High-end firms gather for Walpole British Luxury Awards at the V&A
Model Jodie Kidd led the fashion pack last night as some of the stars of the British luxury industry slipped into their finest and trotted over to the V&A for the annual Walpole British Luxury Awards.
The crowd was certainly eclectic; chef Marcus Wareing was there, along with Olympic rower Sir Matthew Pinsent, ex-footballer Sol Campbell and Harrods boss Michael Ward. “We’re revealing our Christmas windows on Saturday,” Ward told The Capitalist. “But the weather has been terrible, I’d like it to be constantly cold.” October’s warm weather clearly isn’t shifting enough fur coats. “February and March are set to be the coldest on record,” he said. You heard it here first.
Sponsored by Coutts, the bank’s chief executive Michael Morley was there as well as some faces from Barclays. “We’ve got no preferences for winners tonight, we’re agnostic,” Barclays Wealth’s Stephen Gilbert laughed. The judges had preferences, however. Browns founder Joan Burstein got the lifetime achievement award, Jaguar took best British luxury brand, Claridge’s was voted best luxury service and Burberry won best luxury brand advertising.
Burberry chief Christopher Bailey was nowhere to be seen as the clothing label was too busy celebrating its Christmas campaign launch on Regent Street, with Romeo Beckham no less. A classic fash clash.