Céline designer, Phoebe Philo, isn’t like other fashion big shots – after all, she insists on working normal hours during the day.

And admits, she is extremely “disciplined” when it comes to her workload.

“We’re just organised. Everybody in this building knows when I arrive and when I leave and the important things are done within those hours. That’s just the way it is. And it works,” explains Phoebe.

The British fashion designer also explains how her family and children help her manage her time even further, reports The Cut.

“It’s much easier having children, because that creates a natural limit. If I have a good time with them before they go to sleep, it’s worth everything to me,” said Phoebe.

It’s nice to have a natural balance in life.

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Last night’s annual CFDA Awards ceremony, held at the Lincoln Centre’s Tully Hall, played host to a hall of world class designers and fashion figures, recognising and praising them for their work and contribution to fashion throughout the year.

The winners? Designer duo Proenza Schouler scooped the Womenswear Designer of the Year award, while Michael Bastian bagged Best Menswear Designer of the Year, and Alexander Wang received Accessory Designer of the Year.

The rest of the awards were handed out by Swarovski, with Best Womenswear Designer going to Prabal Gurung, Menswear to Robert Geller and Eddie Borgo scooped Accessory Design.

But when there’s a party, you can bet your bottom dollar a few Hollywood celebs will show their perfectly groomed faces, with the likes of Liv Tyler, Naomi Watts and Kirsten Dunst doing just that, while Karlie Kloss and Ashley Greene arrived on the arms of Jason Wu and Michael Kors respectively.

And as previously reported, Marc Jacobs was presented with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, Lady Gaga won the Fashion Icon of the Year, Phoebe Philo of Celine was named International Designer of the Year, and Hilary Alexander was given the Eugenia Sheppard Media Award for her services to the industry, reports Vogue UK.

A pretty busy evening all round, then. Congrats, everyone!

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After being named “Stylemaker of the Year” by the Accessories Council last year, American rapper Kanye West has remained a firm fixture on the fashion scene ever since, and it doesn’t appear he’s going anywhere fast.

Despite trying to attend many major autumn/winter 2011 fashion shows this year, and subsequently getting rejected (ahem, Balamain), West has actually met with Central Saint Martins professor and A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou since then, and more recently, collaborated with famed French graphic design and art direction team M/M to produce a collection of silk scarves.

But it seems Kanye is taking his fashion motives one step further to prove he’s deadly serious about the industry – as if wearing Celine whilst performing at Coachella wasn’t enough – by working on his very own clothing collection in Paris.

West has reportedly taken up residence in Paris and will show a collection for spring 2012 in a “presentation-style format” this coming September, reports Fashionista.

We actually don’t know what to expect. But we’re excited all the same.

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As designers go, there are the classics, the cools and the quirkies. Some fizzle out after one too many fragile seasons, some you just can’t shake. And some have you lusting after every piece they create.

It’s rare to find such a breed of designer, we might add, that make us re-think our rent money – a bag is totally worth a few months on the streets, right? – but a select few hold the key to our heart.

And right at the core is Phoebe Philo.

Creative director at Celine since 2008 – after leaving Chloe in 2006, where she’d held the helm for five years – Philo comes from the same school of modern minimalism as Stella McCartney and Hannah MacGibbon, creating clean-cut pieces that are both classic and cool.

Here’s five reasons we love Phoebe Philo, and why you should too.

1. The cuts

Simple, clean and elegant, Philo’s designs are all about the cut. Whether fluid, lean or softly structured, it’s always exquisite.

2. The Paddington

Arguably the most popular ‘It’ bag of all time, Philo’s Chloe-housed Paddington is the ultimate luxury arm candy for cult classic style – and it sold out before it even hit stores.

3. Humble pie

Whilst ‘celebrity’ designers are fun, the ones who quietly get on with it are far more intriguing. Despite determined success, Philo’s humility is utterly endearing, and we’ll admit to being a bit jealous of her radiating effortlessness.

4. Wooden wedges

When Phoebe Philo revived the wooden wedge in the Noughties following her appointment at Chloe, it was something of a phenomenon – we’re still wearing ours now, and you can thank her for the ones you’re wearing too, whether they’re Chloe or not.

5. Gold dust

Like the Police once sang, every little thing she does is magic. She made Chloe cool again, and since wearing the creative cap at Celine, she’s turned it into one of the world’s most sought-after luxury labels. Yep, at 37, she’s one of the most influential designers of our generation.

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We haven’t even started wearing our spring strings yet and already everyone’s talking about autumn – we don’t blame them, though, good things are coming to a closet near you next season.

If you want to stay ahead of the frolic (and let’s face it, it’s no fun coming last), we’ve rounded up the hottest trends from the autumn/winter 2011 runways that you won’t want to miss.

