Kronthaler, the Austrian widower of Vivienne Westwood who took over after her death, found inspiration from African fabrics and his own penchant for night gowns for the typically whimsical designs of his SS27 collection called “Body and Soul”.
A piece of African fabric bought at the Barbes market in Paris was one starting point, as was his decision to start wearing his night gown outside in the street during this summer’s searing heatwaves.
“I just lived my life in it, and I went on my bicycle and shopping and what not. And people really liked it,” he told AFP. “And I thought that’s nice, my life shirt.”
“Orange Is the New Black” actress Natasha Lyonne headed down the catwalk wearing an animal print jacket with nothing underneath, as former supermodel Heidi Klum and actresses Rose McGowan and Paris Jackson looked on from the front row.
Asked about the commercial environment for fashion labels, with many creative directors under pressure, Kronthaler acknowledged the generally difficult trading conditions.
“We (Vivienne Westwood) are independent, and there are good sides to this, and of course there are hard sides to this. But it’s okay,” he told AFP. “We are living in a very precarious moment because things are not so secure in fashion.”
