Fashion Designer Dame Vivienne Westwood Dies at 81

Fashion icon Vivienne Westwood has passed away at the age of 81. The post shared on her Instagram page revealed the designer had died peacefully, surrounded by her family in Clapham, South London on Thursday.

Westwood is a legend in the fashion world, having made punk and new-wave fashion mainstream.

“Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until her last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better,” according to the Instagram caption alongside a photo of Westwood. “She led an amazing life. Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.”

“The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better,” the brand said.

Her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler released a statement, saying, “I will continue with Vivienne in my heart.”

Westwood was born in 1941 to Gordon and Dora Swire, a factory worker and cotton weaver respectively. She made her mark on the fashion world in the 1970s alongside artist and musician Malcolm McLaren, manager of the punk band the Sex Pistols.

Together, they co-managed a store called SEX in Chelsea, which became a hub for punk culture. Westwood’s designs, inspired by punk icons such as Viv Albertine, included mohair jumpers, slashed T-shirts, motorcyclists’ leather, and army combat gear, and have since become iconic symbols of punk style.

In the early 80s, Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren introduced their “Pirates” ready-to-wear collection, which was inspired by the 1980 film “The Island” and Westwood’s fascination with 17th and 18th century silhouettes and portraits.

This New Romantic style was quickly accepted and adopted by the likes of David Bowie, Spandau Ballet and Marc Bolan, marking the beginning of Westwood’s iconic fashion legacy.

After parting ways with her former business partner, Vivienne Westwood established her identity as a leading independent designer in 1985. Westwood’s fashion empire included two menswear and three womenswear collections, as well as other products such as shoes, hosiery, eyewear, scarves, ties, cosmetics and perfumes.

The designer also designed her wedding dress for her first marriage in 1962 and created iconic bridal gowns for celebrities such as Dita Von Teese, Miley Cyrus, Marion Cotillard, Princess Eugenie and Carrie Bradshaw’s dress for the 2008 “Sex and the City” film.

In 2006, Westwood’s contribution to British fashion was recognised when she was appointed Dame of the British Empire by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

You May Also Like