Celebrities Pay Tribute to Late Fashion Designer Dame Vivienne Westwood Following Her Death at 81
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Celebrities and fashion industry tastemakers are remembering legendary English designer and longtime activist Dame Vivienne Westwood, who died Thursday. She was 81.
According to a statement released by the label on Instagram, Westwood died peacefully and surrounded by friends and family in Clapham, South London. A cause of death was not immediately made public.
"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. She led an amazing life. Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future," the label wrote in the announcement.
The label concluded, "The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better."
Known to have revolutionized the fashion landscape, especially in London during the mid-1970s, Westwood's impact has influenced many stars, designers, stylists and models, who in turn took to social media to mourn and pay respect to the fashion icon.
RELATED: Dame Vivienne Westwood, Legendary Fashion Designer, Dead at 81
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Jamie Lee Curtis
The Halloween actress honored Westwood with three Instagram posts, one in which she recalled dating English singer Adam Ant, who gifted her a "massive box of clothing" from Westwood, which introduced her to the designer's brilliance.
"I was raised in a very conservative household, my stepfather was a Marine and my mother, a good girl and this box of clothes that looked like a pirate would wear them delighted and terrified me," Curtis wrote in the post's caption.
"It was avant-garde and punk and dangerous and rebellious, not one of those words that you would apply to me and yet I gamely tried to wear them," she continued.
The Emmy nominee also shared how her hairdresser Sean James (who Curtis revealed to be a "devotee and brand ambassador forever" of Westwood's in a separate post) re-introduced her love for the label.
"I've been able to watch her magic through him for all of these years. Boy, do I wish I had those clothes today. A true icon. A talented dame," Curtis concluded.
She also shared a photo of the cover of Westwood's self-titled memoir, writing, "I N F L U E N C E R
@viviennewestwood REST IN PUNK."
Naomi Campbell
The iconic supermodel, who famously fell on the catwalk during the Vivienne Westwood fall 1993 show, remembered Westwood as the "Original Queen of Fashion" and as a "wife, mother, grandmother and friend."
"I remember as I child riding the bus home from school and driving by Kings Road seeing all the punks with their risk taking way of dressing and hair. It was revolutionary, i didn't know then that I would meet Vivienne Westwood in 86 and not only get to work with her but be able to call her a friend," she wrote under a lengthy Instagram tribute.
Highlighting Westwood's "love story" with husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler, Campbell concluded, "REST ON THE THROWN YOU SO GREATLY DESERVE QUEEN."
Hailey Bieber
"wow. rest in peace to the iconic legend that is Vivienne Westwood. Thank you for your creations and beautiful vision," Hailey Bieber wrote on her Instagram Story.
Tracee Ellis Ross
"OH I LOVED THIS WOMAN" and "I hope to God I mature like this!" added Tracee Ellis Ross while reposting a series of portraits of Westwood to her Instagram Stories.
Salma Hayek
"Fly Vivienne. You're bold and fearless spirit will always challenge our imagination," noted Salma Hayek on her Instagram Story.
Victoria Beckham
The former Spice Girl and eponymous fashion designer honored her industry comrade on her Instagram Story, writing, "I'm so sad to learn of the passing of legendary designer and activist Dame Vivienne Westwood. My thoughts are with her family at this incredibly sad time. VB."
Claudia Schiffer
"The genius of @viviennewestwood, her unique voice will be irreplaceable and will be missed," the supermodel captioned an Instagram Story showing a photo of the two.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid shared a letter to Westwood on Instagram, writing:
"Dearest Vivienne, Queen of punk. From the first day I met you to the last day I saw you, you made me smile , listen, learn and love more than the day before. I will forever be grateful to have been in your orbit , because to me and most , in fashion & in humanity, you, Vivienne, were the sun.
To the coolest, most fun, incredible , humble, creative , badass, intelligent, fucking EPIC human being that has walked this earth… my inspiration and idol in all things … rest in love and Rest In Peace…?? I will miss you."
