Vivienne Westwood FW24 Melds History's Greatest Highlights
Pulling inspiration from Renaissance styles and retro sportswear, Andreas Kronthaler presented a captivating runway, complete with Sam Smith and Kristen McMenamy cameos.
Andreas Kronthaler staged another spectacle of a show for Vivienne Westwood‘s latest collection that emphasizes quality craftsmanship and the intermingling of inspirations. Entitled “The Tailor,” the label’s Fall/Winter 2024 offering looks back in time, drawing from Kronthaler and Westwood’s love story – specifically their shared fascination with history – to inform a captivating lineup of modern-Renaissance ready-to-wear pieces.
“What is the purpose of making clothes? They should make you feel good,” Kronthaler pondered in a statement. “Underneath it all is desire. that’s what we want to create. this is the essence of fashion. When I met Vivienne, I was totally smitten that she was into history just as much as I was. It was the first passion we shared.”
“I decided to look at late Renaissance costumes because I went to a Giovanni Battista Moroni exhibition in Milan which reminded me very much of the beginning of working with Vivienne,” he continued.
Sam Smith strutted down the runway not once but twice. The first time around, they donned a plaid scarf-type jacket atop a green v-neck, paired with a high-wasted plaid kilt, platform boots, a plaid headwrap and a walking stick.
Their second look was dramatic in a different way, finding the singer sauntering down the runway in a floor-length Gothic black gown. Kristen McMenamy closed out the show in an ethereal all-white look.
Kronthaler also looked to sportswear to inform the collection’s aesthetic, dipping floor-length drapery and back-less silhouettes in an array of different hues and textures. “At the same time, I got some sports protection gear from a good friend and I could see a connection. We referenced the 1600s playing with codpiece, with slashing and piercing materials, lederhosen, breeches and doublets.”
As for the collection’s color palette, there are patterns and prints galore, but Kronthaler explains the consistent black undertones. “You see a lot of black because of it being very fashionable then. We love this color. It’s very convenient, but at the same time, it’s the most elegant of all colors.”
Check out the full Vivienne Westwood Fall/Winter 2024 collection above and stay tuned to Hypebeast for all things Paris Fashion Week.
