The fashion world recently gathered at the Hotel de la Marine in Paris for a highly anticipated show, the first one following the death of legendary fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood. The show Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Fall 2023 was a tribute to the punk icon and her husband and creative partner, Andreas Kronthaler, sent out a collection that stayed true to her spirit.
Famous fashion designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and famous celebrities like Jared Leto, Halsey, and Lena Mahfouf sat in the front row, paying their respects to Westwood who was a major influence on their careers. Gaultier spoke highly of her, saying, “She was part of the punk movement and for me, she is very unique and punk fashion influenced me.”
The sadness of Westwood’s physical absence was felt by all, but her creative presence was still very much alive in the collection that demonstrated her legacy in fashion will continue to inspire for generations to come. Backstage, models like Sara Stockbridge and Cora Corré, Westwood’s granddaughter, walked the runway with tear-streaked eye make-up, a tribute to the iconic designer’s own style.
Andreas Kronthaler, Vivienne Westwood‘s widower, spoke about the show and his wife’s impact on the fashion world, saying, “She left things very clear and she finished a lot of things that she wanted to finish.” The collection was made from deadstock and included references to Westwood’s own style and personal touches, such as the use of metal pigs as accessories, which referenced a wooden good luck charm she kept on her mantle.
Kronthaler spoke about continuing her legacy and said, “I do think it’s a very good thing to do, to continue, not stop anything, or make big decisions. Because you need to process things and you need to go through: it’s something which happens to everybody.”
The fashion world said goodbye to a true icon, but her spirit lives on in the collections, the runway shows, and the hearts of those who were inspired by her. The use of AC/DC’s “T.N.T.” in the show emphasized the explosive power of Westwood’s codes, which Kronthaler is now carrying on.
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