Sam Smith accepted the Cultural Innovator trophy at the British Fashion Awards 2023 on Monday in a dramatic black gown.
The singer, 31, was honoured for creating viral fashion moments, such as their unforgettable latex clad appearance at the 2023 Brit Awards.
In Sam’s typically bold style, they showed off their eclectic fashion sense in two eye-catching looks during the annual event.
Gracing the star-studded red carpet at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall, the musician first wore a thigh skimming black mini skirt and towering Vivienne Westwood platform boots before changing into their second striking ensemble.
Accepting their award, which was presented by Lena Dunham, Sam later wore a voluminous taffeta dress with puffed shoulders.
The gown featured a long ruffled train and cape-style sleeves, with Sam accessorising with two layered choker necklaces.
This years ceremony is going back to gender-based awards, splitting British designers into menswear and womenswear categories.
Speaking about their award Caroline Rush, chief executive officer at the British Fashion Council, said Sam was is ‘a true cultural innovator who has fearlessly pushed the boundaries of both fashion and entertainment.
‘Smith’s unapologetic and groundbreaking style choices have dominated the industry in 2023 and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support of U.K. designers.’
Sam was one of many major stars to attend the annual fundraising event, with Charlotte Tilbury scooping a Special Recognition Award and Giancarlo Giammetti accepting the Outstanding Achievement Award on behalf of Valentino Garavani from Gwyneth Paltrow.
The award celebrated Charlotte’s illustrious career as a beauty entrepreneur and makeup artist, her immense contributions to the beauty campaigns of fashion’s key players, and her ground-breaking global beauty company.
Tilbury has worked on over 180 magazine covers and over 600 editorial and advertising campaigns, creating iconic runway looks for fashion shows all over the world, working with over 100 designers and up to 40 shows a season.
To celebrate the iconic moment, Charlotte was joined by family, friends and brand muses at The Royal Albert Hall in London for the Fashion Awards ceremony.
The sensational line-up hosted by Charlotte Tilbury for this year’s awards, included close friend Amal Clooney, brand muses Kate Moss and Jourdan Dunn and Olivia Culpo, Lucien Laviscount, Meredith Duxbury, Coco and Charlotte’s nieces Bella & Sofia Tilbury.
Charlie Casely-Hayford accepted the posthumous Special Recognition Award on behalf of his father, the late Joe Casely-Hayford, who died in 2019.
He was one of the first black British designers to achieve international acclaim with his suits being worn by The Clash, Bono, Drake and Gordon Brown.
Caroline Rush, chief executive officer of the British Fashion Council, said: ‘He was one of the most talented and groundbreaking designers of our time.
‘He catapulted London’s reputation as a fashion and cultural hub on a global stage, and paved the way for generations of designers.’
Valentino Garavani was honoured for his Outstanding contribution to fashion.
This was celebrated with a fashion show of 24 of the most iconic red dresses to a backdrop of: ‘An evening at the opera with Valentino’, the ballet which was filmed last month in his hometown, at the city of Voghera.
The evening, hosted by British broadcaster Maya Jama and musical artist Kojey Radical, celebrated 16 awards. TFA nominees and winners are voted for by an international judging panel made up of over 1000 industry experts.
Arriving at the event Sam cut a stylish figure as they graced the red carpet at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The non-binary singer put on a very leggy display in a thigh skimming black mini skirt and towering Vivienne Westwood platform boots.
Sam completed the ensemble with chic blazer which boasted dramatic shoulder pads and statement buttons.
It comes after Sam was one of the first musicians to call for the BRIT Awards to be ‘reflective’ resulting in organisers making it the first major UK music event to abolish gendered categories.
Music industry chiefs faced a backlash when they scrapped the Best Female and Best Male categories in a bid to be inclusive and relevant after non-binary musicians including Sam, who identifies as neither male nor female, said they felt excluded.
The first gender-neutral award was handed to Adele in 2022, but in her acceptance speech she pointedly told the audience: ‘I love being a woman.’
It is understood she also voiced her dismay after when this year’s shortlist was revealed to contain only men.
Now 2024’s ceremony will see the genderless category for Best Artist expanded from five nominations to 10 following the backlash.
A-listers such as Kate Moss, Amal Clooney and Gwyneth Paltrow walked the red carpet at the British Fashion Awards 2023.
The event, presented by jewellery brand Pandora returned to the iconic London venue, the Royal Albert Hall on Monday evening.
The evening, hosted by British broadcaster Maya Jama and musical artist Kojey Radical, celebrated 16 awards. TFA nominees and winners are voted for by an international judging panel made up of over 1000 industry experts.
The event serves as the main fundraiser for the BFC Foundation. which supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry through its focus on education, grant-giving, and business mentoring.
The awards ceremony kicked off in style, with global superstar Usher welcoming the audience of leading designers, artists, creatives, and tastemakers for a night celebrating the global fashion community, asking ‘How does fashion make you feel?’.
The evening started with METTE’s Pandora performance, followed with a performance from Cultural Innovator Award winner Sam Smith and ended with a DJ set by Skepta at the afterparty.
The British fashion industry paid tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood and her fearless approach to design and activism and recognised Joe Casely-Hayford with a posthumous Special Recognition Award for his incredible contributions to fashion and culture.
Each winner received a unique trophy designed by stylist, art director and 2022 NEW WAVE: Creative in collaboration with British glass production company.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
