THE MARCHIONESS OF BATH STARRY, STARRY NIGHT

Our society editor at large takes us behind the scenes at the Fashion Awards with her A-list friends

The Fashion Awards is such an important, magical evening and the most glamorous night of the year, so I’m always super-grateful and honoured to be able to participate.

My husband Ceawlin [the Marquess of Bath] and I had just had a whirlwind of a weekend, welcoming visitors to Longleat for the opening of The Festival of Light – our annual Christmas light show, which lasts until January.

Our guests included Baroness Lawrence, with her daughter and grandson, and the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s director Carlos Acosta. It was a military operation organising tours and Santa trains, caterers and safari Jeeps, but we did it before heading to London so I could be red-carpet ready the next day.

Up early as always, I went for a run around the park after the school drop-off and managed to squeeze in a lymphatic drainage massage at home before getting my hair, nails and make-up done.

GETTING RED-CARPET READY

The glam team – Jack Thirlway and Howard Kong – came to my rescue, and with some under-eye colour correction, I suddenly looked less like a frazzled mum and more Fashion Awards-ready, even though we had to stop halfway through so I could pick up my sons John and Henry while the contour was setting on my face.

I wore a fabulous two-piece outfit by David Koma. I love him; he’s a brilliant designer flying the flag for British fashion and dressed Beyoncé for her Renaissance World Tour. I went to his studio the week before and tried on 55 dresses, eventually choosing a sheer iridescent sequinned skirt and an off-theshoulder top with feathers.

It was super-fun and enjoyable to wear, and my nails were done with a pearl-chrome finish to match, while my jewellery was by Chopard.