Dame Vivienne Westwood has left the world with one final piece of advice: ‘When in doubt, Dress up!’
In a tribute to the pioneering designer, who died aged 81 in December, many well-wishing A-listers wore classic Westwood designs, injecting bursts of colour and tartan into her memorial service in London today.
The Pretenders’ frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, who worked at Dame Vivienne’s and Malcolm McLaren’s boutique in punk’s early days, and singer-songwriter Nick Cave performed songs in tribute to the Grande Dame of fashion.
Dame Vivienne was recognised as a punk legend, environmental activist and designer extraordinaire beloved of many A-listers in the fashion world.
She emerged on the fashion scene in the 1970s, continued to break boundaries throughout her career and was responsible for some of fashion’s most famous designs.
Dame Vivienne Westwood has left the world with one final piece of advice: ‘When in doubt, Dress up!’ The late fashion designer’s mantra inspired the attire of the A-listers who attended her memorial service in London today
Actor Richard E Grant, who portayed Dame Vivienne’s counterpart in the 1994 film Prêt-à-Porter, shared snaps from the celebration of life and revealed that he wore a ‘miniature hat’ that she had gifted him while he worked on the film
Victoria Beckham attends the memorial service for Dame Vienne Westwood in London today
Supermodel Kate Moss wore a caftan-style dress with a blazer and her daughter Lila carried a red Westwood bag
Lady Amelia Windsor carries a Westwood bag as she attends a memorial for the late designer
Andreas Kronthaler, creative director of Vivienne Westwood and the late designer’s widower
Vogue editor Anna Wintour gets into a car outside this afternoon’s memorial service
Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Stormzy were among the stylish mourners attending the service at Southwark Cathedral to commemorate Westwood today.
Former Spice Girl and designer Ms Beckham, 48, wore a skintight black dress with a high neck, long sleeves and a leg slit, while British Vogue editor Edward Enninful dressed in an all-black suit and blazer.
Supermodel Moss, 49, wore a black dress with a floral design and velvet jacket, while her daughter Lila paired her outfit with a red Westwood bag.
Actress Helena Bonham Carter, 56, who has worn Dame Vivienne’s punk clothes on many red carpets, paid tribute to the late designer in a red and purple full tartan skirt and blazer set paired with a Westwood pearl necklace.
She also gave a touching euology for the designer before Mr Cave performed his song Into My Arms, The Mirror reported.
The event was a thoughtful and musical affair. Opera singer Maria Ladurner and Ian Keatley, director of music at the cathedral in London Bridge, performed a rendition of How Beautiful Are The Feet.
Ms Hynde also performed a rendition of Buddy Holly’s Raining in My Heart before Dame Vivienne’s granddaughter Cora Corrré closed the service with a speech.
Dame Vivienne’s brother Gordon Swire gave a eulogy and her son Ben Westwood read William Shakespear’s poem Winter. Her son Joseph Corré, an activist, also shared a few words about his mother.
The public memorial followed a private funeral during which the fashion icon was laid to rest.
The Pretenders’ frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, who worked at Dame Vivienne’s and Malcolm McLaren’s boutique in punk’s early days, wore a dark coat and patterned scarf
Georgia May Jagger, daughter of the Rolling Stones frontman Mick and his former wife Jerry Hall
Lily Cole celebrates the life of Dame Vivienne Westwood at Southwark Cathedral, colouring in her eyebrows like the late designer did
Kate Moss attended the service with her daughter, Lila Grace Moss (pictured)
Sculptor Daniel Lismore, who was once described by Vogue as ‘England’s Most Eccentric Dresser’
Actor Richard E Grant wore a Union Jack scarf and netted headpiece for the occasion
Actress Sadie Frost wore an all-black ensemble with purple gloves
Jonathan Ross wore a black coat and a blue jumper embossed with the slogan ‘No Future’
Jefferson Hack and Anna Cleveland leave Southwark Cathedral in London
Singer Will Young was one of many attendees from the world of entertainment
Mick Jagger’s glamorous ex-wife Bianca was among the attendees
Bob Geldof was also spotted arriving at the service at Southwark Cathedral
Many guests at today’s memorial donned Harris Tweed, tartan, platforms and Union Jacks to honour the late fashion designer.
