LONDON: London’s Fashion Awards presented at the iconic Royal Albert Hall on Monday, were marked by a moving tribute to the great French-Tunisian designer Azzedine Alaia, who died last month at the age of 77.
Supermodels including Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour and Eva Herzigova took to the stage to honor the master known for his timeless designs.
Campbell, who was on the verge of tears, said Alaia was a “fashion giant,” calling him her “daddy, protector... and teacher.”
Rising fashion star Jonathan Anderson struck a double blow at the prestigious awards, claiming the prizes for best Accessories Designer and best British Designer for Womenswear.
Considered one of the most influential designers of his generation, 33-year-old Anderson was recognized for his work with luxury leather goods manufacturer Loewe, where he is the creative director, and for the women’s collection at his own label, JW Anderson.
British model Adwoa Aboah, known for her activism, won “Model of the Year” ahead of sisters Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid, and Kaia Gerber, 16-year-old daughter of former top model Cindy Crawford.
Belgian Raf Simons triumphed in the Designer of the Year category for his work with Calvin Klein, while Gucci’s CEO Marco Bizzarri was named best Business Leader, picking up his award from singer Annie Lennox.
Finally, sandwiched between jokes at the expense of US President Donald Trump, the awards recognized young British talent with Michael Halpern winning British Emerging Talent for Womenswear and Charles Jeffrey picking up the Menswear award.
London Fashion Awards pay tribute to Tunisian designer Azzedine Alaia
London Fashion Awards pay tribute to Tunisian designer Azzedine Alaia
Second doctor in Matthew Perry overdose case sentenced to home confinement
- Dr. Mark Chavez, 55, a onetime San Diego-based physician, pleaded guilty in federal court in October
- Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett also sentenced Chavez to 300 hours of community service
LOS ANGELES: A second California doctor was sentenced on Tuesday to eight months of home confinement for illegally supplying “Friends” star Matthew Perry with ketamine, the powerful sedative that caused the actor’s fatal drug overdose in a hot tub in 2023.
Dr. Mark Chavez, 55, a onetime San Diego-based physician, pleaded guilty in federal court in October to a single felony count of conspiracy to distribute the prescription anesthetic and surrendered his medical license in November.
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett also sentenced Chavez to 300 hours of community service. As part of his plea agreement, Chavez admitted to selling ketamine to another physician Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 44, who in turn supplied the drug to Perry, though not the dose that ultimately killed the performer. Plasencia, who pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful drug distribution, was sentenced earlier this month to 2 1/2 years behind bars.
He and Chavez were the first two of five people convicted in connection with Perry’s ketamine-induced death to be sent off to prison.
The three others scheduled to be sentenced in the coming weeks — Jasveen Sangha, 42, a drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen;” a go-between dealer Erik Fleming, 56; and Perry’s former personal assistant, Iwamasa, 60.
Sangha admitted to supplying the ketamine dose that killed Perry, and Iwamasa acknowledged injecting Perry with it. It was Iwamasa who later found Perry, aged 54, face down and lifeless, in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.
An autopsy report concluded the actor died from the acute effects of ketamine,” which combined with other factors in causing him to lose consciousness and drown.
Perry had publicly acknowledged decades of substance abuse, including the years he starred as Chandler Bing on the hit 1990s NBC television series “Friends.”
According to federal law enforcement officials, Perry had been receiving ketamine infusions for treatment of depression and anxiety at a clinic where he became addicted to the drug.
When doctors there refused to increase his dosage, he turned to unscrupulous providers elsewhere willing to exploit Perry’s drug dependency as a way to make quick money, authorities said. Ketamine is a short-acting anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties that is sometimes prescribed to treat depression and other psychiatric disorders. It also has seen widespread abuse as an illicit party drug.
