In celebration of what would’ve been Vivienne Westwood’s 84th birthday on April 8, we’re looking back at the red carpet legacy of a designer who rewrote the rules of fashion. Known for her punk-infused aesthetics and masterful corsetry, Westwood’s designs have long been a favourite on the red carpet. Helena Bonham Carter, Gwen Stefani, and Emma Thompson (and her accompanying pig) were early champions of her rebellious attitude, while a new wave of stars has continued to embrace her eco-conscious couture.
Beloved by actresses and musicians alike, Rihanna opted for one of Westwood’s sculptural designs when she performed at the Victoria’s Secret show back in 2012. Fast forward to 2021, and Dua Lipa set the internet alight when she sported not one but two custom Westwood looks at the 2021 Brit Awards, including a yellow corseted minidress complete with Amy Winehouse-inspired beehive. The following year, Olivia Rodrigo also signed up to the Vivienne fan club, while Rosalía donned a show-stopping, glittering gold gown by the designer to sweep the board at the Latin Grammys.
Below, revisit 21 unforgettable red carpet moments that capture the magic of the late designer.
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Gwen Stefani in a pink floral gown at The Aviator premiere in LA.
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Helena Bonham Carter in a tulle confection at the Alice In Wonderland premiere in London.
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Emma Thompson, arriving at the world premiere of Nancy McPhee, joined by a pig.
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Anne Hathaway at the world premiere of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.
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Sarah Jessica Parker in a floral ruffled gown at the Tokyo premiere of Sex And The City 2.
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Christina Hendricks in classic Westwood corsetry at the premiere of I Don't Know How She Does It.
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Diane Kruger dripping in sequins at Cannes Film Festival.
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Rihanna wearing a corseted black dress by Westwood while performing at the Victoria’s Secret show.
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Christina Ricci in a tartan minidress at the Met Gala, whose theme was “Punk: Chaos To Couture”.
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Zendaya in a bridal-esque Westwood design on the Oscars red carpet.
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Blake Lively in a pale blue ruffled gown at Cannes Film Festival.
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Elle Fanning at Cannes Film Festival in a whimsical ivory gown, featuring hand-painted unicorns on the train.
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Pamela Anderson in a black corseted Vivienne Westwood gown at Cannes Film Festival.
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Thandiwe Newton wore a custom printed dress featuring Black Star Wars characters for the premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Cannes.
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Kim Kardashian at the Emmy Awards in a black velvet gown.
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Billie Piper at the Fashion Awards in London.
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Dua Lipa in a custom yellow minidress and faux croc platforms at the Brit Awards.
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Lashana Lynch at the No Time To Die premiere wearing a striking yellow gown featuring the national bird of Jamaica on the back.
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Olivia Rodrigo at the Grammy Awards in a black off-the-shoulder dress featuring pink crystal detailing.
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Salma Hayek in a custom red corseted gown at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards.
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Rosalía in a glittering gold off-shoulder gown at the Latin Grammy Awards.