Stay psyched, we’ll be wearing them sooner than we’d like to admit…

Spots

Marc Jacobs, David Koma, Stella McCartney

Go dotty, literally, for spots and circles next autumn as anything round rules the runway – perennial polkas and Dalmatian drops included. Marc Jacobs layered spotted separates and accessories, David Koma couldn’t resist adding pom poms and Stella McCartney’s laser-cut circles became infectious.

Colour

Jaeger, Roksanda Ilincic, Jonathan Saunders

Good news if you’re a partial to a colour pop, the autumn runways picked up where spring stopped and sent a riot of colour to rival a rainbow. Reds add a contemporary edge to classic camels while vivid primary pops break up black and brighten warm autumnal shades.

Monochrome

Julien Macdonald, Giles, Louis Vuitton

Not braving the bold? Try black and white, instead. When colour wasn’t clattering the catwalk, monochrome was making just as much of an impact, especially at Julien Macdonald where signature jewel shades were swapped for gothic blacks and at Giles and Louis Vuitton where bondage-style straps took the darkside to the depths of dominatrix.

Texture

Marni, Aquascutum, Fendi

If you’re partial to sequins, suede and fur, here’s your chance to wear it all at once. Texture is all or nothing next season and more, as they say, is more. Sumptuous silks, soft fur, lace and leather team together for a luxe look, tweeds and knits offer a smattering of the countryside, and sequins, pom poms and plastic add a fun edge – throw it all together for touch-me texture next season.

Heritage handicraft

Christopher Kane, House of Holland, Rodarte

Not had enough texture? Heritage fabrics and handicrafts mix– think tweed with the occasional fringing or blanket-stitched crochet are adding an original edge to autumn’s collections thanks to thanks to Christopher Kane and House of Holland.

Past-time pleasures

Miu Miu, Gucci, Mulberry

If spring was all about the Seventies, try knocking it back a decade – or three – for autumn. From Miu Miu’s Sixties styling to Prada’s Forties approach, fashion’s feeling nostalgic next season.

Victoriana

Meadham Kirchhoff, Vivienne Westwood Red Label, Temperley London

Want to step back even further? Try the Victorian era. Meadham Kirchhoff sent sombre models in Victoriana pinafore dresses, while at Vivienne Westwood and Temperley, blouses were prim and proper.

Photographic prints

Jonathan Saunders, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou

Baroque, bird cages, flowers, feathers, and digital skylines – prints are digital, photographic and, at times, hallucinogenic next autumn. Jonathan Saunders sent baroque prints alongside trippy tropical patterns, Erdem fused spring-like florals with watercolour washes, and Mary Katrantzou’s regal prints looked positively tangible.

Androgyny

Stella McCartney, Celine, Balenciaga

Bored of being girly? Take your cue from the boys – Stella McCartney, Celine and Balenciaga all sent suits and oversized, masculine tailoring and down the runway (and some chose boys to wear it, too).

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Find out why Georgia May Jagger has never really noticed her gap tooth, see whose earning the big bucks in the fashion industry, and take a look at Kate Winslet’s style evolution over the years…

Georgia May Jagger says she only noticed her gap tooth when she started modelling – Vogue UK

Check out the hottest new models of the moment – Fashionista

From Titanic to triumph, take a look at Kate Winslet’s amazing style evolution – SkyShowbiz

Who earns the fashion’s big bucks? Bernard Arnault, followed by Francois Pinault and Giorgio Armani – Vogue UK

Lust after Celine’s handbags for AW11 (we are) – Purseblog

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Another day is another day closer to spring. Yesterday we bought you rainbow brights and playful prints in our SS11 trend recap, but today it’s time for something altogether cleaner, fresher and zingier.

Designers have seen the light – both in the metaphorical heaven-like sense and the more literal street-lamp sense, as it happens – and it’s coming to a season near you. Behold the crisp whites and tangerine tangs set to take spring by storm…

Crisp whites

L-R: Alexander Wang, Celine, Chloe

If you’re not wearing colour this spring, make sure you’re wearing white. Crisp, clean cuts in stark saturations make a serious statement next season, with even the most unlikely of labels embracing the light. Alexander Wang avoided his signature blacks and sent a flurry of fresh whites storming down the runway, whilst usual suspects Celine and Chloe created clinical elegance with their fuss-free, functional designs.

Tangerine tang

L-R: Prada, Cacharel, MaxMara

In complete contrast to spring’s white wipe out, fashion’s got a fresh, fruity taste for tangerine next season. From tangy head to toe looks at Prada to sunset shades at Cacharel and minimalism at MaxMara, zesty shades of orange add a vibrant, youthful edge to even the most luxe looks this spring. Want a tip? Wear with a tan to avoid looking washed out.

[Images: Style.com]

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