The British Fashion Awards 2014

There was high emotion, plenty of high-wattage glamour, and a lot of fun at the British Fashion Awards at the London Coliseum on Monday night. Erdem Moralioglu won the Womenswear Designer of the Year with a touching speech in which he thanked his twin sister Sara for allowing him to dress her Barbies when they were children. That was the culmination of a roller coaster of an event which honored British ingenuity in all its forms, from young designers like Marques ‘ Almeida and Simone Rocha to Cara Delevingne Model of the Year to Victoria Beckham Brand of the Year and the many creative forces who have traveled throughout the fashion world over decades.

Biggest surprise of the evening was John Galliano, presenting Anna Wintour with her British Fashion Council Outstanding Achievement Award. He introduced her as his mentor and friend, honoring her for her philanthropic work in raising millions for HIV/AIDS charities, and for standing by him throughout his career as in his lowest times as “an outcast.” For her part, American Vogue’s Editor in Chief spoke of her “special sense of gratitude” to her British roots, and of her belief in fashion’s power both “to do good in the world and make it a more beautiful and joyous place.” Still, she handed her greatest thanks to her own children, Bee and Charlie, as, “My most outstanding achievement.”

Roars of excitement greeted Victoria Beckham from the balconies of the theater as she acknowledged her own family. “David, I adore you. And my mum and dad even though I’m a pain in the bottom!” Edward Enninful, fashion and style director of W magazine, receiving the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator of the Year from his friend Naomi Campbell, spoke about his beginnings as a young boy spotted on a London Tube train, and encouraged every kid in the house to look at him and believe that fashion is a medium in which “anyone from anywhere” can make it.

Harry Styles’s entrance caused more of a rumpus as he handed over the trophy for the British Style Award (a vote given over to the public) to Emma Watson, who spoke sweetly about how fashion has, “Given me the ability to reinvent myself.” Kate Moss sashayed along the runway to give Sarah Burton the award for Red Carpet Designer. J. W. Anderson swept off with the year’s menswear honor. Tears were shed by many in the auditorium who had been taught by the late Professor Louise Wilson, the great teacher at Central Saint Martins, as work by her alumni Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Ilincic, and many more filled the stage. And then, it was on with the fun, as Naomi Campbell led the entire contingent to the Café Royal for the evening’s after-party for Edward Enninful, which went way into the wee small hours of the morning.