Actor Richard E Grant, who portrayed Dame Vivienne’s counterpart in the 1994 film Prêt-à-Porter, shared snaps from the celebration of life and revealed that he wore a ‘miniature hat’ that she had gifted him while he worked on the film.
‘Worn with pride at her extraordinary memorial today,’ Mr Grant tweeted, sharing photos of the hat and the formal invitation to the service.
Rapper Stormzy, 29, was also in attendance in an all-black suit and brooch, as was artist Tracey Emin, 59, who wore a dark-coloured long coat and tartan scarf.
Emin became a good friend of Dame Vivienne after meeting at a Vogue shoot in the summer of 1999, with the artist later saying that ‘within days’ she had become her ‘muse’.
Actress Elle Fanning wore a black pleated blazer with a matching pillar-box hat. The US star collaborated with the fashion designer on many occasions, with Dame Vivienne styling the 24-year-old in a custom pink corset-style dress for the Independent Spirit Awards in 2021.
Nick Cave and his wife Susie at today’s service for Vivienne Westwood
British Vogue editor Edward Enninful donned an all-black suit and blazer ensemble
Joely Richardson (left) and Vanessa Redgrave outside Westwood’s service today
Zandra Rhodes, who recently announced she will donate her full archive, more than 50 years’ worth of material, to De Montfort University in Leicester
Designer Bella Freud, the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud
Leah Wood (leah) and Jo Wood outside Southwark Cathedral for today’s event
Iris Law, fashion model and actress, and the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost
Singer Paloma Faith wore a purple jumper under a rust, floral-patterned dress with red shoes, while Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks dressed in a navy and black checked coat-dress for the service.
Actress Dame Vanessa Redgrave was also in attendance in a camel coat and hat alongside her daughter, actress Joely Richardson, who matched in a camel and black suit over a lime green top.
Presenter Jonathan Ross opted for a black trench coat and blue jumper, Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie wore a classic black suit, as did fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu and Babs actress Jaime Winstone donned a black fitted dress paired with black lace-up platforms.
US singer-songwriter Beth Ditto, fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes, singer Bob Geldof, Australian singer Nick Cave and his fashion designer wife Susie Cave, designer Matty Bovan and model Lorraine Pascale were also among the guests.
Dame Vivienne emerged on the fashion scene in the 1970s, with her androgynous designs, slogan T-shirts and irreverent attitude towards the Establishment.
She continued to break boundaries throughout her career and was responsible for some of fashion’s most famous designs – including her take on the corset, the ‘mini-crini’ – a shortened version of the Victorian crinoline dress – and Carrie Bradshaw’s bridal dress in the 2008 Sex And The City movie.
Christina Hendricks arriving to the private memorial for Vivienne Westwood today
Actress Jaime Winstone was among the stars to attend the service
Actress Elle Fanning wore an all-black ensemble with a matching pillar-box hat
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council
Broadcaster and nature campaigner Chris Packham, who knew Dame Vivienne through her environmental campaigning
Alexa Chung attends the memorial service to celebrate Dame Vivienne’s life
The designer also made a name for herself as an activist, staging public protests to raise awareness of causes close to her heart.
In 1992, she famously wore a perfectly tailored skirt suit with a grey matching hat while collecting her OBE.
The outfit might have been demure, but she soon started twirling for photographers – only to reveal she was not wearing any knickers underneath.
She returned to Buckingham Palace in 2006 to be made a dame, and was once again without underwear – but she refrained from doing any twirling this time.
It recently emerged Dame Vivienne had handed control of her company to fellow designer Jeff Banks and her husband, Andreas Kronthaler, just two weeks before her death.