Story by Editor-at-Large CAROLINA OGLIARO
Rebellion & Romance: Vivienne Westwood x Andreas Kronthaler Rewrite the Rules at Paris Fashion Week
In an era where fashion often chases fleeting trends, Vivienne Westwood x Andreas Kronthaler’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection emerges as a revolutionary manifesto, a bold fusion of tailoring, theatricality, and anarchy, steeped in British heritage yet utterly modern.
Presented at Paris Fashion Week, this collection was a call to arms, an invitation to embrace individuality, legacy, and the radical spirit of Westwood herself. And with the cosmos aligning a once-in-a-lifetime astrological event, Kronthaler seized the moment to deliver a collection that speaks of destiny, daring, and reinvention.
A Sartorial Love Letter to London
At the heart of the collection is a tribute to London, a city that shaped both Westwood and Kronthaler. The punk aristocracy that Westwood once championed is reborn in meticulously crafted Harris Tweed suits, Scottish tartan kilts, and Yorkshire wool coats, each piece exuding an attitude of defiance and elegance.
For the first time, Westwood’s mainline and Kronthaler’s line are merged, evoking the raw energy of the ’90s, when the brand’s Red Label and Gold Label walked the same runway. This blending of past and present is a nod to fashion’s cyclical nature, where true innovation is often a remix of history’s greatest hits.
Icons & Inspirations: The Characters That Walked the Stage
This collection was about the people who inspired them. Quentin Crisp, Brigitte Bardot, Gertrude Stein, Cecil Beaton, Jerry Hall, Prince, Cary Grant, Rihanna, and, of course, Vivienne Westwood, each of them a maverick, an icon, a force of nature.
You could see Bardot’s sensuality in off-shoulder knits, Cary Grant’s effortless elegance in razor-sharp suiting, and Prince’s flamboyant edge in high-collared coats and ruffled blouses. It was as if these legends were whispering their secrets to Kronthaler, guiding his hands as he sculpted each look.
Menswear Returns: Gender is a Costume
This season marks the return of menswear in true Westwood spirit, it defies gender norms. Suits are subversive yet classic, oversized yet structured, with an undeniable sensuality. Masculine and feminine blur effortlessly, as Kronthaler proves, once again, that fashion is theatre and gender is merely a costume change.
The Ultimate Westwood Statement: Fashion as Freedom
From the moment the first model stepped onto the runway, it was clear that this collection was a declaration of freedom, freedom to dream big, take risks, and fight for happiness. Westwood always saw fashion as a weapon of rebellion, and Kronthaler ensures that legacy remains intact.
As Shakespeare once wrote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” If that’s true, then Vivienne Westwood x Andreas Kronthaler just gave us the most captivating, fearless, and unforgettable performance of the season.
