LFW SS16: Vivienne Westwood Red Label

Leading up to her show, Westwood had organized a ‘Fash mob’ with a troupe of models in colourful paper crowns and paraded the streets of London with giant signs reading “Austerity is a crime”, “Fracking is a crime” and “Politicians R Criminals” (the name of her show). This was not the first time the 74-year old British designer had used her fashion labels and shows to spread her ‘Climate Revolution’ campaign message, especially as she had rode a tank to prime minister James Cameron’s house a week before as an anti-establishment protest against drilling for oil and gas.

Despite the noise and hype created by her ‘Fash mob’ prior to the show, Westwood’s SS16 collection was a subtler take on her usual extravagant creations. Washed-out patterns and feminine silhouettes filtered through her signature designs of tartan, drapery and corseted dresses, giving this season a subdued aesthetic —that balanced perfectly with the social media-related soundtrack and ‘Fash mob’ cheering on the sidelines— urging people to restrain from their social media tendencies and focus on her political message.  

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