One can count on Rita Ora to make a red carpet statement. And when it comes to the British Fashion Awards, the singer appears to be on a mission to one-up herself year after year. And after reptilian prosthetic get-ups over the last two years, this time around, Ora leaned into glam-rock territory, complete with a bleach-blond mullet and a bold, eighties-inspired, oversized suit, courtesy of Primark, to walk the red carpet of the annual fashion spectacle in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
It was certainly a sight to behold: the Bowie-reminiscent get-up fell right into fashion’s current craze for the working girl double-breasted suits, wideties and broad shoulders. And it wouldn’t have been an Ora-signature moment, though, if she didn’t put a twist on it by way of an overload of chunky jewellery and a set of bleached brows. 'I love changing things up with my style and wanted to do something completely different to last year’s dress. Once Primark and I started working together on this look, I wanted to create something that felt really timeless and brought with it a lot of power – so what’s better than a power suit,' she tells Grazia.
What’s more, she was joined by her mother, Vera Ora, who mirrored her daughter’s look, donning another oversized suit by Primark in contrasting shades of grey, paired with jangling cuffs, delivering the the final proof that the high street has the staying power to hold its own not just on the commute, but on the red carpet, too. 'I love that my mum has been able to come along this journey as well and that we get to share this moment on the carpet together in our matching looks. She was the star of my Primark winter collection campaign, so I had to have her join me,' she says. A piece of good news for anyone wishing to try the Ora do? The suits will be available to buy early next year at Primark, with an exact launch date yet to be announced.
For the star studded night, which featured appearances by Debbie Harry, Tom Ford, Anna Wintour and Rihanna, Ora was joined on her Primark table by Vas J Morgan, Myleene Klaas and the musician Chip.