Shoe Cam … BAFTAs best dressed!

[dropcap letter=”W”]hile the Kiss Cam was in operation at the BAFTAs the other night, from the comfort of my own settee, I was operating my inbuilt ‘Shoe Cam’. During Awards Season, the annual media fest of best-dressed lists and gawping at women trussed up in flimsy evening dresses and skyscraper heels, my radar is set to pick up on those opting for a more relaxed kind of glamour – sadly, most of the time that’s the men in their chic tuxedos and black leather lace-ups.

Step forward, then, uber-talented costume designer Sandy Powell. Up for Best Costume Design for Carol, the serial award winner (three Oscars, two BAFTAs and a medley of other gongs) rocked up to the BAFTAs with her trademark orange hair swept back, in a stunning, turquoise satin tuxedo and big flatform shoes. Ding, ding, ding. The Shoe Cam went into overdrive. Powell’s style and confidence, shows that feeling comfortable in your own skin, and your own shoes, is the most important thing. See also Jenny Beavan who turned up in her everyday clothes and won the Costume Design award. Three cheers for talented women showing their attitude in different ways.

Also, coming up on the Shoe Cam was Dame Maggie Smith in a lovely, low-heeled evening shoe. Nominated for her brilliant, funny portrayal of Miss Mary Sheperd  – the homeless woman who moved her camper van into writer Alan Bennett’s drive for three months, in the 1970s, and ended up staying 15 years  – in the Lady in the Van. It was a double celebration for Dame Maggie who then went on to smooch Leonardo DiCaprio  – and wasn’t that a joyful moment? – on the  BAFTAs Kiss Cam.  

Although Brooklyn won best film, Julie Walters (who very wisely turned up wearing a faux fur coat over a long-sleeved floor length electric blue dress) not only lost an expensive earring but missed out on the Shoe Cam experience. The nominee for best supporting actress chose a pair of pointy silver court shoes that, from where I was sitting, looked like they might chafe the bunions and pinch the toes. Much better to opt for an elegant, round toed, silver sling back instead, ding, ding, ding…

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Alyson Walsh is a former fashion editor for Good Housekeeping magazine; a regular feature writer for the Guardian, Financial Times ‘How To Spend It’, Saga Magazine and allaboutyou.com. Alyson started her successful style blog, That’s Not My Age, six years ago in order to celebrate the creed that ‘style is forever’. In her book ‘Style Forever’ she explores how the topics of fashion, age and culture are connected. Alyson has also appeared on BBC News and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour with Jenni Murray. Read Alyson’s blog at www.thatsnotmyage.com .