British fashion icon Vivienne Westwood has died aged 81!
Her agent announced the sad news on Thursday. Accordingly, the designer died peacefully with her family in south London. Nothing is known about the cause of death.
“We worked to the end and she gave me a lot of things to move on with. Thank you darling.” Her Austrian husband Andreas Kronthaler (56) wrote in a message.
Kronthaler and Westwood had been married since 1992. The Austrian had studied fashion with her
Westwood was one of the most influential and renowned fashion designers in the world. She became famous in the 1970s, celebrating huge successes on the catwalks in Rome, London and Paris. Today, some of their creations are exhibited in museums.
Designer fought for the environment
Westwood was also known as an environmental activist and brought climate change to the catwalk. She leaves behind two sons, photographer Ben Westwood and entrepreneur Joseph Corré. She spoke at demonstrations against climate change and tried to have her fashion produced as resource-efficiently as possible.
Westwood has made multiple appearances at demonstrations against climate change and pollution. Here in London in 2016
In the fashion scene, the British woman was considered a companion of punk. She and her former partner Malcolm McLaren, manager and founder of sex guns, ran the legendary “SEX” shop in London between 1974 and 1976. Westwood built their empire over decades, today there are boutiques in Great Britain, France, Italy, America and Asia.
Westwood created sado maso outfits for the musicians of the Sex Pistols and inspired punk fashion like no other. Even after leaving McLaren, she remained true to her rebellious creativity. Above all, inspiration from the fashion of the 18th and 19th centuries was her trademark – albeit in shrill, slanted, eccentric variations.
Queen Elizabeth proclaimed her a lady
Although Queen Elizabeth II preferred a different style of dress, she accepted Westwood into the Order of the British Empire, an order of chivalry, in 1992. 14 years later, Westwood was even proclaimed a lady by the Queen. An honor that only very few are given! Westwood was one of the best-known Britons in the world.
Two exceptional British women: The late Queen and Westwood met several times
Nevertheless, she did not become the royal designer. She recommended the style icon Duchess Kate to reduce her outfits – for reasons of environmental protection.
More at BILD.
