The 2023 edition of the Fashion Awards was an unusually sentimental one. Charlie Casely-Hayford accepted a posthumous Special Recognition Award on behalf of his father, titan of British design Joe Casely-Hayford; the great and the good of the industry paid tribute to Sarah Burton following her departure from McQueen after 13 historic years; Sam Smith honoured Vivienne Westwood with a performance of “Unholy” in a gown designed by Andreas Kronthaler; and Vogue’s Sarah Mower thanked the designers who have fuelled her insightful fashion criticism while picking up her own Special Recognition Award: “I’ve always learned far more from you than the other way around,” she told the young luminaries gathered at the Royal Albert Hall. “So, thank you for teaching us to never be so arrogant to think we know it all.”
The ceremony also marked Edward Enninful’s final Fashion Awards as editor-in-chief of British Vogue, with the March 2024 issue set to be his last before he moves into a senior global role at Condé Nast. After being presented with the Trailblazer Award by Stormzy and Jodie Comer – both of whom feature on British Vogue’s December 2023 covers – Edward thanked his team before delivering a heartening message to those hoping to break into the industry: “To every young aspiring person seeking a future in fashion: fear nothing, fear no one, believe in yourself, and do things your way, and I can’t wait to see what you bring to our wonderful world.”
Naturally, such a special night called for a special look, with Enninful turning to the inimitable Phoebe Philo to dress him for the occasion. Marking her first foray into menswear, Philo created a custom grey suit for Edward, which he paired with sneakers – an insouciantly cool move that Phoebe would no doubt have approved of. “[Phoebe and I have] been close friends for a long time,” Enninful says of their collaboration. “We’re both West Londoners, and I’m really honoured to have worn her first design for men.” Let’s hope for the Philophiles’ sake that there’s many more menswear designs to come.
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