J. W. Anderson Nabs Menswear & Womenswear Designer of the Year at British Fashion Awards

J.W. Anderson at the British Fashion Awards on Monday night. Photo: Getty

In a rather unprecedented move, the British Fashion Council bestowed both the Womenswear and Menswear Designer of the Year Awards to Jonathan Anderson on Monday night at the British Fashion Awards. In front of a crowd that included Naomi Campbell, Lady Gaga, Karl Lagerfeld and more, the Northern Ireland native sheepishly accepted his accolades.

“I used to have a crush on Orlando Bloom so that was challenging,” said Anderson upon collecting the menswear award from the dapper Brit. “I didn’t think I was going to win this so I’m going to improvise.”

Anderson barely had time to take in his first win before his name was announced again, this time by Swedish actress Noomi Rapace. “I feel incredibly embarrassed,” he said taking the podium for the second time. “I don’t know what to say. I do both men’s and women’s. I started off in men’s, I then started doing women’s to make it make sense.” He then went on to thank all of the designers that came before him and will come after him and gave a special shoutout to Lagerfeld, whom he said, “makes me believe that anything is possible.”

The designer’s makeshift line officially launched in Fall 2011, and has seen gained steam ever since, even as he took on the additional post as the creative director of Loewe in September of 2013. Whether you’re a fan of Anderson’s or not, his unsullied individualized point of view is always refreshing and a highlight of London Fashion Week. Last season’s New Wave 80s-inspired womenswear collection had all us wishing that we could dress like Debbie Harry back in the day in Lurex, spandex, and slouchy red knee high boots.

Other big winners from the evening were Thomas Tait (Emerging Womenswear Designer), Grace Wales Bonner (Emerging Menswear Designer), Jordan Askill (Emerging Accessory Designer), Jourdan Dunn (Model of the Year), Tom Ford (Red Carpet Designer, who sent Gaga in his stead), Lagerfeld (Outstanding Achievement Award), Stella McCartney (Brand Award), Gucci’s Alessandro Michele (International Award) and Erdem (Establishment Award).

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