British Fashion Awards 2015: JW Anderson Designer of the Year

JW Anderson, one of the brighest british fashion designers who blurs the line between men’s and womenswear, last night proved he is a master of both. At 2015’s British fashion awards – the industry’s most prestigious event – he was named both the menswear and womenswear designer of 2015. This is the first time any designer has won both categories in the same year.

Anderson, who was up against strong competition – Victoria Beckham and Christopher Kane for womenswear, E Tautz and Tom Ford for men’s – was a worthy winner. The Northern Irish designer, who is only 31, is an indisputable trendsetter across both collections. He often pioneers ideas seasons before the rest of fashion catches up, focusing on the 1980s while other designers were still looking at the 1970s and putting men in lace shirts three years before they appeared on other catwalks.

This uncanny ability to start trends has earned Anderson plaudits from the press, a job at Spanish leather house Loewe and investment from Parisian conglomerate LVMH. These two awards are the latest moment on the timeline of British fashion’s biggest overachiever.

Stella McCartney won brand of the year but she was somewhat overshadowed by Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley as Absolutely Fabulous characters Edina and Patsy, who presented her award and were predictably hilarious.

Another award went to Tom Ford, who made a splash without attending the ceremony. His red carpet designer of the year award was collected by a catwalking Lady Gaga and presented by social media’s favourite male model superstar, Lucky Blue Smith. It was a covetable Instagram shot for those close enough to snap it.

Model of the year was won by Jourdan Dunn, presented by Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing, who took a photo on the stage using a selfie stick.

The British style awards – voted for by the public – saw Game of Thrones’Gwendoline Christie and singer FKA twigs honoured. Photographer and Kanye West collaborator Nick Knight won the Isabella Blow award for fashion creator, presented by American model Karlie Kloss.