Stella McCartney Is Britain's Designer Of The Year At The British Fashion Awards
Britain's Designer of the Year, Stella McCartney, has beaten her rivals Anya Hindmarsh and Luella Barton to be recognised as the UK's leading fashion designer.
The award coincides with Stella McCartney's announcement of her label's first - minor - profit marking the end of a six-year battle by the designer to establish herself as a force in the fashion industry.
Vivienne Westwood's enduring popularity and iconic status in the UK fashion scene was rewarded with the Outstanding Achievement in Fashion award.
(Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood pose with their awards.)
The night's other winners included production designer Michael Howells who received the inaugural Isabella Blow award for Fashion Creator, named in honour of the late English style-setter.
Best New Retail Concept was awarded to Marc Jacobs while Christopher Bailey for Burberry won Menswear Designer of the Year.
Christopher Kane was named New Designer of the Year and although Anya Hindmarsh missed out on the top gong, she can take consolation from her award for Designer Brand of the Year.
A who's who of London attended the awards. Amongst the luminaries striding up the red carpet were Sarah Brown, wife of Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, actress Thandie Newton, singer Lily Allen and American burlesque star Dita Von Teese.
The British Fashion Awards are an industry event sponsored by the British Fashion Council and chaired by British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman.
Alana Joy
