Sam McKnight Wins The Isabella Blow Award For Fashion Creator At The Fashion Awards

He has spent more than 40 years working as one of the most celebrated hairstylists in the fashion industry and now Sam McKnightVogue’s contributing beauty editor, can add the Isabella Blow Award For Fashion Creator to add to his already stellar CV.

Presented to stalwarts of the fashion industry – those whose contribution has been so invaluable it has changed the game and pushed it forward – the prestigious award’s previous recipients include British Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful OBE, beauty editor-at-large Pat McGrath, Nick Knight and the late Central Saint Martins professor Louise Wilson.

Ever modest, McKnight told Vogue: “It’s a fantastic time for the hair and make-up teams in the industry, two big elements of the fashion story who are often backstage, to be recognised. And to be awarded an amazing prize like this, well, that means more to me than anything.”

Over the course of a career that has spanned decades, McKnight has done it all: from presiding over hair at countless fashion weeks for both incredibly well-known and up-and-coming designers (“I was doing hair at British fashion shows before London Fashion Week had even been called that”) to a seven year stint working with HRH Diana, Princess of Wales, that saw him accompany her around the world on royal engagements, he has done it all: “We laughed most of that seven years; her sense of humour carried herself and her team through – she brought light into a room and it’s a real talent bringing light into dark places.She truly was a one-off.”

His win has been heralded by industry greats including Kate Moss, who told us: “I’ve grown up with Sam. I love working with him, he makes me feel glamorous without trying too hard – he’s just got that magic touch.” Vivienne Westwood and Andreas Kronthaler added: “He can do anything and everything with hair and has dedicated his life to the glory of women.” Of course, he has also worked on many shoots (over 100 covers alone) with British Vogue.

“Sam is always much more than a hairdresser on a shoot – he’s your confidante,” Enninful says of McKnight. “He’s involved in every aspect of picture making and has a great sense of fashion history and what’s modern too. He really is the best that this country has produced and I love him dearly.”

We send our congratulations to McKnight for his award win, much-deserved recognition of his myriad achievements.

Credit: VOgue

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