Karl Lagerfeld has been presented the outstanding achievement award by Anna Wintour in a glamorous evening packed with London’s most prominent designers, supermodels and celebrities at the British Fashion Awards.
 
Although "dress British" was the code for the occasion many wore Chanel to honour Lagerfeld whom Anna Wintour described as “representing the soul of fashion,” before declaring him a “one man superbrand.”
 
Dressed in shiny black-and-blue Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent, the surprised and flattered Lagerfeld said, “I only answer questions,” but he was not averse to a little humour himself, thanking the British Fashion Council and adding a “thank you to whoever had the bad idea to give me this prize.”
 
J. W. Anderson, meanwhile, was left literally speechless when he was crowned British womenswear designer of the year, partly because moments earlier he had delivered a thank you speech for his menswear award. He is the first designer to achieve the double in the same year.  
 
“I want to thank all designers past, present and future, who ultimately I get inspiration from,” he said. “We live in post-modernist fashion and I am honoured to be on a stage that Karl (Lagerfeld) was on. He is my biggest hero.”
 
Alessandro Michele, only 11 months after producing his first collection for Gucci in a mere five days  - menswear for autumn-winter - was named international designer of the year because he has not only revived Gucci’s flagging fortunes in a few short months, but has put Milan Fashion Week back on the map.
 
Thomas Tait thanked everyone “who didn’t confuse me tonight with a waiter or (fellow designer) Gareth Pugh,” when he collected his emerging womenswear designer award - the designers’ likeness is remarkable. Mary Katrantzou received the award for new establishment designer and Stella McCartney accepted brand of the year from the former Ab Fab duo Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley. Lady Gaga in a spectacular orange fishtail gown accepted Tom Ford’s red carpet award on his behalf joking, “I suppose he (Tom) is very busy today - so he sent me to do his dirty work for him.”

 Much to the amusement of all Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing arrived on stage with a selfie stick “it is not every night you can take a selfie while giving an award,” which he duly delivered to model of the year Jourdan Dunn. It was a jolly evening with presenter Jack Whitehall suggesting it was about time Burberry’s Christopher Bailey received a knighthood for services to British fashion, before turning to Mrs Cameron, the prime minister’s wife in the audience saying “Sam Cam, have a word, please.”

 Here are some pictures from the event.