Helena Christensen
With a series of throwback photos, the model remembered Westwood's everlasting contributions.
"Somehow I imagined Vivienne living way into her 100s. She still had so many urgent matters to shed light on, so many causes to support, still so many injustices to be outspoken about …and so many more magical outfits to create," she wrote, adding, "I will always be grateful for having been in her inspiring company ?? Rest in glorious power @viviennewestwood."
Kim Cattrall
The Sex and the City star remembered Westwood – "A true genius who never lost her northern grit" – with a short anecdote, recalling the time Westwood generously designed three dresses for her within the span of three days.
"I've never forgotten her generosity and kindness in making that happen and saving the day. RIP Vivienne. You are a legend. Kx," Cattrall wrote.
Amelia Gray Hamlin
Emerging model – and daughter of Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna – Amelia Gray Hamlin, who walked the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2023 runway show at Paris Fashion Week this past October, expressed her condolences on Instagram.
"Thank you for changing my life, thank you for pioneering punk," she wrote on her Story while reposting footage of her walking the Vivienne Westwood catwalk.
Halsey
The Badlands singer wrote on Instagram: "Viv! My friend, my idol, my icon. There is not enough time or space in this format to appropriately describe the ways you impacted music, fashion, culture, and the like. Your legacy is immortal and eternal. I hope we will all continue to break boundaries and question institutions in your example and memory. I will cherish all of our conversations and teas (and *tea*! you had the best stories). Love always, and long live Queen Viv."
Kerry Washington
"I always felt like a goddess when wearing art designed by the goddess that is #VivienneWestwood. Heaven just became a bit more snatched and fabulous. Rest in Peace," tweeted Kerry Washington under a photo of herself in a floral gown.
Derek Blasberg
"Vivienne Westwood, the ultimate Punk, has left the club," the journalist and socialite wrote on Twitter. In his thread of tweets, he remembered Westwood for "ushering in London's counterculture scene to high fashion," her advocacy work against global warming and her memorable looks.
"Ps. If you wanna just what a Punk Vivienne Westwood was, look up what she wore when she received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth. (Or, more specifically, what she didn't wear.)," he added, referencing when Westwood famously went commando as she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1992.
Karen Elson
Supermodel and singer-songwriter Karen Elson remembered Westwood as a "reckoner who pushed the needle of British Fashion and continued in that fearless original spirit her entire career."
"Fashion, art, culture will mourn this loss of a gargantuan woman who shaped how we wear and what we wore," Elson wrote on Instagram. "Rest In Peace Dame Vivienne Westwood."
Karla Welch
The stylist, whose clientele includes Justin Bieber, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sarah Paulson and Karlie Kloss, wrote, "God Save the Queen," while adding "#theoriginal."
Sam McKnight
Hairstylist Sam McKnight, who worked closely with Westwood and Kronthaler for the label's runway presentations, wrote: "Rest in Peace dear Vivienne. How lucky I am to have spun around in that magical orbit of your world. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You're a true original, a trailblazer, a taboo-smasher and an ICON for generations. In a world of cookie-cutter mediocrity, BE MORE VIV! ?????? #bemoreviv."
Marc Jacobs
Fellow designer Marc Jacobs shared, "you did it first. always. incredible style with brilliant and meaningful substance. I continue to learn from your words, and, all of your extraordinary creations. I will always remember the night we bonded over our mutual love for Yves Saint Laurent. You never failed to surprise and to shock. I am grateful for the moments I got to share with you and Andreas."
Stella McCartney
The fashion designer remembered Westwood's innovation with a lengthy tribute, writing, "Today, we lost one of the most rare British icons of fashion ever. Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with bravery and bollocks. She invented punk."
McCartney concluded, "Thank you Dame Vivienne Westwood for all you gave us. You will live on forever. God save Westwood… Punk rock will never die. x Stella."
Paul McCartney
Musician Paul McCartney tweeted, "Goodbye Vivienne Westwood. A ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world and stood defiantly for what was right. Love Paul x"