ROSIE NIXON

‘ It is always one of my favourite nights out, and even the biting cold outside could not stop a who’s who o f the British fashion scene arriving in their finery – Needle & Thread London for me – at the Royal Albert Hall on the invitation of the British Fashion Council.

As news broke of the tragic passing of designer Virgil Abloh, the evening was inevitably tinged with sadness and the most poignant moment came right at the beginning, when Idris Elba took to the stage to pay tribute to the esteemed and much- loved Louis Vuitton designer while the screen stated: “Rest in Power.” It was a moment that will stay with me for some time.

I was lucky enough to have a prime seat right at the side of the stage, where my tablemate, designer Julien Macdonald [above right, with me], and I enjoyed all the raucous laughs provided by host Billy Porter and danced in our seats to Kylie’s performance of Slow before a kaleidoscopic backdrop of Richard Quinn prints and catsuit-clad dancers.

After lining our stomachs with burgers in brioche buns, I joined in the mingling and had fun introducing some of the fash pack to Harry Potter

actor Tom Felton – a Fashion Awards newbie – and caught up with model Ikram Abdi Omar.

Flamboyant gender- neutral fashions, a celebration of diversity in all forms and the promotion of creative leaders of change were put firmly into the spotlight this year. As the night drew to a close and guests disappeared into chauffeur- driven cars or to the Vogue afterparty at Chiltern Firehouse, I was reminded of a quote recently given to me by British

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Fashion Council chief executive Caroline Rush: “Kindness will never go out of fashion.”

I feel lucky to be a part of such an inclusive industry.