Paris Fashion Week Spotlight: Vivienne Westwood

Written by: Lianna Bakaradze-Marin ('28) and Asha Gavaghan ('28)

Paris Fashion Week kicked off its Fall/Winter runway this month from March 2nd to the 10th! While many designers like Chanel, Dior, and Miu Miu showcased their collections, there’s been much focus on Vivienne Westwood’s Fall/Winter collection.

 Creatively directed and led by Andreas Kronthaler, Westwood’s husband, explained to Vogue magazine, "I wanted the show to feel a bit like we’ve thrown the collection up into the sky and it landed in a big pile, a mountain. And everybody’s just grabbing something out of it and putting it on.” His work was heavily inspired by Pier Paolo Pasolini’s costume design in the 1972 adaptation of The Canterbury Tales. 

This year’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection served as a tribute not only to Kronthaler's Austrian background, but also as a way to live up to Vivienne’s punk identity and to pay homage to London, Westwood’s home for over thirty years. It was a way to convey his grief for Westwood while pushing to move forward.

Tailoring is consistently utilized across the line to highlight freedom of expression and combine traditional and modern fabrics, creating the familiar images of Scottish tartan, Harris Tweed, and Yorkshire. Through this collection, flamboyance and spontaneity are prioritized over traditional structure. Lots of experimentation was channeled into these pieces, featuring mixed fabrics, playful draping, various silhouettes, contrasting colors, plus accessories like ribbons, stockings, belts, and shoulder pads. 

Not to mention, various celebrities were seen attending the Vivienne Westwood Fall 2026 show and have endorsed these designs, such as Chappell Roan, Lola Young, and Paris Jackson. Overall, Andreas Kronthaler’s designs for Vivienne Westwood were highly praised for being an extravagant and artistic showcase, and a success overall!

Vivienne Westwood 39, Vivienne Westwood 46, Vivienne Westwood 35.