Barcelona, April 25 – Vivienne Westwood made its debut at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week with the brand’s first-ever dedicated bridal runway show, showcasing a collection designed by Creative Director Andreas Kronthaler.
Long known for ending runway shows with a dramatic bridal look, the late designer’s fashion house took a new step this week by presenting an entire collection of wedding garments. Kronthaler, who was married to Westwood for nearly three decades, called the event both “a challenge” and a “fantasy.”
“It’s different,” said Kronthaler. “First, you’re always in this world of white. You have to really concentrate on how to make it unique.”
The collection reflected Westwood’s signature aesthetic—structured corsetry paired with soft, spontaneous draping—while introducing flexible and accessible elements. Many gowns featured zipper closures, removable trains, and swappable skirts. “The main thing is the top, which is always structured and complicated,” Kronthaler said. “But the skirt is easy to change and won’t explode your bank account.”
While most designs were new, the show opened with a white reinterpretation of a gown from Westwood’s 1995 “Vive la Cocotte” collection, inspired by Rococo painter François Boucher. It was worn by Simonetta Gianfelici, a former Westwood model from the 1980s.
“There’s something very romantic about designing wedding dresses,” Kronthaler said. “Marriage means a lot—to be together and share life.”
The show emphasized diversity, with models of all genders wearing the collection. Kronthaler himself closed the presentation, donning a veil, floor-length skirt, and a Simpsons T-shirt. “It may be great to have some boys in wedding dresses, too,” he joked ahead of the show.
In recent years, bridal has grown into a major division for Vivienne Westwood, with a dedicated atelier and 43 exclusive retailers worldwide. The line has become a destination for brides seeking couture-level fashion for their big day. “What you get with us, you don’t get so easily somewhere else,” Kronthaler noted.
The collection also incorporated subtle hues like blush and blue, as well as rose prints from the house’s archive. “Everybody has different skin tones, and sometimes going into rose hues is nice,” Kronthaler said.
Reflecting on the late designer’s influence, he added: “I’m thinking here a lot about Vivienne in it all. She would love it. She would absolutely adore it.”
