The 2024 Fashion Awards, held at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall on Monday, saw some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion descend upon the red carpet. However, the event was marked by several high-profile style choices that spectacularly missed the mark, leaving fashion critics and fans unimpressed.
Red Carpet Risks That Didn't Pay Off
Reality TV star Maura Higgins and model Leomie Anderson both opted for daring looks that left little to the imagination. The pair appeared in bizarre ensembles that flashed their underwear, with their gowns seemingly gathered around their knees, creating a half-undressed effect. Their attempts at avant-garde style were widely perceived as a step too far for the prestigious event.
Meanwhile, actress Gwendoline Christie, 47, made a towering statement of a different kind. She arrived wearing a huge, kooky wig that swept dramatically around her head, overshadowing her outfit and drawing bewildered looks from onlookers. The dramatic hairpiece dominated her appearance, becoming the sole focus of her red-carpet moment.
Other Notable Looks From the Night
Not all was lost on the style front. Television personality Sam Faiers, 34, certainly turned heads with a dramatic look featuring a quirky headpiece adorned with huge feathers. The former The Only Way Is Essex star showcased a significant make-over, appearing a world away from her TOWIE days. While bold, her look was one of the few that embraced theatricality with a degree of success.
Other celebrities who were deemed to have missed the sartorial mark included Louise Redknapp, Vicky Pattison, Ashley Roberts, and Laura Whitmore. Their outfits failed to capture the glamour and innovation expected at one of the fashion calendar's most significant events.
A Storied Event in Fashion History
The Fashion Awards have a long and prestigious history. First held in 1989, the annual event was originally known as the British Fashion Awards. The name changed in 2016 to better reflect the global pool of talent it recognises. While first hosted at the Royal Albert Hall, the ceremony has also been held at the Natural History Museum four times and the Victoria & Albert Museum on three occasions.
The awards returned to the Royal Albert Hall in 2016 and have remained there since, cementing its status as an annual hotspot for fashion's elite. Over the decades, it has welcomed legendary figures from Princess Diana and the Spice Girls to design icons Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfeld.
This year's event, however, will likely be remembered less for celebrating sartorial achievement and more for its series of puzzling red carpet choices that sparked more confusion than applause.
