British fashion industry legend Suzy Menkes is to have her 25-year service at the International Herald Tribune (now The International New York Times) marked in spectacular style - with a Special Recognition Award to be presented at the British Fashion Awards.
The be-quiffed doyenne of the front row has already earned an OBE and the Legion dHonneur in France for her work, which has encompassed stints at The Times, The London Evening Standard and the Independent also.
ELLE/Cointreau Bursary winner Simone Rocha, for one, is thrilled by the news.
'It is an honour to be reviewed by Suzy,' she says. 'Her words are always astute and sincere. She has a true understanding of the beauty of fashion and her words make you believe in it.'
Says the British Fashion Council's Sarah Mower: 'Suzy is the fastest-mover in the west - or east. I have only ever beaten her to the race backstage about three times in fifteen years. The brain under that front-roll is a phenomenon. I'm in awe of the agenda-setting pieces she pens between Milan and Paris which both interrogate fashion's motives and put it in its rightful cultural and economic place.
'Besides that, she's the greatest defender of journalistic integrity, the greatest inspiration and the naughtiest wit I know.'
Seeing Suzy take to the stage will be just one of the highlights of Monday's ceremony, which will be held at the London Coliseum and promises to be bigger and better than ever. There's still time to buy tickets to see the action for yourself - or, failing that, stick with ELLE for all the news, gossip and dresses on the night.
