Once-disgraced designer John Galliano took a step closer to fashion rehabilitation on Monday night when he was invited to present an award at the star-studded British Fashion Awards — moving famously icy Vogue editrix Anna Wintour to tears.
A Galliano-clad Wintour — she’s a longtime supporter — received the Outstanding Achievement award from the British designer, who was ostracised in 2011 for a Nazi-esque tirade. He was recently announced as the creative director of Maison Martin Margiela, so expect to see a lot more of him in future.
“She reached out to me when I was an outcast,” he said. The Telegraph’s Hilary Alexander tweeted that he mentioned Wintour’s HIV/Aids charities, and talked about eating baked beans on a Bunsen burner with her.
“Anna Wintour is choking up. This is weird,” tweeted fashion blogger Susie Bubble from inside the event.
But that wasn’t even the award that set social media alight: When Harry Styles presented Emma Watson with the British Style Award, and whispered something in her ear, Twitter suddenly discovered a new dream couple. Yep, move over, Harry Potter.
“Harry Styles just said the words, ‘He for She,’ so that’s really cool,” Watson gushed after the One Direction star gave her the award. Watson’s foundation is called He For She, and earlier this year she made a moving speech on women’s rights at the United Nations.
The who’s who of British fashion, film and music attended the event at the London Coliseum.
Victoria Beckham, accompanied by her husband, footballer David, was given the brand award in recognition of the success of her sleek, self-titled fashion label. Wearing an open-back ribbed black jumper and a long white and black pleated skirt, she said: “Wow, thank you. I am so so proud to be British and incredibly proud to have built my brand in the UK,” said the ex-Spice Girl, who recently opened her first UK boutique to much fanfare. “We’ve come a long way since that Spice Girls dressing room. David, you inspire me every day. You support me. You make this possible. I adore you and my children.”
Clad in a shimmering Burberry gown, Best Model Cara Delevingne, 22, beat Jourdan Dunn and Sam Rollin to take the award. Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton won best Red Carpet Designer, while Erdem Moralioglu and JW Anderson scored the Best Womenswear and Menswear designer awards respectively.
