MY:VIEW Scottish Fashion Awards 2012

Although I’m from Manchester, I always keep an eye on Scottish Fashion, as I studied Fashion in Glasgow, and it’s where I learnt to love fashion itself.  Glasgow as a city has the most amazing indie shop culture, with loads of small boutiques, selling the most amazing styles, I’d recommend anyone obsessed with shopping to visit! 

The Scottish Fashion Awards are in their 7^th year, and prior to that, the Fashion Council ran workshop events with industry people, so people could see the working of the industry and its there that, after a few too many champagnes for Dutch courage I got my big break!  A not know at all Giles Deacon was doing a lecture, and I offered to work for him at London Fashion Week for his show.  Amazingly, he said yes, and I spent a week being an unpaid skivvy, but loving every minute!  Unfortunately my career has not always been as exciting as that, but it cemented by belief that I need to be always involved with clothes (since I’ve worked in marketing and brand for clothing companies, had my own shop and am currently a personal shopper and stylist!)

It’s a testament to Scottish style that heavyweights such as Christopher Kane, Stella Tennant and Faye McLeod attend these awards.  Hayley Scanlan, who won Scottish Young Designer of the Year is one to be watched.  She recently dressed Little Mix for the Glamour Awards and for some X Factor shows so her style is on the rise.  Follow her at http://hayleyscanlan.blogspot.com/ Her HS by Hayley Scanlon line has some amazing dresses, and especially love these, plus love the fact she rocks her own line when collecting the award.  If you can’t promote yourself then who can!!

Alexa Chung hosted, in her usual effortless style wearing a grey floral patterned vintage-style dress with a Peter Pan collar white blouse underneath, teaming the look with nude suede loafer heels.  I’m never too sure about what she wears, but I love that she has her own very distinctive style.  On most pictures, if you covered her head, you’d still know it was her, which to me is great.  I’m not into her look, but she pulls it off well.

I loved Tali Lennox’s outfit, but I’m not sure wearing a top made of needles in something I’d ever do, but they say you have to suffer for fashion!  However, I did think it made her look old, especially the hair and make up. 

On the flip side I loved Millie Mackintosh in a stunning Supertrash gown.  She always looks effortless, but in a funky way.  However, her dress looked like it could do with an iron, and Dionne Bromfield in an uber stylish white and black chequered cocktail dress with baby blue feathers, teamed with red open toe peep toes.

Scottish Fashion Awards 2012 Winners

Scottish Designer of the Year – Christopher Kane
Scottish Young Designer of the Year Council – Hayley Scanlan
Scottish Textile Brand of the Year – Dashing Tweeds
Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year – William Chambers
Scottish Fashion Icon – Karen Gillan
Scottish Communicator of the Year – Faye Mcleod
Scottish Model of the Year – Tali Lennox
Scottish Retailer of the Year – Shhh-Oohs
Scottish Fashion Photographer – Jonathan Daniel Pryce
Scotland’s New Face – Kerry O’May
Scottish Graduate of the Year – Joanne Mcgillivary
International Designer of the Year – Mulberry
Scottish Fashion Innovator – Brian Rennie
Fashion Ambassador– Co lin Mcdowell MBE (Author, fashion esteemed fashion journalist and founder of Fashion Fringe).
Scottish Hall of Fame – Stella Tennant

I'm not working today, somy plan is to go on a bike ride and make use of the forgeous Cape Town weather today, and hit the gym.  I had my 1st personal training session on Friday and it nearly killed me, but no pain no gain hey?!?  I'm coming back to the Uk in 9 weeks for my 2 best friends weddings, so need to be slimmer to rock my bridesmaids dresses!