Vivienne Westwood Sends a Human Chandelier Down The Runway In the Name of Climate Change

A model at the Vivienne Westwood show. Photo: Courtesy

If there’s one thing we know about Dame Vivienne Westwood, it’s that she takes her causes seriously. Her shows have long served as forums for her tireless crusade of human rights organizations, animal charities, and environmental causes. At her Spring 2016 Gold Label show on Saturday, she was focused on saving the Venice canals which are in disrepair because of rising sea levels amid the sinking city.

A model at the Vivienne Westwood show. Photo: Courtesy

It was a serious topic, but the designer was sure to have fun with it in her very Westwood way. In her show notes, she expressed nostalgia for the way things were in the 12th Century when Venice was the capital of trading and its residents were flush with cash and liked to throw grand parties. She mentioned Carnival, when people wore masks and could remain anonymous while engaging in a fair amount of sins. All this made for very boisterous attire.

A model at the Vivienne Westwood show. Photo: Courtesy

There were harlequin prints on blazers and pants, Captain Hook hats, models who wore cage-like structures on their shoulders so that coats hung above their heads and they came off looking like decapitated spirits. Our favorite look, though, was the human chandelier. This guy worked the runway with aplomb sashaying through the crowd in a baseball cap and briefs with a large crystal structure draped over his body. Now he looks ready to party.

We’re not sure what this specifically does for the 182 at-risk canals, but it sure was fun to watch.

A model at the Vivienne Westwood show. Photo: Courtesy

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