Cattrall: Fashion Awards Beat Emmys

By Stephen M. Silverman And Monique Jessen

Monday September 29, 2003 11:36 AM EDT

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The 15th annual Lycra British Style Awards -- considered the Sceptered Isle's Oscars of the fashion industry -- were dispersed Thursday night, PEOPLE's London bureau reports, with local Minnie Driver and American imports Kim Cattrall and Pamela Anderson turning heads.

Anderson, 36, served as hostess of the event, looking sophisticated and radiant in five different outfits -- all by Stella McCartney, a designer who shares the former "Baywatch" babe's staunch anti-fur philosophy.

Conservatively dressed in a black tailored suit after the show, Anderson said of McCartney: "I just love that she doesn't use any animal products whatsoever, and (her line is) completely cruelty free. She's so gorgeous and beautiful, and I think she's very inspirational."

Cattrall, 47, picked up her award as "Most Stylish Female Personality," while Driver, 32, won "Most Stylish Movie Actress."

Driver, dressed in a glamorous black dress that slashed at the front and wearing sparkly Jimmy Choos, said of her prize: "I'm going to give it to my mum. She is my style guru."

Cattrall, evidently jetlagged, still managed to look gorgeous in a full-length sunset orange Dior dress. A fan of British designers, she told PEOPLE: "I think John Galliano is amazing, and Alexander McQueen, and I love what Stella McCartney is doing."

Backstage, the "Sex and the City" vixen called the award ceremony "really exciting but very relaxed. I just came from the Emmys, which is very tense. This is just fun and interesting."

Alexander McQueen was named British designer of the year for the fourth year running, while Paul Smith was named contemporary designer of the year.

But it was Anderson who caused most of the talk at the show. For a woman known for wearing very little, she impressed the fashion crowd with her new, demure look -- although she admits that she hasn't turned her back on her mistakes of the past.

"That's what my whole career is based on," she said.