Victoria Beckham wins fashion Oscar

London - Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham's elevation into the fashion industry's elite was confirmed on Monday when she was awarded a major prize at Britain's most prestigious design awards.

The singer, wife of iconic footballer David Beckham, won the Best Designer Brand prize at the British Fashion Awards ceremony held in central London's exclusive Savoy Hotel.

Wearing a black halter-neck gown, Beckham claimed the "fashion Oscar" after beating off competition from industry giants Stella McCartney, Tom Ford and Burberry.

Set the trends

Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton, who designed the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress and her sister Pippa Middleton's bridesmaid outfit, walked off with the evening's top prize, Designer of the Year.

Other winners included model Stella Tennant and TV presenter turned catwalk star Alexa Chung.

Among the guests were supermodel Kate Moss, Oscar winning actor Colin Firth and Samantha Cameron, wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Harold Tillman, chairman of the British Fashion Council, said the range of nominees "demonstrate the breadth and creativity London has to offer.

"The fashion brands and designers that are based here set the trends across the globe," he added.