Boudoir Is The Theme Of The Vivienne Westwood SS26 Collection
Andreas Kronthaler (center) was inspired by sunflowers for the collection | Image provided by Vivienne Westwood
Plus, the brand unveiled a new fragrance of the same theme and it’s divine
The Vivienne Westwood spring-summer 2026 collection by Andreas Kronthaler is absolutely divine. The House is known for parodying quintessential English looks into its silhouettes. With tartan and Harris Tweed as its guide, the House’s use of traditional tailoring in punk looks, deconstructive pieces, and historical styles is what keeps fans of the brand coming back for more. And boy did they come for the runway show held on Saturday at the Institut de France.
The crowd outside was enormous, and once through, as guests entered the show space they were met with melodic compositions by Mozart. “We are living in a world of great change; therefore, I've chosen the lasi novement of Jupiter by Mozart as the music. It's a sound that foresees the future in the most hopeful way,” writes Kronthaler in collection notes. A very historic setting, the Institut de France was constructed in 1795, and as Kronthaler notes, “it’s a cultural and historical place of enormous importance.” Because of its amphitheater style seating, guests were able to see the collection as models walked on a raised podium.
There was a poignant silence that felt like two minutes, but could have been shorter, right before the show started. Looking around the room, there were notable faces, faces you don’t see at every runway show. But, these faces: Hamish Bowles, Stefano Tonchi, Victoria Silvstedt, and several others showed up for Vivienne.
Situated to one side of the raised platform was the Ikebana (a Japanese art flower arrangement). It overflowed with sunflowers and an umbrella hanging from above, from Cherbourg. The reason for the sunflowers: they remind Kronthaler of the sunflowers on the brand’s studio terrace in London.
When Kronthaler began to conceptualize the collection, it started with old curtain drapes, and the idea of transforming them into outfits that are wearable. “I fell in love with these typical Italian fabrics that you would find in markets everywhere, we combined them with iconic prints of the house, reusing leftover fabrics,” he says. No fabric went to waste in the collection. Even embroideries left in drawers, and skins of lace punched leather- it was all used. It was also important for Kronthaler in this collection to have pieces that looked real and lived in, and that people actually wear.
Heidi Klum closed the show | Image provided by Vivienne Westwood
Supermodel Heidi Klum was the final look. Wearing a white sheer goddess-esque number with camel colored shoes, Kronthaler walked out with a bouquet of long-stemmed sunflowers. Guests erupted in applause and cheers.
Boudoir is the newest Vivienne Westwood fragrance | Image provided by Vivienne Westwood
Outside, in the courtyard after the show, guests were invited to celebrate the launch of the brand’s new fragrance Boudoir. Sponsored by Taittinger, select guests sipped champagne and chatted. Boudoir is inspired by the old perfumes from Versailles Osmotheque. “Vivienne and I loved the old perfumes of Versailles,” writes Kronthaler.
There’s something retro about it, kind of grandmotherly but youthful if it’s possible to mix the idea of both. There’s also something mesmerizingly addictive about it. It draws you in with its formula of raw materials and extraction techniques, explains Kronthaler.
Its first limited-edition drop became available on October 4th in the Vivienne Westwood flagship boutiques in London, Paris, Milan, New York and LA. It will be more widely available worldwide in November, and in the brand’s Asian boutiques in 2026. It’s a must try, it’s divine.
