Socialites, world-renowned fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has died at age 81, it has been confirmed. In a statement made on her official Twitter page, Vivienne passed away “peacefully and surrounded” by her family in south London on Thursday.
“Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better,” the post continued. “She led an amazing life. Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.”
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Her longtime husband, Andreas Kronthaler, whom she married in 1992, shared a few words of his own following the tragic news, writing, “I will continue with Vivienne in my heart. We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with.”
Vivienne was one of the most well-respected designers in the fashion industry, having reshaped pink fashion in the 1970s with her eccentric designs and, most of all, unique urban street style. Her five-decade-long career saw her produce timeless pieces that have been worn by dozens of celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Janelle Monae, Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian, and Blake Lively, just to name a few.
Vivienne initially started out working as a school teacher in England before forming close ties with Malcolm McLaren in 1965. The latter had been managing rock group Sex Pistols at the time and decided to start a partnership with Vivienne as they opened up their very own secondhand shop where they sold vintage apparel and records from Malcolm’s artists.
The success that came with the business later saw them expand over to opening up their own boutique, which was when Vivienne began designing clothes while implementing Malcolm’s ideas. The pair quickly built up a following in the UK, with the late designer quickly becoming a household name for her daringly bold ensembles.