Vivienne Westwood Fall/Winter 2024 Revives The Renaissance in Daring Collection Featuring Sam Smith

Sartorial innovation takes center stage in the Vivienne Westwood Fall/Winter 2024 collection, blending echoes of the Renaissance with avant-garde design—a contrast elevated by Sam Smith's electrifying runway presence. Adorned in plaid and wielding a rustic staff, Smith perfectly embodies the collection's bold display of historical tribute and rebellious spirit.

Drawing inspiration from the late Renaissance and traditional folk dance, Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood brings a sense of fun and irreverence back to the fashion world. The collection pays homage to this era, with models donning codpiece-inspired strap-ons and pronounced breastplate details, against an enchanting backdrop featuring performances by the Vienna-based folk dance trio SunBengSitting x Sons of Sissy​.

From statement-making codpieces that echo past grandeur to the futuristic shimmer of sequined capes, each piece, like Look 4’s overlay on classic stripes, boldly challenges the status quo. The use of black, especially prominent in the evening wear section, echoes the trend of the 1600s, symbolizing both convenience and timeless sophistication

Look 21 introduces a splash of vibrant orange, breathing contemporary zest into its tribute to Renaissance textures and forms. The playful tartans and structured drapery of Look 35 weave together a narrative that defies the constraints of time, aligning Shakespearean drama with the edginess of urban style.

Finally, Look 37’s layered dark hues, worn by Sam Smith, make a striking visual statement, encapsulating Westwood’s theatrical essence.

The Vivienne Westwood Fall/Winter 2024 show invites audiences to traverse epochs, delighting in the churn of past artistry with today’s boundary-pushing sensibilities. Echoing the underpinning sentiments, Kronthaler's exploration of historical fashion staples like the codpiece, reimagined for the modern era, and the meticulous craftsmanship inspired by "Patterns of Fashion" by Janet Arnold, brings a profound narrative, deeply rooted in the intertwining of historical reverence and modern desire​

Through a bold interplay of historical motifs and contemporary trends, the collection vividly embodies this ethos, remaining true to Vivienne Westwood’s iconic punk overtones. It forges ahead, pioneering a spellbinding narrative in the fashion landscape, testament to the brand's enduring legacy of innovation and commitment to challenging the status quo.