Gwyneth Paltrow, Stella McCartney and the fashion elite turned out for the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards as the music network and the venerable sartorial bible tipped their well-styled hats to the best in fashion. Upwards of 800 guests turned out for the seventh annual event – including Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker and soul singer Macy Gray – as industry stars picked up awards ranging from Designer Of The Year to the innovative category, Best Dressed Television Show.
Sean “Puffy” Combs took home honours for Sharply Dressed Man, accepting the statue in a gray three-piece suit and blue tie. The rap impresario, whose Sean John clothing label boasted returns of nearly $100 million last year, thanked his mother for imparting this important lesson: “fashion had no restrictions”.
Tinseltown was well represented at the affair as actress Renee Zellweger – who hosted the glitzy bash – received the Red Carpet Award, honouring her flawless sartorial sense most notable at this year’s Academy Awards. The Bridget Jones’s Diary star donned a yellow, vintage Jean Desses gown to the Oscars, recalling the Golden Era of Hollywood glamour.
Sex And The City’s fashion gurus scored for Best Dressed Television Show – no surprise considering the style trends the HBO comedy has spawned. And Jim Carrey – a former flame of Renee – was dubbed Best Leading Man.
In between award presentations, which included designer John Galliano’s gong for Rebel Designer Of The Year, Mariah Carey performed Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, a cover off her recently released album Glitter. Macy Gray sang her latest, Sexual Revolution, while songstress du jour Alicia Keys delivered an a cappella version of Respect.
Marc Jacobs was named Designer Of The Year, receiving kudos for his work as creative director of the venerable Louis Vuitton and for his well-received spring 2002 collection. And Moby picked up the Visionary Video award for South Side, in which the Grammy winner spoofs rock star glam alongside sultry Gwen Stefani of No Doubt.
Oscar winner Hilary Swank, Destiny’s Child – winners for Outrageous Group – Elton John, Stella Tennant – named Model Of The Year – and actress Salma Hayek were all on hand for the glitzy bash. Top designers Kenneth Cole, Carolina Herrera, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Kate Spade and Vera Wang were also present.
Organisers had thought of cancelling the event in the wake of the terrorist attacks last month but later decided to go ahead with the celebration after US President George W Bush urged Americans to carry on with their daily lives. “This is part of America’s normal routine. Music and dance and comedy and fashion,” reports the show’s creative director, Candy Pratts-Price. “We’re doing what our president and our mayor have been telling us to do. We have to continue to live life as usual. The military does the military’s job and we do the fashion job.”
However, the bash did not entirely ignore the recent tragedy as a tribute and a fundraising element were added into the ceremony. “I think showing that we’re all together is powerful,” says Pratts-Price. “And I think the music world has always been attentive to the arts. It doesn’t seem unusual for us to get together and rally on.”
The awards aired on US cable network VH1 on Tuesday evening. The show will be broadcast on its UK counterpart on Saturday.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
