An Ode to Vivienne

Vivienne Westwood might have passed on, but her style and passion for the eccentric certainly hasn’t. On September 30th, her husband Andreas Kronthaler unveiled his collection for Vivienne Westwood Spring-Summer 2024. The different looks came from pieces she kept in her closet, as a tribute to her spunk and unique flair.

Sublime Show

The looks ranged in both complexity and shape, resulting in a collective representing Vivienne’s appreciation of self expression. Mesh, leather and knit materials contributed greatly to the pieces’ overall appeal. Even in the more modest looks, it was apparent this collection was put together in remembrance of her. 

Vivienne passed away during December of 2022, and all of her accomplishments simply cannot be put into words. She was an activist, designer and fashion icon. Andreas Kronthaler has worked with her for decades, and often influenced her pieces. This is the fourth collection since her passing, yet it feels like the most personal. 

Gone But Still Here

Over the course of her career, Vivienne designed many dresses varying in style and theme. Pictured above, Vivienne is seen wearing a blue tinted dress with a corseted top. As shown on the image below, this look was revisited through the white, pleated dress in the recent collection. 

Tartan detailed fabric was another recurring element of Vivienne’s outfits. The pattern resurfaced many times during the beginning of her punk activism, where she resembled both grunge and eccentricity. This light green ensemble presented in the show represented the start of her career in the fashion industry.

As seen in the photo above, Vivienne attended a gala in 2016 wearing netted, sparkling drapery. This look would later appear again in the form of this black crystallized piece for the SS24 collection.

Horns, which appeared on two of the models, were one of the more subtle references to Vivienne’s style. On multiple occasions, including a few of her shows, she wore horns as an accessory to complete her outfits. 

Color, Shape, and Fabric

Andreas Kronthaler put together looks that at first glance, seem like they are incohesive and random. However, that is not the case. They tell the story of Vivienne’s life, which was one of trial and error. It took decades for her work to be taken seriously, and the pieces effectively show how perplexing her journey was. 

A look such as this is composed of all of the essential Westwood pieces. The floral top and shoes compliment each other in both pattern and complexity. The geometric, yet irregular shape of the top offsets the slickness of the pants. 

This collection simply wouldn’t resemble Vivienne’s vision without a clothing reconstruction. The sweatsuit has been a part of fashion for decades. The inclusion of the hood contrasts the sharp shoulders, it revamps the idea of simple loungewear.

The Vivienne Westwood Spring-Summer 2024 collection was one of many shows unveiled during Paris fashion week.

What are your thoughts on the looks? Tweet us @VALLEYmag and let us know!

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