year award to Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy in 2018.
Getty Images
“It is such a pleasure to be here, celebrating British fashion,” Meghan, who was around four months pregnant with her son Archie at the time, and wearing Givenchy (naturally) told the room. “As all of you in this room know, we have a deep connection to what we wear. Sometimes it’s very personal, sometimes it’s emotional. But for me, this connection is rooted in really being able to understand that it’s about supporting and empowering each other, especially as women.”
But Meghan is far from the only person to make headlines at the Fashion Awards: let’s dive into the archives.
The biggest moments from awards gone by
Stella McCartney, 2007
Stuart Wilson / Getty Images
In 2007, special guests included burlesque star Dita Von Teese and actress Rosamund Pike, who joined supermodel Claudia Schiffer for proceedings. That year, designer Stella McCartney took home the coveted Designer of the Year award, while Christopher Kane bagged the New Generation Designer trophy.
In 2009, all eyes were on Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood when the awards were held at the Royal Courts of Justice. Burberry swept the floor that year, with then-creative director Christopher Bailey taking home the top design prize, and the Best Designer Brand.
Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood, 2009
Dave M Benett / Getty
Then, in 2010, American faces jetted over to celebrate, namely actress Emma Roberts, who looked playful in a black mesh-trim satin mini dress. She was joined by the traditional guard of Brits, counting Victoria Beckham and Samantha Cameron, and Phoebe Philo took home the Designer of the Year award for Celine.
Samantha Cameron and Victoria Beckham, 2010
Dave M Benett / Getty
In 2014 and 2015, Jonathan Anderson dominated the awards, collecting Menswear Designer of The Year and both Menswear and Womenswear prizes the following year. The awards in 2015 also saw star appearances from Lady Gaga, and the late Karl Lagerfeld, who arrived arm-in-arm with Anna Wintour.
Lady Gaga and Lucky Blue Smith, 2015
Anthony Harvey / Getty Images
Gigi Hadid was woman of the hour in 2016, as she won the award for Best International Model, and was snapped posing with Donatella Versace in the winner’s room. They were joined on the night by the likes of Jared Leto and Jaden Smith.
Gigi Hadid and Donatella Versace, 2016
Stuart C Wilson / Getty Images
All heads turned to Zendaya in 2017, when she opted for a velvet black horse-head-embellished gown, while model Adwoa Aboah was sparkling in a sequin dress and turban by Michael Halpern, who picked up the best British Emerging Talent for Womenswear on the night.
Zendaya, 2017
Daniel Leal / AFP via Getty Images
Rihanna arriving alongside now husband and baby daddy A$AP Rocky was the unrivalled highlight of 2019’s awards. For the occasion, she wore a mint satin mini complete with sheer overcoat from her now-closed label Fenty. That year, she picked up the Urban Luxe award for her brand, awarded to her by none other than Janet Jackson.
Rihanna, 2019
Dave M Benett / Getty
The 2020 ceremony was disrupted by Covid, but it was back with chiffon-trained vengeance in 2021 for an evening hosted by Billy Porter wearing Richard Quinn. The actor was accompanied on arrival by an entourage of floral-clad dancers.
Billy Porter, 2021
Dave M Benett / Getty
Quinn also dressed the star performer of the evening, Kylie Minogue, though thoughts that night were of designer Virgil Abloh, who had recently passed and was paid tribute to.
Nicola Coughlan
Dave Benett
2024 was also a night that will go down in history. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky made their return to the red carpet in style after their 2019 appearance – with Rihanna paying tribute to her earlier look (from her now-defunct Fenty line) with an ice-blue winter hat and textured coat.
It wasn’t just her turning heads, though. Nicola Coughlan (at that point, fresh from her starring role in the third season of Bridgerton) looked excellent in a Regency-inspired velvet and silk dress from Gaurav Gupta, while Simone Ashley wore a pink Prada number with a massive train.
Alex Consani won the Model of the Year award on stage during The Fashion Awards 2024
Getty Images for BFC
And of course, let’s not forget Alex Consani, who won Model of the Year, while Jonathan Anderson took home the trophy for Designer of the Year, Grace Wales Bonner (now at luxury label Hermes) won for British Menswear Designer, and Simone Rocha for British Womenswear Designer.
Who knows what is in store tonight, but there is no doubt the city will put on a show.
