Dame Vivienne Westwood made a plea to the public, especially “poor people”, to buy fewer clothes as she showcased her latest designs at London Fashion Week.
The eccentric designer sat among celebrities and fashion journalists in the front row for the show at the German Gymnasium in north London, instead of waiting backstage as usual.
It meant she had pride of place for the dramatic opening, which saw supermodel Lily Cole performing an interpretative dance while wearing a flowing, Grecian-style gown.
Speaking after the show, Dame Vivienne pleaded: “Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody’s buying far too many clothes.
“I mean, I know I’m lucky, I can just take things and borrow them and I’m just OK, but I hate having too many clothes.
“And I think that poor people should be even more careful. It doesn’t mean therefore you have to just buy anything cheap. Instead of buying six things, buy one thing that you really like.
“Don’t keep buying just for the sake of it,” she said. “I just think people should invest in the world. Don’t invest in fashion, but invest in the world.”
Dame Vivienne also urged people to take more of an interest in culture, saying: “The first thing they can do, if they live in a town, is they can go to art galleries.
“Start building different values, where you engage with the past, with the human race.”
The Vivienne Westwood Red Label collection for spring/summer 2014 saw models, their faces caked in black and white make-up, wearing the designer’s trademark tartan, embellished with oversized corsages.
There were also English country garden prints and T-shirts printed with the phrase: “Climate Revolution”, the designer’s political and environmental message making its mark on the catwalk.
The Topshop Unique show also attracted celebrities to the front row, with those in attendance including Kate Moss, singer Ellie Goulding and model Pixie Geldof.