Fashion icon Dame Vivienne Westwood dead at 81: tributes to the pioneering punk designer who helped create the 1970s look when she died “peacefully” surrounded by family at their home in south London
- The fashion designer died peacefully surrounded by her family in Clapham
- Husband and creative partner said: “I will carry on with Vivienne in my heart”
- The pioneering designer made her name on the fashion scene in the 1970s
- She gained notoriety with slogan T-shirts and an irreverent attitude
- Tributes were quickly deluged by heartbroken fans on social media
Famous fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood has died at the age of 81.
Ms Westwood died peacefully today surrounded by her family in Clapham, south London, her representatives said in a statement.
The 81-year-old’s husband and creative partner, Andreas Kronthaler, said: “I will continue to lead Vivienne in my heart.
“We worked to the end and she gave me a lot of things to go on with. Thank you darling.’
Famed fashion designer Dame Vivienne (pictured) died peacefully surrounded by her family at her home in Clapham
Vivenne Westwood walks the runway at the Vivenne Westwood show during London Fashion Week Men’s June 2017 Collections
The pioneering fashion designer made her name on the fashion scene in the 1970s with her androgynous designs, slogan T-shirts and irreverent attitude towards the establishment.
Tributes to Ms Westwood have quickly been inundated by heartbroken fans on social media.
A tweet posted from her own account after her death read: “The world needs people like Vivienne to bring about a change for the better.”
TV presenter Jonathan Ross was among the people who paid tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood after her death aged 81.
He tweeted: “RIP the great Vivienne Westwood. Unique. Brilliant. Uncompromising. Thank you Viv x.’
Culture Minister Michelle Donelan added: “A sad day, Vivienne Westwood was and remains a preeminent figure in British fashion.
“Her punk style rewrote the rule book in the 1970s and was widely admired for staying true to her own values throughout her life.”
Westwood walks the runway during the Vivienne Westwood show as part of Paris Fashion Week in March 2014
Jordan and Simon Barker, aka Six, modeled bondage gear from the Seditionaries boutique in King’s Road, London in 1977
Another post from a fan said: “Another legend gone far too soon. Rest in Peace Vivienne Westwood, you have inspired many and will continue to inspire future generations.’
A second read: “Absolutely heartbroken at the news, rest in peace to Vivienne Westwood. You will forever be our Queen of Punk.”
As the person who dressed the Sex Pistols, Westwood was synonymous with 1970s punk rock – a rebellion that remained the hallmark of an uncompromisingly political designer who went on to become one of the biggest names in British fashion.
Born in Cheshire in 1941, she is widely credited with bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.
Her designs have been regularly worn by high profile personalities including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding dress to wed Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for different elements of William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.
Dame Vivienne’s designs were also featured in the 2008 film adaptation of Sex And The City, starring Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw.
In addition to her work as a designer, Dame Vivienne has been vocal about a range of social and political initiatives, including campaigning for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is fighting to avoid being sent to the US to face charges under the law espionage law.
In July 2020, in a giant birdcage, Dame Vivienne, dressed in canary-yellow clothing, warned of Assange being “sampled”.
Dame Vivienne led a motley group of protesters who chanted “Free Julian Assange” outside the Old Bailey in central London.
Hung in the cage, she said: “Don’t extradite Assange – this is fake.”