British designer and fashion icon Vivienne Westwood’s legacy will never go out of style.
Westwood, who died in December at the age of 81, was honored at a memorial service in a London cathedral Thursday. A slew of fashion and music stars gathered at Southwark Cathedral to pay their respects to the designer, who is widely considered to be a pioneer of the classic punk rock aesthetic.
Fashion designer and Spice Girl Victoria Beckham was seen at the memorial in a solemn black dress and dark sunglasses, while actress Helena Bonham Carter kept things colorful in a red plaid blazer and matching skirt. Model Kate Moss wore a navy blue dress with floral accents and topped off the elegant look with a black beret.
“Today we celebrate the incredible life of legendary designer and activist Dame Vivienne Westwood,” Beckham wrote on her Instagram story Thursday.
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Other famous mourners in attendance included actors Elle Fanning and Vanessa Redgrave, singers Nick Cave and Chrissie Hynde, and fashion heavyweights Anna Wintour, editor in chief of Vogue, and Edward Enninful, editor in chief of British Vogue.
Many attendees paid homage to Westwood’s unique style at the private service by wearing tartan, a signature Westwood fabric, or other bold accessories, such as distressed fishnet socks and an oversized pink rose choker.
Westwood’s eponymous fashion house announced her death in late December on social media, revealing the designer died peacefully surrounded by family. A cause of death was not disclosed.
Born in Glossop, England, in April 1941, Westwood’s fashion career began in the 1970s with the punk explosion, when her radical approach to urban street style took the world by storm. But she went on to enjoy a long career highlighted by a string of triumphant runway shows in London, Paris, Milan and New York.
A self-taught designer, Westwood formed a professional partnership with Sex Pistols manager Malcom McLaren and together they launched the boutique Seditionaries. She eventually struck out on her own as a designer, opening various boutiques and producing annual menswear and womenswear collections. Westwood also designed bridal clothes, footwear, cosmetics and perfumes.
Westwood’s artistic contributions earned her national recognition in her native England as the designer became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 and later Dame Commander in 2006. As her stature grew, she seemed to transcend fashion, and her designs were shown in museum collections throughout the world.
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Contributing: The Associated Press
Story Credit: usatoday.com