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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
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Joe Bromley

Alexa Chung, Lily James, Gwyneth Paltrow — the best unseen pictures inside the Fashion Awards 2023

It’s the most fashionable time of the year — and there is reason it is more fun inside the Royal Albert Hall ceremony than your Oscars, BAFTAs and the likes: photographer access is strict and this show isn't televised. Translation: there’s no camera fixed on a close crop on Gwyneth Paltrow's face, hoping to catch an eye roll, nor is anyone recording Anne Hathaway popping the cork of another champagne.

The latter was a familiar sight amongst guests, as bottles of Moët & Chandon (the awards’ official champs sponsor) really did deck the halls — from magnums right the way down to the mini Moët synonymous with the 90s supermodel set. As such, it was Moët’s table at Monday night’s Fashion Awards that was most lively: see Alexa Chung, glistening in her 16Arlington, mermaid-meets-armour gown alongside its designer Marco Capaldo. Lily James snuggled up to the pair in a Miu Miu frock, whilst award nominees Foday Dumbuya, of Labrum, and Saul Nash chatted with Harry Styles’ stylist Harry Lambert, and ES Magazine’s very own editor, Ben Cobb. 

(James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Elsewhere, stellar table line-ups included Hathaway alongside Giancarlo Giammetti, Honour President of Valentino, Gwyneth Paltrow and Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece while on Charlotte Tilbury’s table there was Amal Clooney, Kate Moss and Jourdan Dunn. 

Prize for most glitzy couple was battled out between Nichole Scherzinger, who wore a billowing dress of eco-conscious tencel fabric by Patrick McDowell, alongside husband Thom Evans and Rita Ora, who wore a Primark dress with a chrome prosthetic spine by Isamaya Ffrench growing from her back — a striking statement duly licked on the red carpet by her spouse, director Taika Waititi. Sam Smith, who won the Cultural Innovator Award on the night, told designer Christian Cowan they loved him during their acceptance speech.

Giancarlo Giammetti and Gwyneth Paltrow (Dave Benett)

But the best bonds celebrated at this bash are those between designers and their muses. In one corner you had Graces Wales Bonner, who had arrived with and dressed a dapper looking Lewis Hamilton, Daniel W. Fletcher had presenter Alex Scott and The Crown’s Prince William (Ed McVey) to tow, while Annie Doble — life and soul of the Moët’s prime spot box, alongside presenters Miquita Oliver and Clara Amfo and designer Feben — stayed close by Vogue editor and socialite Tish Weinstock, who was wearing a custom spider-webbed, crystal embroidered sheer gown. 

(James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

The best pictures inside The Fashion Awards 2023:

Alexa Chung (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Mona Tougaard (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Grace Wales Bonner, Lewis Hamilton and David Koma (Dave Benett)

Laura Whitmore and Kyle De'Volle (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Tish Weinstock and Annie Doble (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Lily James (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Brad Falchuk, Anne Hathaway, Giancarlo Giammetti, Gwyneth Paltrow and Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (Dave Benett)

Camille Charrière (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Thom Evans and Nicole Scherzinger (Dave Benett)

Feben and Clara Amfo (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)
Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath, Narmina Marandi, Felicia Brocklebank and Ruth Chapman (Dave Benett)

Raven Smith and Jack Guinness (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

Laura Whitmore and Ashley Roberts (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)
Nicole Scherzinger, Joseph Thornton-Allan, Poppy Delevingne, Sheila Atim, Harris Reed and Erin O'Connor (Dave Benett)

Alexa Chung & Marco Capaldo (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)
Taika Waititi, Rita Ora and Paul Marchant (Dave Benett)
Sheila Atim (James D Kelly for Moët & Chandon)

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