By Sophie Beresiner

This is what the hotly anticipated ELLE Style Awards looked like from the beauty desk...

BEFORE

There was just about time to squeeze in thoughts of our own beauty choices around organising a veritable grooming parlour for the ever stylish ELLE editorial team. 35 blowdries and an army of nail and makeup artists takes a lot of organising, so our own lipstick v's smoky debates were relegated to the sidelines. Oh and the deadlines remained. Press day does not come second to anything - not even the style event of the year - so we fitted three weeks of outfit planning around our strict schedules, and what outift planning that was. We all had dream dresses and the thought of wearing them on the red carpet was just about as exciting as the imminent close proximity of Bradley Cooper. Yes, that exciting.

DURING

We're on nail and shoe watch, as well as keeping an eye on the A-Listers for their red carpet beauty looks, but there's just about time to quaff some champagne with Juno Temple and discuss the joys of a graphic T with Holly Fulton. This is a tough job but someones got to wear the Matthew Williamson dress and do it. In order of service, we got through a champagne reception in the monochromed Savoy, a three course dinner in the ballroom and an afterparty where we danced with designers and sipped Cointreu cocktails. And all the while our respective lipsticks remained in tact (it's all about the colour-match lipliner base). They were:

Beauty Director Sophie: Diorific Lipstick in Dolce Vita Red

Senior Beauty Writer Amy: Kiko Luscious Cream Lipstick in Shell Rose

Beauty Assistant Joely: Topshop Lip Marker in Parade

AFTER:

We're at our desks after minimal sleep - thank god for Creme De La Mer concealer - and reminiscing about the highlights. These are just one each of many...

Sophie

My highlight was definitely the dress. The most wonderful dress in my entire history of getting dressed. It was fabulous, feathered, very delicate and unfortunately attached itself at the bust to a friend in the coat queue. After some embarrassing manoeuvring to extricate ourselves, Daisy Lowe followed, giggling, to tell me she enjoyed the display. I still love the dress.

Amy

Definitely seeing Kate Hudson in the flesh – she is uber cool and just so beautiful. Oh, and watching Claudia Winkleman rock the red carpet. Two women I’d love to have a glass (or five) of vino with.

Joely

One highlight that stands out was my mini-dance with Matthew Williamson to a Beyonce track. He was sat and I was stood, he did the first move (picture Night Fever dance pose) I retaliated with another 70’s dance move and on it went. It was only for a minute but It made me smile all night.